FAQs
Do I have to dress up?
Not unless you want to! Come just as you are.
Can I bring my children?
Please do! We warmly welcome children to our services. We have activities for them at the the 11.00am Gathering Service , and there is always a children’s area, with toys and books, for babies and toddlers.
More information about our activities for children and young people can be found here.
I am in a wheelchair, is there somewhere for me to sit?
Yes. Someone will help you to find a place to sit.
Do you have a loop system for hearing aid users?
Yes we do.
What happens at a service?
When you arrive, someone will welcome you. They will give you any books you need for the service: usually a service book with all the words to be said and another containing the words of the songs. At the Gathering Service, all the words are projected on to the screen.
Someone will help you to find somewhere to sit if you are uncertain.
The service book shows you when you should stand and sit, but don’t worry if you don’t get everything right. No one is watching and checking that you are doing it correctly. The important thing is that you want to come and meet with God.
During the service we sing some songs and say some prayers – for our world, for our community, for those we know and for ourselves. There are readings from the Bible and often a talk or sermon to help us explore and think about the things we have heard, said and sung.
When it’s a communion service, we gather at the altar (the table near the front) to receive bread and wine. We believe God wants to meet you here, and he welcomes everyone to receive from him. So anyone who follows Jesus is welcome to receive the bread and wine, or if you are just exploring faith or don’t feel comfortable receiving communion at the moment, you can come forward for a blessing instead. Someone will point you in the right direction at the right time .
During the communion service, we also ‘share the peace’ halfway through. This reminds us that part of being a Christian community is about caring for and forgiving one another. At this point of the service, we demonstrate this by greeting each other. Some of us do this by shaking hands. Others by exchanging kisses or hugs. Please do what feels comfortable for you and the other person.
After the service, we are sent out to serve God in our daily lives.
If you are new, please do come and see one of the team after the service. We would love to meet you. If you want to be quiet and anonymous, that’s absolutely fine, too.
What is the ‘Book of Common Prayer’?
This is the traditional prayer book of the Church of England which has been used since 1662. Large parts of it are even older. Until forty years ago, all Church of England services were from this book.
The Book of Common Prayer (or BCP) is marked by beautiful and dignified language which speaks deeply to our human experience. It honours the awe and majesty of God, and reminds us that He is a loving Father, close to each of us. It also reminds us that sin is serious but God assures forgiveness and restoration to all those who turn to him in faith.
The BCP was called ‘Common’ because it was written in the language used and understood by everyone at the time. Many of its phrases have become familiar parts of the English language: ‘Till death do us do part’, ‘read, mark, learn and inwardly digest’, ‘peace in our time’. It is known to, and loved by, generations of people around the world. We are proud to continue to use it as a vital part of our worship. The Prayer Book Society celebrates the BCP, encourages its use and is a great source of information about this cherished part of our tradition.
What is ‘Common Worship’?
The Book of Common Prayer remains beautiful and resonant but it is no longer in the ‘common’ language. For some people this language is a barrier to God. Because of this, the Church of England introduced modern language services in the 70s then launched ‘Common Worship’ (or CW) services in the new millennium.
These use more modern language which provides greater clarity and meaning for many people. They are also more flexible and can be adapted to the context of the congregation and occasion.
However we still need carefully considered words to share, express and explore both what we believe about God, and our deepest thoughts and emotions. Because of this the CW services are still marked by poetry and a depth of thought and reflection.
What is Communion?
The night before he died, Jesus had a meal with his friends, sharing bread and wine with them. He spoke about this being a sign of the new relationship between them and God to be brought about by his death and resurrection. The bread was a sign of his body and the wine a sign of his blood. He told his followers to go on sharing this meal when he was no longer with them to remember what he had done.
This meal is known as The Last Supper. The church service that commemorates it has different names in different churches: Holy Communion, the Eucharist, or Mass. At KPC we usually call it Communion.
As we remember Jesus’ last meal at Communion, we remember:
- We too are forgiven and reconciled to God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- We all need God’s help and love.
- We are a church together, not alone. We are a group of imperfect people who need each other’s help and love as we try to follow Jesus and share his love in the world.
- Everyone is invited to come to eat and drink, to be renewed and nourished by God’s love.
This song, by Stuart Townend, is a great reflection on some of what communion means.
