What to Expect

When you first arrive at St Margaret’s, if you are coming by car you will park in the Cricketers Car Park in Rainham (parking charges apply on a Sunday) and walk down the path through the graveyard to the entrance of the church.

8AM SERVICE

At the 8am service the door will be open and you will be greeted by one of our welcome team who will give you a service sheet. Don’t be worried about the service sheet – essentially, if it’s in bold type, people in the congregation join in saying the words and the rest is said by whoever is leading the service. Find a pew – there is no reserved seating.

It is always a Communion Service and contains no music or singing. It will start with a procession down the centre aisle of whoever is helping in the service. They will be in robes, but don’t worry, people who come dress casually so come as you are.

When it comes to Communion (distribution of bread and wine) someone will direct you to go up to the wooden rail (altar rail) at the front of the Church. If you don’t want to please don’t worry as some people like to just stay in their seats. Anyone who normally receives Communion in their home church is welcome to take it here. If you don’t want to have the bread and the wine you can come up for a blessing (special prayer) – just keep your hands by your side. There is gluten free bread and non alcoholic wine available.

During the service there will be a collection taken to support the work and mission of the Church. Please don’t feel you need to give if you are a visitor – just pass the bag onto the next person.

It will last just under an hour and some people go to a local coffee shop after the service.

10.30AM SERVICE

The 10.30am service is a Communion service (apart from the fifth Sunday of the month when it’s an ‘All Together’ Service) that has hymns, a choir and some other parts of the service are sung.

Coming in you will be greeted by one of our welcome team – all the words you need will be on the screens. Don’t be worried about the words – essentially if it’s in bold type people in the congregation join in saying the words and the rest is said by whoever is leading the service.

Find a pew – there is no reserved seating. The service will start with a countdown showing that we’re about to begin.

You may see someone carrying a red book which is the Gospels (four books in the Bible). When it comes to the reading from the Gospel, you may see people bring the red book to the back of the Church where the reading takes place. This is to symbolise taking the Gospel (the Good News of Jesus) out into the world.

When it comes to Communion (distribution of bread and wine) someone will direct you to go up to the wooden rail (altar rail) at the front of the Church. If you don’t want to come forward, please don’t worry as some people like to just stay in their seats. Anyone who normally receives Communion in their home church is welcome to take it here. If you don’t want to have the bread and the wine you can come up for a blessing (special prayer) – just keep your hands by your side. There is gluten free bread and non alcoholic wine available.

At the end of the service refreshments are served at the back of the Church so please do stay and chat as we would love to get to know you more.

The service lasts around 1hour 20mins and some wear their ‘Sunday Best‘ whilst others wear jeans and t-shirt so please don’t worry. If you have children, feel free to bring them to 252Kids which runs in the Millennium Centre while you come for the service.

THE 6:30

The 6:30 is very relaxed. As you come in people will normally gather at the back of the church and grab a drink, whilst catching up with each other and saying hello to new folk. Please help yourself to a drink – they will be available on the table, make yourself at home.

Around 6.30pm we will then gather in the pews and there will be a short opening prayer followed by a time of singing. There will then be a bible reading and a talk followed by a time of prayer. After this there will be more singing and then a final prayer.

The service lasts just under an hour and is followed by more refreshments at the back of Church.

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