The worship each Sunday morning is led by the team of Vicar and Readers, and our Worship Leader Philip James, supported by  readers of Scripture and leaders of intercessions. Most of the usual Sunday services are able to be covered by the team, and on a handful of occasions, with the written permission of the Bishop, the Readers have presided at the Communion with bread and wine previously blessed by Rev Ian Fellows or a local minister.

The leaders consult with the preacher about the teaching for a service, and plan the service and its music accordingly. We have not used hymn and song books for some time now because the songs we sing come from far more diverse sources than our hymn book “Mission Praise”, and our copyright licence enables us to make use of hundreds of songs and hymns from a variety of sources, constantly adding to our repertoire as time goes on. The licence requires Philip to record week by week what is used, and to report annually at the end of March. The songs and hymns are displayed on our projected screen where Craig Brooks and Liz Dyke manage the projections. We are always looking for people to help.

What matters in music selection is not whether it is traditional or ultra-modern, quiet or loud, short or long, and so on, but how appropriate it is to the worship for the service and the theme, and how helpful it is in bringing a congregation closer to God; so inevitably what worshippers will generally find is a variety in most services, and this is due to the careful, prayerful preparation of the leaders. Members of the congregation can at any time request hymns or songs to a member of the leading team and we will do our best. If you have found something for us to look at, please let Philip know.

Evening worship, which is usually held in the chancel, is less formal. We seek to go deeper in our evening services, and receive great blessing. Church members are encouraged to take this opportunity for relaxed and rewarding worship.

The singers, Pat, Sue, Debbie and Katherine, and Seamus (guitar) James (drums) and Philip (keyboards) practise on alternate Wednesdays; come along at 7.45 if you’d like to try your hand without obligation. We are learning new songs all the time for use in services, whether presented or for congregational use. We have once sung a blessing to the congregation at the end of the Communion service, which a number of people were encouraged by; we hope to do it again with other blessings. We would all value your prayers for this frontline ministry in the life of the church.