Sunday services

We hold two services every Sunday: at 10.30 am and 6.30 pm (except once a month at the later time of 8.00 pm).

Our services are informal and, as far as we can make them, accessible to anyone.

You can find more details of services for the next few weeks here.

We would like to thank the Vicar and members of the Church of the Ascension, Stirchley, who made us so welcome while our own site was being redeveloped. We held our services in their beautiful building from September 2006 to February 2008.

"Good morning!"

Welcome to Christ Church!

The table set out for Holy Communion

Our main weekly celebration is the Sunday morning service, with provision for families and individuals across the whole age range.

On most Sundays, the children and young people (up to age 14) leave the main service after a quarter of an hour or so to join their own groups, while the adults stay in the main hall throughout. Every service includes praise, confession, a Bible reading, a talk (sermon) and prayer - and maybe much more.

We all meet up again after the service, when most people stay for tea or coffee (it is free).

Holy Communion

A celebration of Holy Communion recalls the Last Supper which Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. By receiving bread and wine we remember Jesus' death for our forgiveness and express our unity with him and each other.

At Christ Church we celebrate Holy Communion at least once a month in the morning, and once a month in the evening. Anyone who receives Holy Communion in their own church is welcome to join us.

All Age services

A different style of service is held on the first Sunday morning of each month. The activities are planned to be particularly accessible to children, who stay in throughout the service.

All Age services are meant to be just that - for all ages. They are a good introduction for anyone who is not used to going to church.

Evening services

Evening services are held in the more intimate surroundings of the smaller hall, which makes for a quieter and more reflective atmosphere than is possible in the morning.

Café Church

"Church but not as you know it!" Starting at the later time of 8.00 pm, this is an opportunity to explore issues relevant to society today and ask where God fits in. Quality coffee, tea and cakes are available.

Right: Café Church happens once a month

Music

We are fortunate in having some able and versatile musicians. This enables us to use a wide range of music, traditional and contemporary. A lot of effort goes into planning music that will integrate well with the rest of the service and will help people in their worship.

The majority of our music could be classed as "contemporary", drawn from books such as the Songs of Fellowship series. However, we don't feel obliged to use the latest songs just for the sake of it and we try to use the best from a wide range of sources, including Taizé, the Iona Community and songs from other parts of the world as well as modern and traditional hymns.

We are members of the Church Copyright Licence scheme which permits us to reproduce the words of most hymns and songs for use by the congregation. We also have a Calamus Licence which covers many more songs, mainly those from Catholic sources.

Collections... not

Of course we are grateful for any donations (which can be left in a plate by the door) but we don't expect visitors to contribute unless they want to, and our services don't include a collection. Most regular members of the congregation make donations through their bank or an envelope scheme.

Learning and growing

Teaching has always been an essential part of Christian practice, following the example of Jesus himself. We have an instruction manual - the Bible - but it is not written like a textbook, nor does it give pat answers to today's problems. In Christ Church the teaching in our sermons is aimed at helping us to understand the Bible's message, and above all to apply it to our daily lives.