We hope anyone who comes to our services feels comfortable and welcome. If you have never been to church before, or haven't been for a long time, this page tells you what to expect.

Arriving

As you arrive you will be greeted at the door by a steward. They will say hallo, offer you a hymn book and order of service, and can answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to take a seat where-ever you feel comfortable. Sometime seats are reserved for, for instance, a baptismal party, but these should be clearly labelled. Children can sit with their parents, or together with the Junior Church (Sunday School) teachers at the front on the right. If you sit nearer the back, you can see when everyone else sits or stands!

The Service

At the beginning of the service, an Elder will bring the Bible to the front of the church, and the minister will enter. Everyone stands. The minister gives a welcome, and then everyone remains standing to sing the first hymn - if you can't sing, no-one will mind if you don't!

The rest of the service varies from Sunday to Sunday, but will usually include prayers, which we normally sit for, more hymns and songs, a passage from the bible being read aloud to the congregation, a talk aimed particularly at the children, a collection for the running of the church, the notices, and a sermon (sometimes long and sometimes short, depending on the preacher!). On certain Sundays, we may have a contribution from our Drama/Music group, or from the Ghanaian Choir.

The service should last one hour, but occasionally overruns. If you have to go, please do not feel embarrassed to leave early.

On the first Sunday each month (usually) the service includes communion, where we remember Jesus's last supper with his disciples by sharing bread and wine together. If you love the Lord Jesus, please share the bread and wine with us. If you are not sure, just let the bread and wine pass when they are served  by the elders.

At the end

People generally stand around and talk after the service, and we try to be friendly! Do make yourself known to the duty elder (who has a badge) or the minister. After each Sunday service we serve coffee, tea and squash in the church hall, to which you are welcome to join us.

Our Church Building

Our church looks a bit different from the Church of England and reflects the emphasis of our beliefs.

At the centre, at the front of the church is an empty cross (ie without the body of Christ), which symbolises that Jesus rose from the dead, so is not on the cross. His victory over death is the centre of our faith.

The Bible is placed on the table at the front for the service, which symbolises that God's words in the Bible are our inspiration and guide.

The communion table at the front is used when we celebrate the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples before his crucifixion. He told us to share bread and wine together in memory of him, so the theory is that we all sit around the table, but we wouldn't all fit, so the elder's sit there on our behalf. We don't have a priest and altar, everyone is in communion with God, and the table symbolises that.