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Our service normally lasts 1 hour 20 minutes; we are normally finished by 12.20 pm.
Communion (see right) is integral to the worship each Sunday.
Tea and coffee (with biscuits, and, if we're in a celebratory mood, cake) are served
immediately following the service, and a creche is available throughout.
Children are important to us as the next generation of the church, as well as human beings loved by God.
During term time, Adventurers and Bible Class provide appropriate worship and learning experiences.
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We have a contemporary musical style, but we also wish to continue the musical tradition of previous generations.
Most services therefore have a mix of contemporary songs and traditional hymns.
We use a projection system (SongPro) for songs and words during the service, and we are working on
multimedia worship forms using new technology. Most sermons by Jack Quinn are illustrated on-screen (powerpoint, video, audio).
The worship team is flexible and varies from week to week, but when we're all available contains piano, guitar, bass, trumpet, trombone and singers.
When none of the core team is available, however, we do use Jack's karaoke, a set of worship backing tracks.
Our worship teams are always happy to welcome new musicians, or people willing to operate the
projection system or sound desk.
If you are interested in joining the worship team, please speak with Jeni Rankin.
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Worship Team Rota
Notes for Visiting Speakers
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Some of the things we can do during our service can seem a bit weird.
This section tries to explain some of the thinking behind them.
» Communion
This is the bit of the service known in other churches as the Lord's Supper, Mass or Eucharist.
It all started with the Last Supper celebrated by Jesus and the disciples the night before he was executed.
The bread and wine are interpreted as symbols representing Jesus' body and blood, and reminding us that
his sacrifice allows us to be forgiven and to approach God.
The speaker normally starts communion with a reading, followed by a prayer giving thanks for the bread and
wine. The stewards normally then hand out the bread, followed by the wine, which we pass from person to
person. If you don't want to eat or drink, then please pass the bread and wine to your neighbour.
» Offering our money
We believe that God has ownership of our entire beings, including our money
and possessions. While many people donate their money through monthly standing orders
or other means, the offering allows us space to rededicate our entire selves to God.
Offerings are entirely between an individual and God; if you are a visitor then please
do not feel that you have to put anything in the offering plate.
» Singing together
Most people don't get the chance to sing communally any more, but singing forms a big part of our worship.
Songs help us to express emotion in worship - whether that is joy, fear, trust, sadness.
Some people like to express themselves bodily in worship, by raising hands, dancing, moving.
We would like you to be free to express yourself in whatever way you feel.
» Speaker
A core part of each service is someone speaking to us, usually taking a passage out of
the Bible and helping us to think through the implications of that passage for how
we live out our faith in today's world. Most talks (jargon = "sermon") last about 30 minutes.
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