What to expect when you come to church

 

What to expect when you come to church in Bodle Street

 

Perhaps you’re not a regular at church. Maybe you come sometimes at Christmas and Easter, or for weddings and funerals. Or not at all.

 

All churches, even C of E churches, have their own way of doing things so we thought it might be helpful to say something for those who are thinking of coming but who would like to know what to expect.

 

You’re always very welcome. We’d love to see you. Please do come! And come as you are.

 

You might well find some familiar faces from the village hall or the White Horse.

 

The main thing is to relax and not worry. Please don’t be concerned about doing the wrong thing. We are pretty relaxed and informal and the Rector is forever getting things wrong! His children have often run around and screamed the place down so….  

 

There’s no particular dress code. Some people do wear a shirt and tie or equivalent, but others don’t. Most people dress in a smart casual or more relaxed way. Jeans and shorts are very welcome.

 

Hopefully someone will meet you at the door and say hello. Typically you might need a service book or sheet, and a hymn book, which we’ll give you.

 

Please do sit wherever you like. There are no reserved pews. No one will mind if you sit in their usual place. Normally it isn’t full. You might like to be brave and try somewhere towards the front.

 

We aim to start promptly at 9:30am. But sometimes people are still getting into their choir robes so sometimes we are a minute or two late. Normally somebody is late and comes in once we’ve started, which is also fine.

 

When the choir and minister enter, please stand.  After that, the minister will normally invite you to sit, or stand, or kneel as appropriate. If you find it hard to stand or kneel, or simply prefer to sit, please feel free. Hymn numbers are up on a board and are also announced. And the minister will say what page we are on in the service book. You are invited to join in with the words in bold type, if you’d like to.

 

We normally sing some hymns. We say sorry to God for the wrong things we have done and are offered his forgiveness. We have two readings from God’s Word, the Bible. There is a brief sermon which seeks to bring out the good news of Jesus and the difference it can make for our lives. We affirm the Christian faith by saying an ancient creed. We say some prayers, asking for God’s help for ourselves and others. There is an opportunity to give money to the church, but please don’t feel obliged to do so. The service ends with God’s blessing and the choir normally sing “Amen.”

 

Twice a month (on the First and Third Sundays of the month) we normally have Holy Communion as we obey Jesus’ command to share bread and wine in remembrance of him. The minister will explain how to join in, or you can just remain in your pew if you prefer.

 

Children are always welcome. The Second Sunday of the month is our All Age Service, which is a bit simplified and shorter. The children are invited to help out or take part if they like. And the sermon might be somewhat interactive, perhaps with some object or activity involved if the Rector could think of anything fun. We have instruments for the children for the last song.

 

At the end we remain standing until the choir and the minister have left.

 

If there’s anything you want to ask before or after the service, please do.

 

We normally have coffee and biscuits afterwards. If you’d like to stay we’d love to say hello but if you have to dash off, of course that’s fine. Normally the service is less than an hour, sometimes more like 45 minutes. The Rector usually has to get to Warbleton for the service at 11am so he can’t go on too long even if he wants to!

 

We hope you’ll give it a try sometime.

 

Marc