Coming to Church can be very daunting for some people. particularly if you haven't been for a long time or indeed at all.
The first thing to say is that you will be made very welcome at Holy Trinity and our welcoming process at Holy Trinity begins even before you leave the comfort of your own home.
We want you to enjoy your visits to church and we also want you to feel comfortable. Therefore, on this page we have tried to answer a few frequently asked questions, which will hopefully help you to take the first step in finding true meaning and fulfilment in life. However, before we get into the questions it is worth repeating, that you will always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome at Holy Trinity Cookridge, because as our motto says:
Church is not something you go to, it is the family to which you choose to belong.
Knowing this is important, because it helps us to understand that we do have a choice and that choice is God given, given because of the love that God has for each and every one of us.
God loves us so much that he wants a relationship with us, no matter who we are and he does this through his church, the church founded by Jesus Christ for the building up of God's kingdom on earth, but as with many things in the modern world there is a lot of misinformation around about the church, for instance:
Coming to Church is very boring.
"It is repetitious, predictable and is a meaningless ritual performed for those in the know. I would rather stay in bed. I work hard all week and I deserve my extra sleep!"
Church is repetitious, yes, but it only reflects the lives that we all lead which are also repetitious, because the days of our lives are structured around the seasons and the cycles of work, meals, family life and social activities. Any of which can become boring if we don't strive to find something interesting or enjoyable about them.
Therefore, it is safe to say that Sunday mornings in church will never be boring, a bold statement, but a true one, because, if you approach God and His church with an open mind you will be able to use your time in church well. Use the peace and the worship to open yourself to God, allow yourself space and time to think, to pray and to reflect on the things that have happened during the week and to ask God to direct your life in the week ahead. However, remember that church is also a community, meaning that there will also be the opportunity to make new friendships and renew old ones. Church allows us the time and space in which to to do this and so we can share our lives fully, sharing our joys and our problems as well as taking the time to thank God for all that he gives. Therefore, we learn that church is not boring at all and who knows by coming you might just meet the most wonderful and life giving man the world has ever know, I am of course referring to Jesus Christ.
In short the objective in going to church is to seek to build a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and those who share the Christian Faith.
Many people go to church to fulfil an obligation as if they have to get a tick in Gods register, if this is the case the Christian faith and the worship is reduced to actions without meaning, because we must always remember that Christian worship is all about an encounter with God and with other people this is called community and this is what changes who we are.
Church is unnecessary prayer can be done alone.
Yes, we can pray alone that is true, however the bible says:
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.' (Hebrews 10:24-25).
It is true that we are influenced and become like the people we associate with, by getting together with people who share our faith we are affirmed and encouraged, which helps us to realise that we are never alone, a problem shared....
There are three spiritual pillars to a strong Christian life: personal prayer, collective worship and bible study and fellowship. To rely on less than all three is like trying to sit on two-legged stool.
Churches impose rules and then make you feel guilty if you don't measure up.
One of the biggest reasons for the breakdown of families and family life these days is the lack of moral standards. Most people who call themselves Christians cannot even say the Ten Commandments much less live by them and without recourse to a moral code it is without doubt much easier to do your own thing and not feel guilty about it. However, the question we must ask is why do I sometimes feel guilty, even though I don't want to?
Guilt is part of our conscience, which is a gift from God and our consciences help us to choose right from wrong. The Church does not exist to make you feel guilty, we are only here to help you towards the ultimate gift, which God offers all people, the gift of eternal life. For more information about this, please see our page on the seven sacraments.
Who comes to Holy Trinity?
The answer to this question is very short, anyone and everyone comes and our congregations range in age from the very young to the elderly. People come from all kinds of different backgrounds and ethnicity to worship God in our church and they travel from far and wide to share in the wonderful worship we offer.
What happens at your Services?
Our normal service on a Sunday morning is called the Mass or the Holy Eucharist and it is here that we encounter Jesus Christ in both word and Sacrament as we worship together and as we are taught about the bible readings that we will hear. Hymns will be sung and there will be some readings from the Bible, normally one from the Old Testament, followed by a Psalm and then a reading from the New Testament, finally there will be a reading from one of the four Gospels. The Priest or our Lay Reader will then preach a homily. This is followed by the Eucharist, with those who are confirmed receiving Holy Communion, all are welcome to receive a blessing at our services and if you are confirmed or receive communion at your church you are welcome to do so at Holy Trinity.
