Services
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10.30 am on SUNDAYS This is the main service at St Peter's - at least in terms of numbers attending. It is our aim to help people of all ages and outlooks to worship God, and we certainly give a warm welcome to everyone. We offer a creche and children's activities (including bags provided in the church, filled with resources to help families offer their children things to work/play with, linked with the theme of the Christian season) so that children can either stay in church or go to the creche/hall as you prefer. On three Sundays in the month (the 1st, the 3rd and the 4th), this service is Holy Communion (AKA 'The Eucharist', 'The Mass', 'The Lord's Supper'). We follow a printed order of service, though with some freedom and flexibility, and we sing hymns and songs accompanied by the organ and choir. The service is in modern english (no 'thee' and 'thou') but is quite traditional in style. Everyone is urged to come forward at the point when Holy Communion (consecrated bread and wine) is distributed. Those who are confirmed or who receive communion in their own church - whatever denomination that may be - are welcome to receive communion. Others are given a blessing. The service lasts about an hour and a quarter. On the Second Sunday in the month we usually have 'All-Age Worship' (we call it '0-99'). This service is more informal and shorter (an hour or less). A lot of children attend, including members of our Scouts/Guides and other uniformed organisations. On certain special days, like Palm Sunday and Harvest Festival, this service is also Holy Communion - in a simpler form. But it is more often a service based on a theme, with readings, prayers, songs and a talk. Occasionally, there is a Fifth Sunday in the month. When this occurs, we use a traditional form of Morning Prayer, taken from the Book of Common Prayer of 1662, though with some siimplification. The language is more old-fashioned (with 'thee' and 'thou' rather than 'you') This is our most traditional service, though the atmosphere is no less welcoming and relaxed than on other Sundays. Every Sunday we have REFRESHMENTS after the 10.30 am service in the Hall - a good chance to meet other members of the congregation.
8.00 am on SUNDAYS Every Sunday at 8 am we have a service of Holy Communion without hymns, using the Book of Common Prayer of 1662. There is a short sermon; the service lasts for about 45 minutes and the congregation is usually around a dozen people. This service takes place in the Lady Chapel, to one side of the church building.
6.30 pm on SUNDAYS There is normally a service lasting an hour every Sunday evening. When the 10.30 service is Communion (on the 1st, 3rd and 4th Sunday) this is a service of Evensong using the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 (old-fashioned language, again). On the 2nd Sunday it is a service of Holy Communion. On the 5th Sunday it is Evensong, but in modern language. There is usually a sermon and some hymns. This service also takes place in the Lady Chapel with a smaller congregation.
NEW PEOPLE ARE WELCOME AT ALL THESE SERVICES, WHETHER OT NOT THEY HAVE BEEN TO CHURCH BEFORE....WE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A CLEAR ORDER OF SERVICE TO FOLLOW, AND OUR AIM IS TO MAKE ST PETER'S FEEL LIKE YOUR CHURCH.
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