What To Expect
If you’re thinking about coming along some Sunday, here are a few things you might like to know:
What do the services involve?
At a normal Sunday service we read & study God’s Word, sing songs, pray & share fellowship together.
We have a praise team that leads our worship with a range of instruments including piano, organ, guitars, drums, violin. We normally sing 4-5 songs through the service, with the words being up on powerpoint. This is a mix of both newer and older songs.
Sermons normally last around 30 minutes as the pastor continues whatever series he’s preaching on each week. Our normal process is to work through books of the Bible. If you’re interested in finding out more, please go to our ‘sermons’ page.
We do provide crèche facilities during the service. Before the sermon, children under 3 are able to leave & go into our church hall to play with toys. We have a team of volunteers who look after these children during the service.
At the end of the service, we have communion. This usually lasts around 20 minutes & is for believers in Christ (for more information, see below). There is a short break before communion if you do not wish to stay.
Is there a dress code?
No, we want you to feel comfortable as you worship with us. There is a good mix in our church – some wear suits whereas many others dress casually.
As a Baptist Church, we practice 2 ordinances
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper or Communion is celebrated every Sunday in Baptist Churches. We meet around the Lord’s Table towards the end of the morning service to remember Christ in His own appointed way. The only condition for partaking in this ordinance is that the person is saved by grace and seeking to live a Christian life consistent with the Word of God. We do this in view of Christ’s command to remember Him and His death on our behalf on the cross – ‘For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me”. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes’ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Baptism
We believe that the New Testament teaches baptism by full immersion for all who have repented of their sin and put their trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. It is a public declaration of a believer’s inward faith in and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
- We obey the command of the Lord Jesus to the church (Matthew 28:19).
- We follow the example of Jesus, who was baptised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17).
- We continue the practice of the first Christians who baptised all who responded to the preaching of the gospel by immersion (Acts 2:37-41).
- We participate symbolically in the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-11).
- When we go under the water, we symbolise dying to sin and our old way of living. When we come back up out of the water, we symbolise being raised to new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
- We declare our faith in Christ and our commitment to live a new life in the power of the Spirit.
- We are then able to join the local church in membership (baptism is a condition for membership in Baptist Churches).