Finally there is the dismissal and afterwards, we share a time of fellowship over tea or coffee before making our way home.
How long do your services last?
The Mass on Sunday morning typically last for about an hour and there is a Junior Church for any children who come to church, but this is not compulsory and children are free to choose to stay in church if they so wish. Our midweek services normally last between twenty and thirty minutes.
What time should I arrive?
Arriving a few minutes early will allow you to find the most appropriate spot in the church, especially if you are coming with your family or friends and would like to sit together.
Will I be asked to do anything during the Mass?
No, you have nothing to fear! Whilst we encourage the congregation to play a full and active role in the life of our church, we want people to feel as though it is there decision, so you will never be asked to do anything you do not want to do. Although eventually we do hope as your confidence builds that you are able to play your full part in the life of our church as disciples of Christ.
Why bother going to church when all they want is money!
If you choose to get involved in any kind of group, it will cost you in time and money. It is true that, if you don't get involved in anything, you will have maximum control of your time and money. However, you will miss friendships and opportunities to be a good influence in the lives of others. Giving in church is not compulsory and the money you give simply helps to keep the church open, because as with most churches in the UK today, it does cost well over five thousand pounds every month to keep Holy Trinity open.
Can I bring my children?
Absolutely! Children are very welcome at Holy Trinity and we would love them to become fully involved in the life and worship of our church. There is as we say a Junior Church where your children will be well looked after, as well as being taught about the Christian faith. (they will be learning about the same things as those present in the main service) This normally involves making something and writing a prayer, which the children normally say at the end of Mass.
We also hold special workshops as we prepare for Easter where the children can come and spend a morning in church, helping to get things ready for our Easter celebrations. In practice this normally means making banners and decoration, lots of fun, quite messy but very worthwhile.
What is the dress code?
The simple answer is, there is no dress code - we want you to feel comfortable, so just come as you are!
How do I get more involved?
There are all sorts of ways to get involved in church, whether it is participating in a group, or assisting in the various activities run by the church. You can if you feel called become a server at Mass, you can read the lessons and lead the intercessions. There are also lots of jobs to be done cleaning, tidying and gardening are it seems endless. If you have an idea of what you would like to do, please have a word with Fr Paul.
I have heard that the church has different seasons throughout the year, is this true?
Yes, there are different seasons throughout the churches year, these are denoted by the different colours worn by the priest during the mass and during the seasons we remember and focus our worship on different aspects of Jesus' life.
The Christian year begins with the season of Advent this is a season of preparation. This is a time of year when we focus our minds on the the coming of Christ from two perspectives both as a baby born in Bethlehem, which we celebrate with his birth at Christmas and we also think about his second coming at the end of time.
Advent offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and asks Jesus' followers to be alert for his Second Coming.
Advent is followed by the season of Christmas, which is a season of celebration, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, it begins on the 25th December and lasts for twelve days, ending after midnight on twelfth night.
Lent is a solemn season in the liturgical year, lasting for a period of 40 days in preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Holy Thursday when we enter the Triduum.
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday as it should be known is the day on which Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. Only hours after the Last Supper, Judas would betray Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, setting the stage for his Crucifixion on Good Friday.
On Good Friday Christians commemorate the passion, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ and many Christians spend this day fasting, and praying, although Mass in not said today we still receive Holy Communion from that reserved on Holy Thursday.
The final day of the Easter Triduum is Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday, is the day on which we celebrate the Vigil Mass of Easter. The Easter Vigil Mass takes place after sunset and properly belongs to Easter Sunday, since liturgically, each day begins at sunset on the previous day. Easter is celebrated as the day on which Jesus rose from the dead.
Easter is a movable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox, meaning that the date of Easter varies between 22nd March and 25th April.
Then we begin a fifty-day period called Eastertide, or the Easter Season, which ends on Pentecost Sunday, which is the churches birthday.
When not in special seasons we have Ordinary Time, which comprises two periods: one beginning on the day after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (the end of the Christmas season) and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday, the other beginning on the Monday after Pentecost and continuing until the Saturday before Advent Sunday (the First Sunday of Advent).
The Church numbers the weeks of Ordinary Time, although several Sundays bear the names of the feasts or solemnities which are celebrated on those days, these include Trinity Sunday (our title and feast of dedication) and the Feast of Christ the King the final Sunday of the Churches Year.
This sounds complicated, but as you learn and become familiar with the season you realise that all they do is enhance our lives as Christians as they help us grow closer to God.
