A warm welcome awaits you at all of our services each Sunday.  We all visit new places from time to time and the experience can be strange.  So, when you arrive at church you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' (steward) who will give you appropriate books and a pew sheet with details and notices.  The sidesmen will be pleased to respond to any queries you may have and we hope you will enjoy visiting St.Mary's.

ACCESS   A large Church Car Park is supplemented by ample roadside parking.  Please save the corner of the Car Park (by the Church Hall) for those who need to park closest to the buildings. There is a single toilet at the back of church but our fully accessible and modern toilet facilities are in the Church Hall.  You can choose to sit on soft chairs with lumbar support or harder upright pews.  The Church has a loop system, a ramp at each door, large print and braille song books, gluten free wafers, a flat floor for buggies and wheel chairs (users are encouraged to sit with their friends by making their wheel chair part a pew of soft chairs).  The sidesmen are there to help respond to any enquiries and help.  Further access information can be found here.

Times and details of services for the month are in the 'About Us - Services' section of this site; click here to go straight there.  Descriptions follow of the different services which are enjoyed by the congregation at St.Mary's.  They reflect a diversity of styles and so we hope you'll both find an act of worship which you can enjoy whilst also trying something new as you engage with others.

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

TRADITIONAL COMMUNION    30 to 40 worshippers gather to start each Sunday at 0800 with a said service of Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer.  A dignified and quiet 40 minutes to start the day with Bible readings, a sermon and communion is received at the rail in the 'sanctuary' at the front of church.  As you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will offer you a green prayer book and a pew leaflet with details and notices.  The service can be followed from page 31 of the green book.

COMMUNION & GROUPS    Between 50 and 80 adults and about 40 children gather at 1000 each Sunday.  A 'Common Worship' service is used and the choir will process at this relaxed service.  'Groups' refers to the activities which children and youth are welcome to attend in the Church Hall after the lighting of candles (by a child), some prayers and praise songs at the start to the service.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.  Communion is celebrated and received at the 'sanctuary' at the front of church.  The service and groups end at about 1115 and all are invited to refreshements in the Church Hall.

FAMILY COMMUNION    The regular 1000 congregation enjoy this more informal service at which the Music Group play, the communion table is in the centre of the church and we receive the bread and wine standing in a large circle around the church.  The children know this as 'Grape Sunday' because they enjoy participating in the celebration of the communion and in sharing grapes!  As above, they go to activities in the Church Hall but then return after 20 minutes to share in the communion.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.  The service ends at about 1115 and all are invited to refreshements in the Church Hall.

FAMILY WORSHIP    The 1000 service on the first Sunday of each month does not include communion or children's groups like the services above.  50-80 adults and about 40 children share in a relaxed and informal act of worship for all ages which is accompanied by the Music Group.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.  The service ends at about 1100 and all are invited to refreshements in the Church Hall.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS    The 1000 congregation enjoy special services from time to time like at Remembrance when we squeeze over 400 people in church or when we have a special visit or Confirmation service.  These are occasional and will be listed in the monthly schedule of services.

SUNDAY EVENING WORSHIP

A pattern which alternates an alternative style of worship (eg, Celtic,Taize or themed and hosted by a group) with traditional Choral Evensong.

EVENING COMMUNION    At 1830 on the first Sunday of each month about 40 people enjoy a very peaceful, quiet and moving communion service using new liturgies which may may reflect the Celtic or Taize traditions.  In the main we remain seated 'on the round' with the Lord's Table in the centre and a creative themed 'symbol' on the floor.  The choir lead us in the singing at this hour long service which, in the winter, is lit by candles.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.

EVENSONG     About 30 worshippers regularly gather at 1830 on the second and fourth Sundays of each month and enjoy this classic Book of Common Prayer service of psalms, readings and a sermon, supported chorally by the choir.  The service lasts for one hour.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a hymn book, a green prayer book and a pew sheet with details and notices.  The service starts on page 15 of the prayer book.

EVENING WORSHIP    The third Sunday evening sees a themed service ranging from 40 to 70 worshippers which may prepared and hosted by a Church Alive Group and may reflect a theme like Climate Change, or Wesley's Hymns, or be a service with healing prayer or a celebration of praise with the music group or younger people.  Details for the month can be seen in the 'about us - services' section of this site.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.

SPECIAL EVENING SERVICES    There are occasional services on special days like All Saints in remembering loved ones, or Christingle, or Sea Sunday where our service is held by the River Hamble, or at Easter.  The fifth Sunday of the month sometimes sees an extra choral communion to the classic Merbeke setting.  Details for the month can be seen in the 'about us - services' section of this site.  When you arrive you will be greeted by a 'sidesman' who will give you a song book, a service booklet and a pew sheet with details and notices.

AND ON THURSDAY... COMMUNION!   Don't forget you are welcome to the midweek Communion at 1100 each Thursday.  A traditional said Book of Common Prayer Communion but enjoyed by a dozen or more lively and friendly people.

We hope that the diversity of worship expressed at St.Mary's will both glorify God and be enriching for you.