What to expect at a service?

Going to a new church for the first time can be very daunting, especially if it is the first time you've been to a service anywhere for a long time. The aim of this guide is not to explain every aspect of the service (and it wouldn't make much sense until you've experienced it anyway), but to help put you at ease.

The important thing to remember is that no-one will be taking notes about what you do or don't do. If you come to the 8.00am mass or to evensong on a Sunday you will be part of a smaller congregation so you may well feel a little more self-conscious; the congregation at the main 10.00 parish mass is much larger however, and you won't be the only person coming for the first time. We hope you will find it easy to relax and be absorbed in what is going on in the service.

When you arrive someone should greet you at the door and give you a service booklet, a hymn book, and the weekly sheet. Feel free to sit anywhere in the church (except for some special occasions, you don't need to worry about reserved seats) . Children are welcome at all our services, but the 10.00 service is when we particularly cater for them. There is a self help creche for the youngest children, and Sunday School for older pre-registered children. For child protection reasons, we can not take unknown children out of the church until your child is registered with us. It is fine to keep your child in church with you during the service, but if the child gets restless it would probably be kinder on them as well as on the rest of the congregation to take them out for a bit - we really do not mind if you feel the need to pop into the church centre (with toilets and a place to listen to the service from the speakers) and come back - those praying and worshipping will be very grateful for your consideration.

At communion time, people go up to stand or kneel at the edge of the dais to receive communion. If you are accustomed to receiving communion at another Christian church, then you are welcome to receive communion here. If you do not wish to receive communion, you can still come up to receive a blessing - if you carry the service booklet with you this serves as a sign to the priest that this is what you want. Children are also encouraged to come up for a blessing. Please remember that this is a very sacred part of the service for those coming close to God in the Holy Sacrament; a prayerful atmosphere is still needed.

After the service, please come through to the hall for tea or coffee and to meet others. You will hopefully receive a warm welcome, but not everyone will realise you are new (someone you assume is a regular member of the congregation may be new themselves, or they may think that you've been coming for a while and are a bit embarassed that they can't remember who you are) so do tell them! And do make yourself known to one of the clergy. If you think you will want to make St Thomas' your home, there are family membership forms available for you to fill in.