The first thing to say is that you will be made very welcome at Holy Trinity and our welcoming process at Holy Trinity begins even before you leave the comfort of your own home.
We want you to enjoy your visits to church and we also want you to feel comfortable. Therefore, on this page we have tried to answer a few frequently asked questions, which will hopefully help you to take the first step in finding true meaning and fulfilment in life. However, before we get into the questions it is worth repeating, that you will always be assured of a warm and friendly welcome at Holy Trinity Cookridge, because as our motto says:
Church is not something you go to, it is the family to which you choose to belong.
Knowing this is important, because it helps us to understand that we do have a choice and that choice is God given, given because of the love that God has for each and every one of us.
God loves us so much that he wants a relationship with us, no matter who we are and he does this through his church, the church founded by Jesus Christ for the building up of God's kingdom on earth, but as with many things in the modern world there is a lot of misinformation around about the church, for instance:
Coming to Church is very boring.
"It is repetitious, predictable and is a meaningless ritual performed for those in the know. I would rather stay in bed. I work hard all week and I deserve my extra sleep!"
Church is repetitious, yes, but it only reflects the lives that we all lead which are also repetitious, because the days of our lives are structured around the seasons and the cycles of work, meals, family life and social activities. Any of which can become boring if we don't strive to find something interesting or enjoyable about them.
Therefore, it is safe to say that Sunday mornings in church will never be boring, a bold statement, but a true one, because, if you approach God and His church with an open mind you will be able to use your time in church well. Use the peace and the worship to open yourself to God, allow yourself space and time to think, to pray and to reflect on the things that have happened during the week and to ask God to direct your life in the week ahead. However, remember that church is also a community, meaning that there will also be the opportunity to make new friendships and renew old ones. Church allows us the time and space in which to to do this and so we can share our lives fully, sharing our joys and our problems as well as taking the time to thank God for all that he gives. Therefore, we learn that church is not boring at all and who knows by coming you might just meet the most wonderful and life giving man the world has ever know, I am of course referring to Jesus Christ.
In short the objective in going to church is to seek to build a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and those who share the Christian Faith.
Many people go to church to fulfil an obligation as if they have to get a tick in Gods register, if this is the case the Christian faith and the worship is reduced to actions without meaning, because we must always remember that Christian worship is all about an encounter with God and with other people this is called community and this is what changes who we are.
Church is unnecessary prayer can be done alone.
Yes, we can pray alone that is true, however the bible says:
Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.' (Hebrews 10:24-25).
It is true that we are influenced and become like the people we associate with, by getting together with people who share our faith we are affirmed and encouraged, which helps us to realise that we are never alone, a problem shared....
There are three spiritual pillars to a strong Christian life: personal prayer, collective worship and bible study and fellowship. To rely on less than all three is like trying to sit on two-legged stool.
Churches impose rules and then make you feel guilty if you don't measure up.
One of the biggest reasons for the breakdown of families and family life these days is the lack of moral standards. Most people who call themselves Christians cannot even say the Ten Commandments much less live by them and without recourse to a moral code it is without doubt much easier to do your own thing and not feel guilty about it. However, the question we must ask is why do I sometimes feel guilty, even though I don't want to?
Guilt is part of our conscience, which is a gift from God and our consciences help us to choose right from wrong. The Church does not exist to make you feel guilty, we are only here to help you towards the ultimate gift, which God offers all people, the gift of eternal life. For more information about this, please see our page on the seven sacraments.
Who comes to Holy Trinity?
The answer to this question is very short, anyone and everyone comes and our congregations range in age from the very young to the elderly. People come from all kinds of different backgrounds and ethnicity to worship God in our church and they travel from far and wide to share in the wonderful worship we offer.
What happens at your Services?
Our normal service on a Sunday morning is called the Mass or the Holy Eucharist and it is here that we encounter Jesus Christ in both word and Sacrament as we worship together and as we are taught about the bible readings that we will hear. Hymns will be sung and there will be some readings from the Bible, normally one from the Old Testament, followed by a Psalm and then a reading from the New Testament, finally there will be a reading from one of the four Gospels. The Priest or our Lay Reader will then preach a homily. This is followed by the Eucharist, with those who are confirmed receiving Holy Communion, all are welcome to receive a blessing at our services and if you are confirmed or receive communion at your church you are welcome to do so at Holy Trinity.
Finally there is the dismissal and afterwards, we share a time of fellowship over tea or coffee before making our way home.
