I’m not a Christian but I’m interested in coming to a service. Is that ok?
Yes! Church is for everyone, not just people who have already found Jesus. Sunday services are the activity we would recommend to join in with if you would like to get a feel for the church.
What happens during the eucharist part of Holy Communion (the bit with wafers and wine)?
When it’s the time in the service to receive communion, the congregation come up to the alter rail at the front of the church, filing out from the pews row by row from the front.
Step up to the front rail and kneel (if you can) to receive a communion wafer and drink from the communion chalice. If you would prefer to have your communion wine from a separate cup, leave the rail after you have taken your wafer, and there will be helpers providing small cups of communion wine at the side.
If you need gluten-free wafers, please try and speak to someone before the service starts so that we can make sure we have this ready for you.
You might prefer to receive a blessing rather than partaking in the communion eucharist. If this is the case, make your way to the alter rail with everyone else but when you kneel, keep your arms by your sides. When the vicar comes to you, they will put their hand on your shoulder and say a blessing for you.
I want to join in at St Stephen’s church and community, but I don’t know what I’d like to attend. What activities are there?
Our main service, and the one we recommend you come to if you are new to the church, is the Sunday Holy Communion service which is every Sunday at 11am. But if you prefer a smaller service without hymns, you could come to the Wednesday Holy Communion service at 11am.
Other things you might like to try are:
- Bible Study group – Wednesdays at 12pm
- The Gathering – Sundays at 4pm, a social gathering with games and/or Christian discussion at St Mary’s by Hawksworth wood LS5 3PT
- Volunteering – you might enjoy volunteering with us to garden, clean the church (we need more helpers for this!) or help out at the St Andrew’s food kitchen
If you have an idea for a different activity you would like to engage in with us, get in touch!
What is the structure of a Sunday Holy Communion service at St Stephen’s?
Our services are liturgical, which means that each week the congregation and the person leading the service say certain set things together (it’s all in the service book you’ll receive at the door).
So there is a set structure that you can rely on, but plenty of variety too, as the service will also have hymns, readings from the bible, and a sermon delivered by the vicar or associate priest. Afterwards everyone is invited to have tea, coffee, biscuits and cake! Some people like to stay behind in the pews after the service to sit quietly and think, or to draw, or to pray etc.
Is there a time when I can come and speak to someone at the church?
If you find yourself nearby and curious, you can always try the door – if it’s open come in and say hi! The church stays open for people to come and have tea and coffee for about an hour after Sunday services, so this is a great time to catch us in person.
Or call/email us and we’ll see if we can arrange something for you!
I have small children. Can I bring them to the service?
Absolutely! Families with small children often attend our Sunday service and we have a speical children’s table with felt pens, crayons, paper etc to stop little ones from getting too bored. We do just ask that you try and keep children quiet, or escort out children if noise can’t be helped, so that everybody else is able to focus on the service.
Within the next year we are hoping to set up a Sunday School which will run alongside our Sunday service. When this is up and running children will start the service with their grown ups in the main congregation, then will have the option to join in with some engaging activities relating to the service theme. They will then return to the main congregation in time to take communion with everyone else.
And don’t forget, we also have weekly and monthly children’s sessions too! You can read about those here.
If we haven’t answered your question, or you’d like to know more, please do contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Contact details are in the footer at the bottom-right of this page.
St Stephen’s Church, Kirkstall 