A new service for new Christians

Over the past year we have set time aside for those who would like to know more about the Christian faith – those who are new to it, and those returning to it.

Twice a month a group of around 8-10 people have gathered to explore a topic covering some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, with courses on the Lord’s prayer, the creed, and the promises made at baptism. The courses are designed to help us explore how we encounter God in the world around us, in one another, as well as in the Bible and the sacraments; who God is, and what all this means.

The evening ends with a service of compline. Compline, or night prayer, has been prayed for over 1500 years. In this service we commend ourselves and those for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of God.

We reflect on the day drawing to a close, giving thanks for what has been good, seeking forgiveness for the things we have done wrong, or the things we have failed to do.We end by asking God to bless us, and give us rest.

The chance to pause with others and ask questions, tell stories, and consider what the Christian faith might mean to us, is a gift. In a busy world these evenings can feel like a luxury, but they’re not: they help us find what is truly important in life – the presence of God among us.

These courses and services have helped some of our community to take their next steps of faith, including baptism and confirmation and they will begin again in September, when we will turn our attention to the Bible: what it is, how it was given to us and how we should read it.

Keep an eye on our website for dates and information about September’s compline services. Or, if you’d like to talk to our Vicar about baptism, confirmation or exploring faith more generally, you can contact vicar@allsaintshove.org.