Sunday Gatherings
At GBC, we believe that as church family, it is good to meet together to worship the Lord as one body and for all ages to be welcomed and transformed by the preached Word of God (Romans 10:17). We believe that it is the job of the whole church to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord (Psalm 78) which is why we invite children into our Sunday Morning Gatherings, so that we can all learn from God's Word together. For more on the benefits of all-in worship from a parent's perspective, check out this article on the Gospel Coalition:
Why We Embrace Children in Our Worship Service.
Our all-in services include Bible Bites and action songs, especially for children and young people, which introduce the sermon's theme in an exciting and interactive way. We also provide fun sermon packs for each age group to help them engage with the sermons in a way that is accessible to them.
What to Expect . . .
Here is a brief outline of what to expect on a typical Sunday at GBC (timings approximate!):
10:20 - Arrive
Expect a warm welcome from our Welcome Team, who will answer any questions you may have and help you find a seat. Don't forget to pick up your monthly copy of Grange News to find out what's going on throughout the month and grab a Bible on your way in! We leave seats near the back for latecomers and many of our families choose to sit there together. Toilets can be accessed via the side door from the car park. See our general Sundays page for more general info about what to expect on a Sunday.
10:30 - Our Worship Service Starts
The whole church family, every age and stage from pre-schoolers to pensioners, worship the Lord together as one body and hear what He has to say to us from His Word. They'll be singing, prayers and some notices.
10:50 - Bible Bite and Actions Song!
Every Sunday, we have a 5-minute 'Bible Bite', especially for children and young people, which introduces the sermon's theme in a fun and engaging way. Expect an interactive talk with quizzes, drama and lots of visuals! After this, we have an actions song, which also relates to the sermon's theme. Kids, teens and adults alike enjoy joining in with these!
11:15 - Bible Reading and Bible Talk
Following more prayers and singing, the Bible passage is read out loud and then it's time for the main event: the Bible Talk (sermon). Age-differentiated packs with clipboards are handed out to every child and young person as the sermon begins, which will help them get the most out of it. These include: a colourful worksheet with questions/puzzles that follow the sermon's main points, extra colouring/ Bible activity sheets, sweets, stickers and stationary. Parents are encouraged to support their children as they listen and use the sheets, but Laura, our Children's, Youth and Families Lead, is always on hand to offer extra support when needed!
12:00 - Coffee Time
After the formal part of our service is over, refreshments are served in the church hall as we spend time getting to know each other, making new friends and encouraging each other to follow Jesus with the truths we've just heard from God's Word.
If you would like to help your children understand more of what's going on as we gather on Sundays, we suggest purchasing this book: "God Made Me for Worship" and reading it with them. Here's what others have said about it:
You can buy it from 10ofThose here.
If you have any questions about any of the above, contact Laura, our Children's, Youth and Families Lead: laurasutton@grangebaptist.org.uk