Information for your first visit to Yate Methdist Church
Can I come to a service if I’m not a member?
Yes, we welcome people from all backgrounds; people who are Christians,
people who are unsure, and those seeking faith, perhaps coming into a
church for the very first time.
Will there be anywhere to park?
You can use the car park at the side of the church and there is free
parking in the street by the church. We also have permission to use
Hollister's carpark on Sunday mornings.
What do I have to wear?
Wear what you want to wear. You don’t have to dress a certain way.
Do I need to bring money?
No. We have a freewill offering during the service but there is no
obligation to contribute. When the offering plates are passed round,
some of our members place cash on the plates, and you’ll see others
using envelopes, containing their contribution to the church. Some will
simply pass the plate on without putting anything in. (Many of our
members have bank standing orders).
When I arrive, what will happen?
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the door by at least one of the
Welcome Team. You will find that they have badges with their names on
(and other members have badges with their roles in our church on them
too). When you pass into the worship area, please feel free sit wherever
you like, to wait for the service to begin and don’t be too surprised if
other people come over to speak to you and sit with you. We hope they do
so! This is part of our welcome to you.
Who do I ask if I have a question?
Any of the members wearing badges will be pleased to help with any query
you may have.
If I come to a service, how will I know what to do?
Our worship services vary in style, mixing modern with the more
traditional styles, reflecting the diversity in our congregation. The
words of all songs or hymns are on a large audio visual screen, as is
the chosen reading from the Bible. You do not have to sing. By all means
just follow the words on screen. No one will mind. The details for the
Bible reading are also given, so you can follow the reading in the Bible
if this suits you better. We will also have a time for prayer and a talk
(or sermon). Those of us who can do so stand up to sing and also stand
when the people who bring round the collection plates walk to the front.
We remain standing then while a prayer is said. Apart from this, we
usually pray in a seated position, not kneeling.
What if I have children with me?
For younger children, age-specific toys are available in a basket just
befre you enter the worship area. Most weeks families stay together in
church during worship for the first 10-20 minutes. Then there is an
opportunity for children to go to their own age-specific groups in
our fully-staffed
Crèche,
Sunday
Club, or
Christian
Peak. Parents are able to accompany their
children if they need help to settle into the groups. All our leaders and helpers have been subject to CRB/DBS checks
and we operate a rigorous safeguarding policy at the church.
How long des the service last?
Most worship services last about an hour – sometimes less,
sometimes a
little longer. This is the case when we have a Communion Service.
What if it’s a Communion service?
On one Sunday each month we have a service of Holy Communion. All who
wish to celebrate their love of Jesus are welcome to share in the bread
and non-alcoholic wine. You do not have to be a member of the Methodist
Church or even to have been baptised. The Communion table is Christ’s
table and this celebration of Jesus’s Last Supper with his disciples is
open to all to share. However, you may prefer not to receive the bread
and the wine and simply opt to receive a blessing.
What happens after the worship ends?
Tea and coffee are served in the New Room and we
hope you’ll stop for a chat!