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Any Church Service can be very daunting to the newcomer. Following the service sheet, knowing when to stand up, sit down, kneel, read out loud ( bold type in the notice sheet ), sing out loud ( bold type in the notice sheet, but only some sections! ), read silenty, approach the Altar, laugh in all the right places and finally breathe out after the last song as you realise its all over.
The following sections aim to give you some insight into what to expect and also to give you some choice to which services you might prefer. If you want help to navigate your way through a service, please approach a member of staff before the service and they will be happy to help you.
The Service ( 10:30am All Saints Church,Frindsbury, 9:15am St.Philip & St.James Church,Upnor).
Children between 4 and 11 are welcome to stay for the Church Service but we recommend that they would be far happier in the Parish Hall for fun,
games and learning about God. Creche facilities are always available at the back of the Church for children younger than 4.
This Service normally finishes around midday, depending on the length of the talk!
At the start of the Service everybody
stands up and the Choir parades into the Choir stalls followed by
the minister leading it all.
The minister
starts off with a quick welcome and asks us all to sit down.
The notices are read
out, Banns of Marriage
published (if any) and an
opening prayer. This is followed by a song.
It is a mix of classic hymns and modern worship songs played on
the Organ accompanied by our choir, or other
musicians.
The Service includes Short Bible readings and a talk,
relevant to the theme for the day and with plenty of application to
every day life!
We stand up to say the what we believe in (The Creed) and then a
prayer of Confession to God for
all the things that we have done wrong in the past week,
is said by all.
A member of the congregation will read the Prayers for the day and these will reflect what is happening in the world and what is happening in people's lives locally.
If you would like someone you know, or even yourself, to be added to the prayers for that day just ask a church member before the start of service.
This can be a little disconcerting if you're new to church.
People walk around the church shaking people's hands and saying "May
the peace of the Lord be with you". It is not compulsory and doesn't
happen every Service, but it's a great way of
feeling part of the whole Church!
The collection of money gifts
is very important to the running of the church but it is entirely voluntary.
This is when we remember the events of the 'Last Supper' when Jesus gave the bread and wine to his disciples saying 'Eat, Drink in rememberance of me'.
Everyone is invited up to the front where the
minister offers bread and wine to those who have confirmed
their faith in God. If you are new to church, or have yet to be
confirmed, just keep your hands down and
the minister will place his hand on your head and ask God to bless you.
After the final prayer and blessing there is coffee, tea and biscuits at the back of the church. This gives people a chance to chat and catch up with friends.
Other Services
Once a month, usually the second sunday of the
month at All Saints
Church and the third sunday of the month at St.Philip & St.James
Church, an All Age Service is held. This is a much more lively service with a band playing mostly modern worship songs, instead of the usual Organ. All Children are welcome with Scouts, Brownies and Guides ( and leaders of course ) usually filling the front row pews. This service follows a similar pattern to usual Sunday Services but without the Organ, Choir and Communion.
This Service can include thanksgivings and baptisms,
Warning: This Service can include
"Happy Birthdays to you", Interactive songs with actions for the congregation, Interactive talks with quizzes and competitions, laughter and merryment!
This Service normally finishes around midday.
Once a month, usually the fourth Sunday of the
Month, a Morning Worship Service is held at All Saints Church
without the communion. Note: This Service sometimes includes Guest
appearances from the 'Kijana' - Our youth band.
The 8 o'clock Service has no music and is a quiet reflective service
based on the prayer book form written by Archbishop Cranmer 400
years ago! It is a good chance to be quiet and to share a private moment with God. In your busy life, could you benefit from some 'time out' with God?
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Fund
Raising is underway for All Saints Church under the banner "Living
Stones". This aims to raise money to repair the Church building
and to develop our Church resources.
read more>> 
