FAQ’s

Questions you may have:

• What to expect?

  Being a diverse group of churches, every service has a slightly different feel to it. But there are some common threads.

• I don’t have a faith. Can I come?

  We’re all on a journey! Nobody has it perfectly sorted out and nobody knows the answer to every question of faith. We believe that questions are great and help us in our relationship with God. So bring your questions too.

• What happens during a service?

  The service will normally consist of a welcome, singing hymns or worship songs, bible readings, prayers, and a sermon based on the bible readings. Some services include Holy Communion, at which we all share in the bread and wine to remember Jesus instructions at the Last Supper.

• What are all the books?

  Some of our services use books to help us follow the service. When you arrive you may be given a service booklet, a hymn book and a reading sheet. The service book will help you journey through the service stage by stage. We change the book for different seasons such as Easter or Christmas but you will gain a familiarity with it.

  The hymn numbers will be shown on a board or announced at the right time and the reading sheet contains the bible readings we will hear in church on this occasion. D take this home to read through during the week.

• How do I know where I participate?

  We often use liturgy to shape our service. There are parts that the service leader says and parts where the congregation (you) join in. In our orders of service which are either in a book or shown on a screen, the sentences where you join in are in bold lettering.

• Can I take communion?

  Communion often forms part of our worship. It is where we follow Jesus’ command to remember him as we gather together. In this sacrament (an action that has an inner meaning), we believe we encounter God in a tangible way, a bit like receiving the loving action of a hug to demonstrate that we are loved and known. All who have been baptised (christened), are welcome to receive communion if they wish to. Follow everyone else and at the altar, hold out your hands to receive the bread and wine as an act of opening yourself up to God. If you do not wish to receive communion, you are welcome to come up and receive a blessing.

• I am not baptised / Christened, as an adult can I do this?

  Yes. People come to faith at all ages. If you would like to explore baptism as part of your journey in faith, speak to one of the clergy who will explore this with you.

• What time should I arrive?

  You can find timings of services across our ministry area under the ‘What’s On’ heading of our website. Typically, people arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of the service time but all are welcome at any time- you will never be turned away at whatever time you may arrive at!

• What should I wear?

  Anything comfortable.

• What about children?

  Children will always be welcome across our ministry area. You will find more information about family worship services and children’s activities by filtering by ‘Children and Families’ on our ‘What’s On’ calendar.

• Can I park at your churches?

  You can find all the information about parking at a church on its designated church page. These can be found under the ‘Worship’ heading of this website.

• Are there accessible facilities?

  All information about accessibility can be found on a church’s designated church page. These can be found under the ‘Worship’ heading of this website. Alternatively, for more information, you can submit a contact form which can be found under the ‘Connect’ heading of this website.