The Alpha Course
If you are interested in discovering what Christianity is all about, then coming along to our Apha course is for you. It's so successful that churches all over the world run Alpha courses. At St.Andrews we run Alpha once a year over a 12 week period. No need to eat before you come, we provide a meal at each session, after which we view a short DVD clip to stimulate small group discussion and questions.
We are currently running one which will end in December but for information about the next course please contact Mike Miller via email or on 01753 689751 or go to http://uk.alpha.org/.
If you would like to discover more about the Christian faith or are looking for God, why not log onto the website Looking for God? " and look at the section "message from God". He is longing to meet you.
Life Groups
Christianity is an adventure in faith, but it’s not one we’re meant to take alone. As a church family we long to help each other follow Jesus and become more like him. The primary way we engage in this challenge is through our Life Groups (or "housegroups"), which meet at various times throughout the week.
These small groups, typically six to twelve people, usually meet in people’s homes for Bible study, prayer and friendship. They are all slightly different and are a great way to get to know people well and to support each other in our journey of faith and through life's difficuly journey.
If you’d like to know more please see this outline of each group and if you would like to discuss how joining a Life Group might help your spiritual growth, please contact Beryl Walters via email or on 01784 482092.
Music
We have two styles of music at the church - the choir and organ with traditional hymns, and a modern worship band with singers, sax, guitars, keyboard and drums. Come along and experience both kinds of worship.
If you are interested in playing or singing then contact Fr. Simon Douglas Lane on 01784 481258 or email.
Prayer
Our vision for St Andrew's is to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and to increase God's family through, amongst other things, our prayer. Prayer can take place at any time during our day but we pray especially at the Life Groups each week and during the Sunday morning church services, with prayer for healing every second Sunday.
If you would like prayer support or have an issue that you would like prayer for, please speak with Vicky Lipscombe on 01784 483551 or Mary Townend on 01784 483845.
Pastoral support
The church family aims to provide loving support to all those it touches. However, there are times for all of us when this is not quite enough and we need more help to cope with hard times in life.
Bereavement, anxiety, loneliness, difficulties in relationships or family crises are some reasons why we may need the comfort of a listening ear. At such times, our Pastoral Team is available to come alongside, listen and pray for those who may be concerned about some aspect of their lives or the lives of those close to them. Meetings can take place in your home or at a mutually convenient venue. Vicki would be happy to visit people in hospital.
Please contact Vicki Lipscombe on 01784 483551 or Sheila Ferguson (bereavement) on 01784 481154.
Mission Support Group
St. Andrew’s has a long-standing link with St. John’s mission Gwelutshena, Zimbabwe. Rev. Jacob Tschingwana, the priest in charge, ministers to 20 Christian Communities scattered over an area the size of Wales. His people are poor subsistence farmers with incomes of just a few pence a month. The Mission Support Group supports the communities' needs as they arise through prayer, donations of clothes and funding.
For more information on this mission work speak with Gerry Hunter on 01932 765949.