What to expect
What happens in a service?
Before the start
Someone will say 'Hello' and give you a service booklet, a hymn book and a notice sheet. Feel free to ask any questions. Then you can find a seat. You can sit anywhere you like. No-one has has their own special seat (except the person taking the service - who we'll call the Vicar).Someone will play the organ or piano, and it's fine to talk before the service starts. Or you can take the time to gather your thoughts. The hymn numbers are on a board, up on the wall.
Getting started
One of the Church wardens will read out any notices and then the Vicar welcomes everyone and introduces the first hymn. And we stand to sing.
The service follows the order shown in the service booklet. For some parts we stand, for others we sit, and for prayers we bow our heads. The booklet tells you what to do.
We listen to two Bible readings, have another hymn, and then listen to the gospel reading. The readings are listed on the front of Pew News so you can find and follow them if you want. Or you can just sit and listen.
The sermon, our faith and prayers
The sermon explains the meaning of the Bible readings and considers how they apply to our lives today. It lasts about 10 minutes.
Then we all say together a statement about our faith. The words are in the service booklet and you can join in with as much or as little as you're comfortable with. Then we pray for the church, the world, our community, ordinary people in need of prayer, people who have died and those who are grieving.
The peace
Next we share the peace with each other. We shake hands with those sitting nearby and say 'Peace be with you.' Some people move around church shaking hands, others stay still. Just do what feels right for you.
Collection
During the next hymn there's a collection. Some people put cash in the bag, some put cash in an envelope (so the church can claim gift aid), and others use a direct debit - so they don't put anything in the bag. You can give as much or as little as you like.
Communion
There are eight versions of the Eucharistic prayer in the booklet; the Vicar will say which one we'll use and say which page it's on. Some parts of the prayer are sung and some parts are said; the Vicar and the booklet say which is which.
If you’re confirmed, or you take communion in a different church, even one of a different denomination e.g. Catholic, then you’re very welcome to take communion with us. But if you can’t, or don’t want to you’re still very welcome to come up for a blessing. Just keep your hands by your sides so the Vicar knows what to do. Children can come up for a blessing too.
(By the way, the organist normally goes up first so they can go back and play while everyone else receives communion.)
Closing and afterwards
The service draws to a close with a final hymn and a blessing from the Vicar. Afterwards there's normally coffee, tea, squash and a buscuit. It's a good time to have a chat with people, and the Vicar usually greets people as they leave the church.
If it's your first time do say hello if we haven't said hello first!