|
Services are based on the Modern
language version of Common Worship and Book of
Common Prayer.
Surplice
and Stole are usually worn. We have Servers in the
Sanctuary assisting with Holy Communion and a number of
people are now in the process of training.
There is
a prayer group held every Wednesday Evening at 6:30 pm.
We now
have four flourishing home groups which meet regularly,
following on from four successful Alpha courses.
Laity
assist during services by reading Lessons, leading
Intercessions, altar serving, Chalice administration,
and sideman's duties.
8:00 a.m.
Every Sunday: Holy Communion (BCP).
Traditional quiet communion, no music.
9:30 a.m.
Every Sunday: Parish Communion (Common Worship, Order 1)
Attracts a wider age range. A period of fellowship follows this
service during which Fairtrade coffee, juice and biscuits are
served in the church.
6:00 p.m.
Every Sunday except the 3rd Sunday in the month:
Evensong (BCP)
Mainly older people.
11:00 a.m. 1st Sunday of the month: Children's
Service.
10:00 a.m. Every Wednesday: Holy Communion.
About half of this Wednesday congregation
also attend services on Sunday.
Additional services
Additional services are held during Advent, Christmas,
and Holy Week. There is also a Remembrance Day service,
together with special services for different
organisations.
Music
There is
a good well maintained two manual pipe organ and the
music is largely traditional. We use Ancient & Modern
Revised as our main hymn book but hymns from other
sources are also used, including Mission Praise.
Our
Choirmaster and organist leads a very dedicated robed,
four part choir who sing at all 9.30 a.m. services together
with Evensong, and the majority of weddings and
funerals. They also sing at other services such as carol
services etc.
The
church has a peal of six bells which are rung before
9:30 a.m. services by an enthusiastic band of ringers, aged 8
to 80. They are also rung for most weddings plus a small
number of other occasions.
Flowers
We have
an exceptionally gifted team of flower arrangers, who
provide flowers for Sunday services, with special
arrangements for weddings and displays for Easter,
Harvest and Christmas. The Guild also produces amazing
flower festivals. Members of the congregation pay for
flowers to mark special occasions and also are invited
to pay for Easter lilies in remembrance of loved ones.
Children
In addition to the regular
Sunday Services a lay team lead a service specifically
for children on the 1st Sunday of the month. This
incorporates the Guides and Brownies affiliated to the
Church.
A Sunday
school of about a dozen children operates during the
9:30 a.m. Sunday service. The Sunday school comprises mostly
church and fringe members and is held in the local
school mostly using the Living Stones book, which is
divided into age groups. At the end of Sunday School
some children join the church service and come to the
altar rail for a blessing. The Sunday School does not
operate on the 1st Sunday of the month when the
Children's Service is being held and it closes during
school holidays.
Church
Children's Clubs, supported by the Mothers Union, are
held on Tuesday afternoons in church, during term time.
"Edward Bear Club" for pre-school children and "Tuesday
Bears" for school age children meet on alternate weeks.
During
the school summer holiday 'Rainbow Time' takes place in
the village hall. This runs for one week and is a time
of art, craft and fun with a Christian message for
children aged 5 to 11.
Last year
the theme was Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
We
actively support local Rainbow, Brownie, Guides and
Ranger packs, some of whom also attend and assist at the
Children's Service.
A very
well attended Christingle service is held on Christmas
Eve as well as an informal carol service on Christmas
morning where children are encouraged to demonstrate
their newest toys.
The
children's organisations join together to perform a
Nativity play during a 9:30 a.m. service before Christmas.
This is usually repeated at a local care home for the
benefit of the residents.
|
