For Christians, worship is at the heart of our reason for existing. We want to offer God the best we can but we know that he accepts us whoever we are and wherever we are in our life. In our worship at St Nicholas we want to reflect this by being inclusive and valuing everyone who comes, believing that they have a unique contribution to make. This is particularly important in what is quite a large town with many different people. In order to help this we have different styles of worship at different times.
EVERY SUNDAY
8.00am Holy Communion
A quiet, said celebration of the Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer.
10.30am The Parish Communion
This is the main service of the day at which people, both young and old, gather together to listen to God's word, to have it explained in a sermon, to sing his praise with the help of our church choir and to receive the bread and wine of the sacrament of Holy Communion or come for a blessing. During the service the children of the Sunday Kids Club group meet in the halls but join us during the Communion. At the end of the service we have an opportunity to hear or see what they have been doing. Coffee & tea are always served at the back of the church for a time of fellowship after the service. The service is based on Common Worship and when appropriate uses special seasonal material.
5.00pm Choral Evensong
At the end of the day, a reflective offering of the church with choir (said during August), hymns, Psalms, Bible readings, anthem, prayers and address.
WEEKDAY WORSHIP
Christian worship is not just a Sunday affair; it is for every day. On behalf of the Christian community and indeed the whole town, the parish church worships and prays each day.
Daily Prayer (Additionally live-streamed on our YouTube page)
Monday - Saturday 9.00am. We very much value the daily cycle of prayer. Anyone is most welcome to come and join the clergy and lay people who gather each day for these prayers. They last approximately 20mins.
Holy Communion - Thursday at 10.30am
Celebrated on Thursdays (market day) at 10.30am (followed by coffee & tea in the hall). It uses modern language and is shorter and more informal as well as containing a "Thought for the Day". It is held in the Memorial Chapel.
Private Prayer
The church is open from 9.30am - Dusk Monday - Friday. You can enter church at any time you wish for a moment of quietness and prayer.
Friday Prayer and quiet time. 9.30 am in the Memorial Chapel. A time of prayer and quiet reflection. Come for the whole hour or just come for how ever long you feel you would like to. Led by our Authorised Worship Assistant.
Prayer Requests
If you have a request for prayer, for yourself, your family, or anything you wish, then please ring the church office (01692 408971) or, when the church is open, use the prayer cards provided on the Intercession Board which is just inside the main door of the church. Your prayer requests will be offered at the Sunday Parish Communion, and during the daily prayers in church. The cards are there for others to read and include in their prayer as well.
Prayer Candles
Increasingly, people are learning the symbolic value of a lighted candle as a sign of Christ, the light of all our prayers. You may like to pray, and then in one of the chapels, light a candle to shine as a sign of hope and faith to others.
