"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Our Worship Services

We hold our worship services on Sunday evenings at Gorse Covert Primary School.  They start at 6 pm with a cup of tea, coffee or juice and a cake.  The Worship service itself starts at 6.30 pm and usually lasts about an hour.

What are Our Services Like?

Relaxed Informal Style
At Gorse Covert Community Church, we have always tried to create a relaxed and informal environment in which to worship the Lord.  Typically, our services include a time for prayer, quiet reflection, sharing, singing led by the Worship Band, visual and audio presentations to enhance the worship and a simple but relevant message which applies biblical teaching in bite-sized chunks.

Communion
Once a month we have a Communion Service.  Normally on the second Sunday of the month, those who are Christians are invited to share in Communion, usually at the end of the service.  There is an FAQ style guide to Communion at the end of this page.

Café Style Setting
Sometimes we have the worship service in a café style setting.  Instead of chairs being set out in rows, we set up tables and worship in a more social setting.

Our Volunteers
Before the service begins, there is a dedicated team of volunteers who set everything up, including preparing the seating, preparing and serving the food and drink, and operating the audio-visual systems.  There is someone at the door to welcome you and, if you are new, to help you feel relaxed and show you where to go.  The Worship Band who lead the music and singing also do their final practice.  There is a time of prayer amongst the team.  Planning for the services starts much earlier.  The themes (see below) and rota of helpers are worked out weeks in advance.  In the week before the service, the leader and preacher plan the details, the music is agreed and the Worship Band get together to practise.  All of these are essential and without the dedication of the volunteers, we would not be able to worship in the way that we do at Gorse Covert.

Themes
We often have a series of services over a period of weeks that are planned along a common theme.  Sometimes, these are also linked to a similar theme during our morning services; at other times they are specific to our Gorse Covert evening services.  If you are able to come along to several services within a theme, you will be able to see the topics develop, but even if you can only come along once, don't worry.  The services are planned so that they should still be of value to you.

Communion Services

When are the Communion Services?
We have a Communion service monthly, normally on the 2nd Sunday of the month, although this can vary if there are any special services.

Is the Service any Different?
The main part of the service is the same as normal, except that those who are Christians are invited to share in Communion during or at the end of the service.

What is Communion?
It is an act of remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.  When Jesus was at the last supper with his disciples he instructed them to do this.

What Happens?
After a prayer of thanks, bread is passed around and those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are invited to take and eat a piece.  Usually this is eaten as we take it, though the person leading will guide us.  The bread symbolises the body of Jesus and reminds us that his body was broken on the cross for us.  Similarly, small glasses of non-alcoholic juice are passed around and believers are invited to take one.  The juice represents Jesus’s blood shed on the cross and reminds us that this was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  We normally drink together.

Should I Participate?
We ask that only those individuals who have specifically asked Jesus into their life as their Lord and Saviour share Communion.  If you or your children have, then please feel free to partake.  If not, or if you are unsure, please just allow the plate or cups to pass by to the next person.

Updated 20/03/08