I'm new or visiting!

We appreciate that coming to a church service can be daunting, and it may be unclear what to expect. At St James we are committed to making worship accessible to all, and easy to understand and to follow. If you are new, we hope to ensure you (and any with you) are made comfortable.

Anyone - whether Christian or not - is most welcome to come to our church services and functions. Services are the most important thing we do as Christians - meeting together to worship God - and they're happy and friendly gatherings. 

After the service, please join us afterwards for morning tea in the Parish Centre building!

FAQs

  • Not at all! 

    Anyone – whether Christian or not – is most welcome to come to our church services.

  • There are no charges!  Church is free. 

    A collection is taken during regular worship, but giving anything is entirely voluntary. There is never any obligation to give towards the collection. 

    If you want to set up regular giving, check out this page

  • The dress code is casual.  Although you will see people in many different styles of dress, you will find many dressed casually – you do not need to be in your best clothes.

  • Bring them! We love having children in our worship services at St James! We have Sunday School at our 10 am and 1 pm services. Don't worry if your child makes some noise – we're sure God doesn't mind some noise in church. Plus, we think it important that the kids learn about God by the example their parents give them in worship.  

  • Naturally, ‘service’ or ‘assistance’ animals are always welcome at all services.

    We also welcome other animals to our services, if they are happy to be in your care and control and play nicely with strangers and other animals.

    We also have a special pet service during the year and all pets or pictures of pets are welcome.

  • Our weekly worship at St James' Church includes Holy Communion – a sharing together of bread and wine, in which we are invited to be part of God’s life in Christ. 

    We have an open table for Communion that all Christians can join, if your conscience or church allows you to share Communion with us.

  • If you prefer not to take the bread and wine, please feel comfortable staying in your seat for Communion. Or, you can join the queue for Communion and ask for a blessing. Holding your hands behind your back will tell the priest that you wish to receive a blessing.

  • Since Covid we have done things differently in greeting each other!

    It is quite okay to greet people around you without making physical contact.

    It’s okay to wave or bow or nod your head - anything friendly is okay - with the people around you at what we call the ‘greeting of peace’.

    If you want to shake hands, this is also okay if the other person puts out their hands to do the same.

    It’s okay for contact or non-contact, please respect each other’s choices..

What are the Church Services like and what can I expect?

Worship is typically about 60-70 minutes. 

We worship God by praying, singing songs/hymns, declaring our Christian beliefs, greeting each other, listening to Bible readings and hearing a message about them, and sharing Communion. As an Anglican church, we worship according to a pattern inherited from the early church that is now set out in A Prayer Book for Australia. 

Everyone is encouraged to participate, and it is easy to follow. 

We have everything you need shown on the big screens in our church now!

When words are marked in bold, we are invited to say them together. There are cues for times to stand and times to sit. If in doubt, follow everyone else!

At the 7.30am service, we sing our hymns accompanied by our choir and our magnificent pipe-organ.

At the 10am service, we sing our hymns accompanied by electronic organ or piano.

We also have ‘the greeting of peace’. Feel free to greet and wave or shake hands with those around you – the usual greeting we exchange with each other is 'Peace be with you!'

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SERVICE?

There are refreshments after the Sunday services, and you are most welcome to stay. People will hopefully introduce themselves to you. Don't worry about being left alone though – we will make sure you meet others and are made to feel at home and welcome.