Worship

Servers provide a ceremonial and practical role during the Sunday Eucharist. By carrying either a candle or the cross into the service, aiding with the Gospel reading and assisting the preparation of the Eucharistic table, this is a role which helps the services run smoothly and aid the clergy with making sure things are ready to go at the right moments.

Being a server is a wonderful way to meet people, and learn more about Christian worship by helping to make it happen.

Servers are organised on a rota basis, and you can help as little or as often as you can and would like.

Intercessors lead the intercessions during the service, usually at the 10.30 Eucharist. With a few exceptions where we have services with set intercessions, intercessors write the intercessions themselves beforehand based on the readings and themes of the day, and may also draw on pre-written prayers found in Common Worship. Intercessions include prayers for the church, the world, the local community, the sick, and the departed. A list of names is kept online for those who prayers have been requested. Guidance and coaching is available for those who are willing to join the intercessory ministry and want to gain confidence in writing and sharing prayers in their own words. 

Readers read passages, sometimes referred to as ‘the lesson’, from the Bible out loud during services. For both our Sunday morning services we have a reading rota which is planned in advance, and other reading arrangements can be more informal. Readings are chosen from that week’s lectionary (the Church of England’s appointed readings), and the reader will receive the service sheet containing the lesson in advance by email. During the service, the reader goes to the lectern, reads the lesson slowly and clearly into the microphone, and then returns to their seat.