I'm new

Welcome to St Michael's Church in Waddington.

St. Michael's is above all else – a family. As with inviting new friends to any family environment, we want you to feel welcome. Whether you have just moved to the area or if you are just looking for a new church we are glad you've found us. The best way to find out more about us is by coming on a Sunday morning but before you do that do feel free to explore the website or fill out the get connected form below.

What to expect

If you are new to church, some things are bound to seem strange. Please don’t worry we were all new at St Michael's once! The decision to be here is the thing that matters. 

At St Michael's we understand that going into a church for the first time can be daunting, so we always do our best to make it as easy as possible for our visitors and guests. First things first. We have no dress code so just come as you prefer (our Priest in Charge will often be seen wearing jeans). Also, you don't have to bring anything with you - just come as you are. Whilst a number of people from the congregation play an active role in our services, we want St Michael's to be as safe and as unthreatening a place as possible, so you will never be asked to do anything you do not want to do. Of course, if you want to get involved, please just ask. We love to see God using the gifts and skills of others in our services. Finally there aren't really any rules you need to follow except those of common respect for each other (and we would prefer if you would set your mobile phone to silent!).

PS. We don't have a car park so you will need to find a space to park your car on one of the side streets. You may want to park at the village hall off Mere Road and walk back to the church (about 5 minutes).

On arrival and during the service

When you arrive there will usually be at least two people at the front door to welcome you and make you feel comfortable when you arrive. They will be able to answer any questions and show you where to go. Don't worry if you arrive late - the doors are always open and you can slip into the back of church without anyone noticing.

You will be given an order of service leaflet and song book that helps you to join in the worship. Every church has slightly different customs around when to stand and sit, and the usual congregation has varied practice, so whatever you choose to do will be fine. The person leading the service will explain what to do and when. There are no reserved seats so sit anywhere you like and make yourself at home.  As you head to the seating area you will see a plate with money it. This is for the offering. Often people will give money to the church and its work in the community as part of their worship. There is not obligation to give, church is free, but we won't say no if you would like to support us in that way!

We invite you to take part in as much or as little as you would like. Our services usually last 1 hour to 1 hr 15 minutes and include:

• Bible readings

• Prayers – we talk to God because he listens and answers our prayers.

• Singing – we sing to celebrate who God is and all that he has done, especially through sending his son Jesus.

• A Sermon – because we believe God has something to say to our lives today from the Bible. 

• Communion - All are welcome to share in communion (the bread and wine that represents the body and blood of Jesus) and celebrate the meal that Jesus encouraged us to celebrate when we gather together. If you do not wish to receive communion, you can come up for a blessing instead – just come forward to the altar carrying your order of service.

We normally encourage children to be themselves and to wander back and forth between the chairs and the childrens area. Please feel free to bring whatever books, supplies or quiet toys to help them feel at ease. We know that multi-tasking is often how children participate, and prayer arises naturally as they learn to join in.

We try to ensure that all our printed literature and projected content use colour schemes and font sizes which are helpful for the partially sighted. Folders with large print words to songs are available on request. For the hard of hearing we operate a loop system. If you experience any problems with accessing our services, please do contact us.

After the service

We always have a drink and a biscuit together after the service  which is an ideal opportunity for you to get to know people. There is no charge - God gave freely to us and we pass it on whenever we can.