How long do your services last?
The Mass on Sunday morning typically last for about an hour and there is a Junior Church for any children who come to church, but this is not compulsory and children are free to choose to stay in church if they so wish. Our midweek services normally last between twenty and thirty minutes.
What time should I arrive?
Arriving a few minutes early will allow you to find the most appropriate spot in the church, especially if you are coming with your family or friends and would like to sit together.
Will I be asked to do anything during the Mass?
No, you have nothing to fear! Whilst we encourage the congregation to play a full and active role in the life of our church, we want people to feel as though it is there decision, so you will never be asked to do anything you do not want to do. Although eventually we do hope as your confidence builds that you are able to play your full part in the life of our church as disciples of Christ.
Why bother going to church when all they want is money!
If you choose to get involved in any kind of group, it will cost you in time and money. It is true that, if you don't get involved in anything, you will have maximum control of your time and money. However, you will miss friendships and opportunities to be a good influence in the lives of others. Giving in church is not compulsory and the money you give simply helps to keep the church open, because as with most churches in the UK today, it does cost well over five thousand pounds every month to keep Holy Trinity open.
Can I bring my children?
Absolutely! Children are very welcome at Holy Trinity and we would love them to become fully involved in the life and worship of our church. There is as we say a Junior Church where your children will be well looked after, as well as being taught about the Christian faith. (they will be learning about the same things as those present in the main service) This normally involves making something and writing a prayer, which the children normally say at the end of Mass.
We also hold special workshops as we prepare for Easter where the children can come and spend a morning in church, helping to get things ready for our Easter celebrations. In practice this normally means making banners and decoration, lots of fun, quite messy but very worthwhile.
What is the dress code?
The simple answer is, there is no dress code - we want you to feel comfortable, so just come as you are!
How do I get more involved?
There are all sorts of ways to get involved in church, whether it is participating in a group, or assisting in the various activities run by the church. You can if you feel called become a server at Mass, you can read the lessons and lead the intercessions. There are also lots of jobs to be done cleaning, tidying and gardening are it seems endless. If you have an idea of what you would like to do, please have a word with Fr Paul.
I have heard that the church has different seasons throughout the year, is this true?
Yes, there are different seasons throughout the churches year, these are denoted by the different colours worn by the priest during the mass and during the seasons we remember and focus our worship on different aspects of Jesus' life.
The Christian year begins with the season of Advent this is a season of preparation. This is a time of year when we focus our minds on the the coming of Christ from two perspectives both as a baby born in Bethlehem, which we celebrate with his birth at Christmas and we also think about his second coming at the end of time.
Advent offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and asks Jesus' followers to be alert for his Second Coming.
Advent is followed by the season of Christmas, which is a season of celebration, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, it begins on the 25th December and lasts for twelve days, ending after midnight on twelfth night.
Lent is a solemn season in the liturgical year, lasting for a period of 40 days in preparation for Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Holy Thursday when we enter the Triduum.
Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday as it should be known is the day on which Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. Only hours after the Last Supper, Judas would betray Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, setting the stage for his Crucifixion on Good Friday.
On Good Friday Christians commemorate the passion, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ and many Christians spend this day fasting, and praying, although Mass in not said today we still receive Holy Communion from that reserved on Holy Thursday.
The final day of the Easter Triduum is Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday, is the day on which we celebrate the Vigil Mass of Easter. The Easter Vigil Mass takes place after sunset and properly belongs to Easter Sunday, since liturgically, each day begins at sunset on the previous day. Easter is celebrated as the day on which Jesus rose from the dead.
Easter is a movable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon following the March equinox, meaning that the date of Easter varies between 22nd March and 25th April.
Then we begin a fifty-day period called Eastertide, or the Easter Season, which ends on Pentecost Sunday, which is the churches birthday.
When not in special seasons we have Ordinary Time, which comprises two periods: one beginning on the day after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (the end of the Christmas season) and ending on the day before Ash Wednesday, the other beginning on the Monday after Pentecost and continuing until the Saturday before Advent Sunday (the First Sunday of Advent).
The Church numbers the weeks of Ordinary Time, although several Sundays bear the names of the feasts or solemnities which are celebrated on those days, these include Trinity Sunday (our title and feast of dedication) and the Feast of Christ the King the final Sunday of the Churches Year.
This sounds complicated, but as you learn and become familiar with the season you realise that all they do is enhance our lives as Christians as they help us grow closer to God.
