Families with children begin to arrive from 11.00 a.m. and go straight to the hall for refreshments where they are joined by people from the Traditional Service.

  At around 11.10 a.m. The Family Service begins. The style is commonly known as ‘cafe worship’ but all that really means is that the worship takes place with people sitting at tables, often with coffee cups, and the format is informal and interactive.

  Modern worship songs are used
with words displayed on the large
screen monitor and music either
played on piano or from the
computer files. The lesson or
teaching usually involves the
congregation in some way and
Powerpoint is a standard feature.

  The relaxed atmosphere means that young children are easily accepted and included and parents do not have to worry about their child disturbing whatever is happening.

  The service itself is never more than 30 minutes although timing is not important as the service and the fellowship is all part of the whole.

  This time is particularly helpful to parents of our ‘Pickles’ children (that’s our parent & toddler group) because it allows them to enjoy an experience of church as a family without the pressure of ‘noise control’.

  At special times of the year everyone meets together in the church for a different kind of ‘Family Service.’