Visitors to St Andrew's Church
If you are visiting St Andrew’s for the first time we will do everything we can to make you feel welcome.Our Welcome Team (Sidespeople)
Upon visiting St Andrew’s you will be welcomed into the church by one of our welcoming team who will give you any Order of Service and hymnbook that you will need. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Please feel free to sit anywhere you wish as there are no reserved seats. (The days when church members owned ‘Rented Pews’ have long since gone!)
What should I wear?
Whilst some of the members of St Andrew’s like to come to church in their suits others come in Jeans, trainers and a T-shirt. You will be equally welcome regardless of whether you are wearing your ‘Sunday Best’ or ‘Comfortable Casuals’.
Which is the best service to attend?
This is of course a personal choice and whilst some people prefer the more informal style of our ‘Open Door’ Service others prefer our Service of Holy Communion. Our Services Page provides a short description of each of our services as a guide to help you. If in doubt you are welcome to try each of our services.
During term time, we try to make provision for families with children at both our 9.30am and 11.00am Services.
Will there be pressure on me to do anything I might not want to?
Most definitely not! For example we hope that by providing you with a full Order of Service there will be no unexpected surprises to catch you out. Furthermore, we deliberately do not pass a collection plate around during our main Sunday Services so that nobody should ever feel put on the spot to make a donation to the church.
What happens at a Service of Holy Communion?
On the night before he died Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. As he broke some bread he said that it was his body. As he shared some wine he said it was his blood. He told his disciples that whenever they joined together in the future they should share this special meal together in remembrance of him. Down through the centuries Christian people have been faithful to this last command of Jesus.
We give the service many different names — the Eucharist, Holy Communion, Mass — but in all denominations what we are doing is essentially the same: we take, bless and share bread and wine in remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Whilst it is impossible to understand or to grasp exactly how Jesus is present when we receive the bread and wine his presence is more than merely symbolic. When we hold out our hands to receive the bread and wine we believe that we receive the risen life of Jesus who loves us and died for us.
Among all the different words we use to describe the service, Eucharist is probably the best. It means ‘thank you.’ The title Holy Communion reminds us that we are sharing a special (holy) meal together (in common union).
The shape of the Service of Holy Communion may be divided into four parts as follows:
• The Gathering. First of all we gather together as God’s holy people. We greet one another, sing a hymn of praise and acknowledge our need of God. This is usually done using set prayers and includes a prayer of confession and absolution. This section concludes with a special song of praise called ‘Gloria in Excelsis’.
• The Liturgy of the Word. For Christians the Bible is at the heart of our Christian faith and we believe that through it God has revealed his love and the good news of salvation to us. The Liturgy of the Word therefore consists of three Bible Readings. These are followed by a sermon or address which seeks to explore how the readings are relevant to us today. In the light of this we are invited to reaffirm our belief in God by saying together an authorised affirmation of faith called ‘the Creed.’ This section concludes with Prayers of Intercessions for our own needs and the needs of our world.
• The Liturgy of the Sacrament. In the liturgy of the Sacrament the bread and wine are taken, blessed, broken and shared together. The Priest leads a special prayer known as ‘The Eucharistic Prayer’ or ‘Prayer of Thanksgiving.’ In this prayer we remember and give God our thanks for both our creation and our salvation. Most of all we remember Jesus’ death on the cross for us.
• The Dismissal. At the end of the service, we dedicate ourselves to serving God in the coming week. Having said a prayer of blessing the service leader concludes by saying ‘Go in peace to love and serve the Lord’ and everybody responds by saying ‘In the name of Christ. Amen.’ ('Amen' simply means ‘May it be so!’)
Can I receive Holy Communion?
If you have been confirmed in the Church of England or it is your practice to receive Holy Communion in any other Christian Church you are welcome to receive Holy Communion at St Andrew’s.
If you do not wish to receive Holy Communion you may choose to either remain in your seat whilst others do so or come forward to the altar rail for a prayer of blessing, kneeling with your service sheet in your hand and with your head bowed. This simply helps the minister to know that you would prefer a prayer of blessing rather than Holy Communion.
Refreshments
After the 9.30 and 11.00am Services many people stay for a cuppa and a chat while others go straight home. You are most welcome but also should feel that there is no pressure to stay!