A Warm Hello
The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.
Where and When
We meet in the ancient Parish church for our Sunday Service starting at 10am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 5-10 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.
Plan your journey:
Open Google Maps
Accessibility: There is wheelchair access on the north side of the church. We have a digital audio-visual system which is automatically picked up by digital hearing aids. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There is an easy access lavatory in the Parish Centre situated on the north side of the church.
Our Service
The main service begins at 10am and is in the form of a sung Eucharist
The Eucharist
Do this in remembrance of me
The Eucharist is at the heart of Christian worship. It is celebrated by Christians around the world as a memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus, in response to his words at the final meal he shared with his disciples, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the Eucharist, God invites us to his table as a foretaste of the heavenly banquet which he has prepared for people of all nations and cultures.
Outwardly, the Eucharist takes the form of a shared meal of bread and wine, recalling the fact that, at the Last Supper, Jesus associated the breaking of bread and sharing of wine with his own imminent death, giving them special significance.
After his resurrection, the disciples recognised Jesus as he broke bread to share with them. Each time we share the meal Jesus shared with his friends, we remember his offering of himself on the cross, we rejoice in his resurrection from the dead, and look forward to the coming of God’s Kingdom.
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “ drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
(Matthew 26: 26-28)
The Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion, the Mass, or the Lord’s Supper), can take many different forms across the Church of England, and it may be understood by Christians in different ways, but at the heart of the celebration there is always a special prayer of thanksgiving, or ‘Eucharistic Prayer’ (eucharistein means ‘to give thanks’ in Greek). This is offered by the priest who presides at the service in the name of all who are gathered, giving thanks for all that God has given us in Christ.
At a celebration of the Eucharist, the community gathers, asks God’s forgiveness for its sins, listens to readings from the Bible including a passage from one of the Gospels. A sermon may be preached and the community prays together. and bread and wine are brought to the holy table (also called ‘the altar’), the priest prays the Eucharistic Prayer, and everyone says the Lord’s Prayer together. The community then receives the consecrated bread and wine. At the end of the service, the community is sent out into the world as a ‘living sacrifice’ to live and work to God’s praise and glory.
Getting Connected
Small Groups
While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.
Serving and Volunteering
If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.
Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit. |
Leadership
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Welcome to Stoke Damerel Parish website and it will be a joy and a privilege to receive your message. We are now a hybrid church with having both live services in our ancient parish church, but also have a presence with YouTube with livestreamed and recorded services. I welcome your enquiry and no question is ever too simple. |
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We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.