Everyone is welcome at our services regardless of age or background. You do not have to contact anyone beforehand to come to church.
As you arrive
You will be greeted at the door and given a hymn book and order of service. You may sit wherever you wish. There will be an offering plate as you enter the church; if you feel able to contribute financially towards the work of our church that is very much appreciated but there is no obligation to do so.
During the service
The service is usually led by our Minister Rev Rachel Wilson.* The service will include prayers, bible readings and singing.
- We pray to God because we need his help and believe that he hears and answers our prayers. In our prayers, we offer praise, confess our wrongdoings and ask for help for both ourselves and other people.
- We listen to God’s word from the Bible as the basis of our worship
- We sing because we believe God deserves our praise.
(* If the minister is on holiday or unwell, the service will either be led by another minister or the Worship Group which is made up of members of the congregation who have been trained in leading worship)
After the service
Some weeks there will be tea/coffee and biscuits to give people an opportunity to socialise with one another.
Online / Audio Worship
Our Sunday Worship is livestreamed on Facebook. A recording of the service is also available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC00ztH8Y86E0tiyeFEp2T8w
Holy Communion
‘We come because we love the Lord a little, and would like to love him more’.
We celebrate Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month, alternating between the two parishes. Anybody who loves and serves the Lord is welcome to take communion. If you do not feel comfortable doing so, you are welcome to simply sit during this part of the service.
Worship FAQ’s
What do I wear?
Whatever you feel most comfortable wearing! There is no dress code.
How will I know when to stand up / sit down?
We are usually seated for the prayers/ bible readings/sermons and stand to sing. We remain standing after the final hymn to receive the blessing. The minister /worship leader will give instructions if there is anything different.
I would like to come to church but am nervous of coming on my own / I need help with transport.
If you contact the minister beforehand, she will arrange for someone to accompany you.
What kind of music do you have?
We mainly sing from the Church of Scotland hymn book ‘Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise’ which has a mixture of traditional and contemporary hymns. In the Ruberslaw churches we are accompanied by our organist Mrs Ann Witherington, and in Hobkirk & Southdean we use downloads of recorded music.
Are children welcome at your services?
Yes. We do not have a separate Sunday School but believe children have the right to play a full part in our worshipping community. We believe that children who attend worship will learn how to behave in church from those around them. There are activity packs for children to use during worship. We all know that children are naturally wriggly and noisy, so please just relax – it is often less disruptive to let a child move around quietly than try to make them sit perfectly still. If you or your child is uncomfortable, please feel free to go out into the vestry – and come back whenever you wish.
Are your churches accessible to those with disabilities?
All of our churches are accessible by wheelchair.
There are hearing loop systems in some of our churches.