{"id":6452,"date":"2019-11-06T17:45:01","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T16:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/?page_id=6452"},"modified":"2026-04-21T12:43:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:43:49","slug":"new-to-church","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/new-to-church\/","title":{"rendered":"New to Church?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New to Church? You\u2019re Very Welcome<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#084c69;background-color:#d1d7dc\">If you\u2019ve not really been to church before, or not sure what to expect? You\u2019re not alone. Many people aren\u2019t used to \u201cdoing church\u201d \u2014 but please don\u2019t let that put you off coming to <strong>Twynham<\/strong>. It\u2019s a special place, and we\u2019d love to welcome you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re a friendly church, open to anyone who wants to explore Christianity at their own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s no pressure to join in.<br>You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sit wherever you like<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wear whatever you\u2019re comfortable in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skip the collection if you wish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave early if you need to<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just come as you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What About Children?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile has-background\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184;grid-template-columns:40% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"523\" src=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services-1024x523.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6924 size-full\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services-1024x523.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services-300x153.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services-768x392.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services-1210x618.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Kids-in-Services.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Worried about noisy and restless children?<\/strong>  You won&#8217;t be the only one &#8211; so don&#8217;t worry.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We love having children in church. During the service we run <strong>Twynham Kids<\/strong>, where children head off to enjoy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fun games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And even breakfast together!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We also have a <strong>cr\u00e8che<\/strong> for babies and toddlers, and <strong>Twynham Youth<\/strong> for teenagers, where they share breakfast and explore what it means to have a relationship with God in a relaxed, supportive space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-43df6bf09742fc8f4b7d511d9ffeae1e wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Why Sunday?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunday is the traditional day when Christians usually gather together and is founded on the day of the week Jesus was resurrected from the dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A church service is a time when followers of Jesus come together to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"384\" data-id=\"6467\" src=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship-1024x384.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6467\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship-1024x384.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship-300x113.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship-768x288.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship-1210x454.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Worship.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"341\" data-id=\"6466\" src=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids-1024x341.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6466\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids-1024x341.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids-300x100.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids-768x256.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids-1210x403.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Kids.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"408\" data-id=\"6473\" src=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach-1024x408.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6473\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach-1024x408.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach-300x119.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach-768x306.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach-1210x482.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Preach.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"374\" data-id=\"6471\" src=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer-1024x374.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6471\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer-1024x374.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer-300x110.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer-768x281.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer-1210x442.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/prayer.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"374\" data-id=\"6469\" src=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship-1024x374.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6469\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship-1024x374.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship-300x110.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship-768x281.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship-1210x442.jpg 1210w, http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Fellowship.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hear inspiring stories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Worship (come close to) God<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage one another<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hear from God (through the teaching of the Bible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And enjoy life as a church family<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Services usually last between <strong>1 and 1\u00bd hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-05bc0f7447a5d17f998f969a53328476 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>What Happens in a Service?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-c12502b40a762a17e5c44fb9a97387dc wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We worship God together through reflection, singing and prayer (talking with God). Worship helps us focus our hearts and thoughts on the God who loves us and gave us hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes we also share <strong>communion<\/strong> (also known as the Lord\u2019s Supper, Eucharist, or Mass), using bread and wine to remember Jesus\u2019 sacrifice for us on the cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-132e3ab411121525126d4d3bddbc9c6a wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Testimonies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At times, people share personal stories about what\u2019s happening in their lives and how God is helping them. We may also hear updates about church work in other parts of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-08774eb252d312644c3fcc8876949868 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>A Sermon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sermon explores a Bible passage or theme to help us understand who God is and how we can live in relationship with Him and with one another today. No one has all the answers \u2014 we\u2019re learning together, one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-efab9c20122ada91221db1cd7e0cc68e wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Ministry Time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There may be time to reflect, pray, or ask for prayer from others. This is completely optional \u2014 if it feels uncomfortable, you\u2019re free to simply sit and listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-6c692807d736bb7f9cd000d930eb0e2d wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>Family Time<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An important part of church life happens <strong>after the service<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We gather for coffee or tea, biscuits \u2014 and sometimes cake! It\u2019s a relaxed time to chat, laugh, share life, and get to know one another this takes place in the Lounge (the room behind the stage) everyone is welcome for coffee tea, a biscuit and a chat<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need to talk to one of the leaders about anything at all please ask one of those who were at the door welcoming&nbsp; you in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-49b8685f7345eeb3b486576c0b6ab76f wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#3c6184\"><strong>More Than Sundays<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Church doesn\u2019t just happen on Sundays. We also run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/twynham-connect\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6893\">Connect Groups<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/friendship-group\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"6868\">The Friendship Group<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Courses such as <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/alpha-2\/\">Alpha<\/a><\/strong>, which introduce the Christian faith<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We try to live as one big family, and we\u2019d love for you to be part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Get in Touch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any questions, or would like to speak to the Pastor before you visit, please contact the church office on <strong>01202 473626<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Come along and have a look \u2014 you\u2019ll always be welcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#084c69\"><strong>Come along and have a look you will always be welcome.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New to Church? You\u2019re Very Welcome If you\u2019ve not really been to church before, or not sure what to expect? You\u2019re not alone. Many people aren\u2019t used to \u201cdoing church\u201d \u2014 but please don\u2019t let that put you off coming &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6922,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6452","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","ctfw-has-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6452"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7276,"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6452\/revisions\/7276"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.twynhamchurch.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}