Worship in the Benefice

We try to offer a range of worship to suit different tastes and styles. However, we are a Benefice that has always been centred on the weekly Eucharist or service of Holy Communion at which the congregation receive the bread and wine in memory of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. 

 

For current Benefice services - please see
the Weekly Notices and Calendar.

 

Our usual pattern of services can be seen below:

 

1st Sunday

 

9.30am      Parish Communion @ St. John's

11am          Village Family Praise @ St. Mary's
11am          Café Church @ St. Peter's (every two months)

2nd Sunday

9:30am        Breakfast Church @ St. John's
9.30am        Morning Praise with Sue @ St. Mary's
11am           Parish Communion (BCP) @ St. Peter's
11am           Morning Prayer (BCP) @ All Saints
6pm             Sundays @ Six @ St. John's
 

3rd Sunday

9.30am        Parish Communion @ St. John's
10am           Morning Praise @ St. Peter's
11am           Parish Communion (CW) with Hymns @ St. Mary's
11am           Morning Prayer (CW) @ Bighton
 

4th Sunday

 
8am              Holy Communion @ St. John's (BCP)
9.30am        Celtic Service of the Word @ St. John's
9.30am        Parish Communion (BCP) @ St. Mary's
11am           Parish Communion @ All Saints
 

5th Sunday

 

Various times     Benefice Communion @ one of our churches

 

Morning Prayer with Rev'd Heather

Come and join us for simple, beautiful prayers in our Benefice churches. 
The service takes about 20 minutes and all are welcome.

Mondays - All Saints at 9am
Tuesdays - St. John’s at 9am

Wednesdays - St. Mary’s at 9am

Thursdays - St. Peter’s at 9am

 

Our Services Explained

 

Holy Communion (Eucharist) Services

Our Holy Communion services follow the Church of England’s Common Worship liturgy for Holy Communion. A typical service will include traditional hymns, Bible readings, a sermon, prayers and an opportunity to receive communion (bread and wine). 

 
For more information about the significance of communion please see: www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/eucharist.

If you would prefer not to receive communion, you are still welcome to receive a blessing from the altar. Please carry with you your order of service to the altar. This will indicate to the Rector/Ministry Team that you wish to receive a blessing.
 
Wednesday Midweek Communion Service
A time to pause midweek with a weekly Holy Communion Service at St. John's, when we can meet together celebrate the Eucharist and have coffee and biscuits afterwards in a time of fellowship.

Holy / Parish Communion (BCP)
There is a said Holy Communion service with liturgy used that is more traditional in language from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer (1549).
 
Parish Communion
This is the main Sunday service and follows the service of Holy Communion from Common Worship.  It has traditional hymns.  The music is accompanied by the organ.  The Sermons are Bible based and last around 10-15 minutes.  Intercessions and readings are undertaken by members of the congregation.

 

Benefice Service
Sometimes when there are major events in our benefice, or if there is a 5th Sunday in the month, we have a Benefice Service where all our four churches come together at one church building. Our Benefice Services vary in terms of style of worship, but we always try to ensure that there is something within them to engage the whole church family.

Non-Eucharist Services

Morning Praise (St. Mary's & St. Peter's) & Morning Prayer (All Saints)
A simple morning prayer service with traditional hymns, a bible reading, a sermon and prayers.
 

Breakfast Church
On the second Sunday of the month, our 9:30 am service is a service of Breakfast Church that is designed to appeal to all ages but has a specific focus on those with young families. The service lasts about 40-50 minutes and has 3 hymns which are accompanied by our Music Group.  There is a relaxed beginning to Breakfast Church with the opportunity to have tea, coffee and tasty food!

 

Celtic Service of the Word
This quiet, reflective service contains music, hymns, bible readings and periods of silence in the Celtic tradition. You don’t have to be “religious” to attend. Those with faith, those without faith and those who are searching, are all very welcome.

 

Village Family Praise

A service of Morning Praise at St. Mary's for the whole family.

Sundays @ Six

This is a real opportunity to reflect on the prayer Jesus gave us as a model and find ways of deepening and enhancing our prayer life - individually and corporately.  Reflections and prayers with worship songs accompanied by piano and acoustic instruments.  You are very welcome to come and have tea and cake from 5.45pm before this gentle and reflective service.

 

Café Church (St. Peter's)

Join us for good conversations about faith and life in a friendly, informal setting.  Coffee, tea and homemade treats.  1st Sunday every other month.  All welcome!

 

Please Note: Children will be warmly welcomed at all our services, although our Breakfast Church and Village Family Praise services are specifically designed to be more relevant to those of a younger age.