10:30am - Morning Service

Barley Hill Church has been meeting in Barley Hill School since May 1993 and you may wonder what happens on a Sunday morning. It starts with one of the school site managers opening up the school at 9.30. A team of people arrive to get the school ready for a service, chairs are put out, the sound and vision equipment readied and tested. Our aim with these preparations is to make Sunday morning a welcoming place to come, we try hard to be inclusive and very family orientated.  There will be someone on the door to welcome you and to make sure you know where you are going. The service starts at 10.30am and we normally end by 12.00pm. The last half hour is spent having coffee or tea which gives time to talk and meet up with each other.

One of the church members will lead the service, you won’t be asked to do anything strange or to say anything you don’t want to. All the songs and words are projected on a screen so the service is very easy to follow. We have a time of worship and Paul one of our worship leaders describes what that means for him like this, “I play with and sometimes lead the worship group at BHC and have done so for over 10 years now. My instrument is the guitar and we play a range of songs and hymns both old and modern and in a variety of styles. I really enjoy having the opportunity to play with other musicians as part of a group. I believe that music is an important component of a Service – something special happens when all the instruments are in harmony and the congregation is singing praises”

As well as worship we also have a Talk where we explore together what the bible says about living. Victor one of our preaching team has this to say about the Talks “The Christian scriptures are a mystery at times, but a little digging can reveal them to be an abundant source of encouragement and strength. It's great to discover these riches together as a church family, and be constantly reminded of God's active love for every one of us.”

We have a large number of children and young people attend church each week and they have their own program which is specifically geared around them. They have a lot of fun activities as they start to learn about Jesus.

For the last half hour of our time together we spend time having a coffee or tea for a time of fellowship. Marion from the coffee team puts it this way “We are a small group who provide coffee, tea, squash and biscuits, at the end of each service. This helps provide a social time for everyone, a chance to discuss the talk or catch up and have a chat with old friends and make new ones.” As well as coffee and biscuits we also have a team ready to pray with anyone. Chris one of prayer team wants to share this “There is an opportunity at the end of BHC services for those with a special need or a special joy to share it on a confidential basis with members of the prayer ministry team for thanks and prayer to the God who we believe and have seen does answer prayer when we come to Him. We have seen many answers to prayer, encouragements of all sorts, and those in special need have been able to connect with God in a way they might not have achieved on their own. “

Then the teams that set up the hall for church reverse the process and leave the school ready for Monday morning. We would love to see you and make you welcome any Sunday morning.