a warm welcome
As a visitor to Inspire Community we will extend you a warm welcome and encourage you to participate in the activities of the day. If you come with children to any of our gatherings on a Sunday they are more than welcome to join in with our Sunday school session, which will be announced during the main meeting.
when do we meet?
We have a mixture of days and times when our small groups meet, or when we gather together as a bigger group. We don’t necessarily have one big main service like you might be familiar with from other churches.
So, some of our meetings will be mid-week, and some will be at weekends, or on a Sunday. Please view our diary page for more information.
We meet typically to grow in our faith using a small group/discipleship group model, linked to an apostolic centre. This means, smaller, more personalised weekly groups linked to a larger gathering every few weeks. This is not the traditional style, or expression of ‘church’ that many may be familiar with, but it is the biblical expression that we believe God has led us to embrace at this time to help us make disciples, become revival ready, and to be prepared for the great end time influx of believers that is coming.
what are worship gatherings like?
Our worship gatherings usually follow a simple pattern, including a time of singing which we call Praise and Worship (which may include sitting, standing or dancing), followed by a message that is given from the front, and then an opportunity for people to receive hands-on prayer.
During the worship time people express their worship to God in different ways, by singing, raising their arms, clapping, dancing or by kneeling in prayer.
Some people call this ‘happy clappy’, but we say if you are going to worship God then make sure you have fun doing it, and the bible tells us that God sings over us too, so we think that He enjoys it when we are expressive towards Him.
These are all biblical patterns of worship; but do not feel pressured to do the same if you feel uncomfortable doing so. You are welcome to participate and to worship God in the way that you are most comfortable with.
We don’t use songbooks, but the words for the songs will be put up on a projection screen or overhead. If the songs are unfamiliar to you, you can simply listen and reflect upon the words until you feel confident to join in.
The Praise and Worship is often mixed with times of prayer and notices. Sometimes the prayers are led from the front, and sometimes they come from individuals in the congregation, as God leads.
During the worship time the children will be invited to go to another room to enjoy their own time of interaction and teaching, involving games, craft and other fun activities.
how long do they last?
A typical worship meeting can last up to 2 hours, this is because it is more than just attending a ‘service’ where you come and go. Instead we including a time of worship, an inspirational message, prayer ministry, and fellowship. It is about spending time together, and building community and relationship, which is more than just ‘attendance’. Don’t worry if you can’t stay for the whole time and have to leave early, that’s okay.
the message
Each week we have a time of teaching and ministry from the bible. Where someone shares a message that they have been led to bring to us.
It is our belief that the bible is the literal inspired word of God which is to be used for teaching us about God, His nature and character, and to reveal to us how we should live our lives; it is also useful for demonstrating how God loves us as individuals, and for correction and guidance when we sin.
ministry times & prayer
After the message there is often a time of where people are invited to respond to what has been shared, or to come forward with needs that require prayer.
During this time you may see people falling over, or crying, or shaking as they are prayed with. Do not be alarmed, this is how some people react as a result of God meeting with them, and is a natural response that is described in the bible.
If you have a need and feel that you would benefit from prayer, or wish to know more about becoming a Christian, then come forwards, ask your host, or one of our members to help you so that we can pray for you.
offerings
We don’t normally take up offerings during our meetings unless there is a specific reason to do so; so you won’t feel uncomfortable about having to contribute to a collection.
Our income comes from our members / believers who practice the biblical principle of tithing to God. If you want to make an offering, or donation to the work, then there opportunity to do and we would welcome this, but there is no pressure to do so.
communion
When we gather in our larger or smaller groups we may have a time of communion during the meeting. This involves breaking bread and taking some juice in remembrance and reflection on what Jesus Christ did for us when He died for us on the cross to take away our sins, and the fact that He rose again three days later.
Communion is an act for those who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus. You are welcome to join us taking communion, but if you are uncertain about this there is no pressure or obligation on you to participate, it is a personal act of reflection and thanksgiving.
family Services
From time to time we have family services, which are slightly shorter than a typically meeting. These follow a similar format to a normal weekend gathering, with praise and worship and a message, however the children stay in the meeting for the message is usually presented in a more interactive style.
Both the children and the adults usually have a lot of fun participating or watching someone else ‘volunteer’ to participate, all in good fun with a serious point.
asking Questions
People sometimes find it difficult to ask questions about spiritual things, however at Inspire Community we most definitely encourage people to explore and discover the meaning of their Christian belief, so, we are very open to people asking questions about faith, about what goes on in the meetings, or about anything else they see happening. God is not afraid of any questions you might want to ask of Him, and neither are we.
Come again
We trust that you will enjoy your time with us, that God will reveal Himself to you and that you will either want to visit us for the first time if you’ve only seen us online, or to come back again if you have already visited us.
We enjoy seeing new visitors, whether you are looking to find out more about the Christian faith, visiting because you are in the area, or because you have a need to be restored or healed. We also welcome those who are seeking a deeper walk with God or perhaps a new place to worship.
Whatever reason you come to visit us may God Bless you, and if you want to get, or stay in touch then just contact us through our Getting in touch page, or leave your details with one of the leadership team.