Worship

Harvest 2026

Harvest 2026

Our Harvest Service this year was led by members and leaders of our Junior Church and, in addition to acknowledging traditional harvest themes, considered the issues of the harvest and use of water and electrical energy.

Thank you to everyone who planned, practised and participated in leading worship.

Thank you, too, to the flower arranging team who helped decorate the church. The flowers were distributed, after the service, to families and friends of the congregation and the food and food products gifted by members of the congregation are being taken to The Friary in West Bridgford which supports homeless and vulnerable people.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2026, Current, Eco Church, Harvest, Junior Church, Worship, Youth Group
Promotion Sunday

Promotion Sunday

Our service today (13th October) was our Junior Church Promotion Sunday this year when we note those who are moving departments and rededicate our Junior Church leaders and helpers.

Thirteen children and young people moved up to their new departments and received a book as a gift to mark the occasion. Five young people officially left the Youth Group (having reached the end of the school year in which they had their 18th birthday) and were given a book token. We send each of the best wishes for this next step in their lives.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2026, Current, Junior Church, Worship, Youth Group
Baptism

Baptism

The Rev’d Geoffrey Clarke, Moderator of the East Midlands Synod of the URC, led our service on 6th September when worship included the baptism of Lois – a very happy occasion.

The service also marked the Season of Creation and culminated in the celebration of Holy Communion.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2026, Current, Worship
Commissioning

Commissioning

On Sunday 12th July 2026, it was with great pleasure that our congregation witnessed and participated in the commissioning of Derek Graham, our member and Elder, as a Locally Recognised Worship Leader.

The service was led by Mark Hodgson (Synod Lay Preaching Commissioner) and the Rev’d David Featonby (former Convenor of the Synod Lay Ministry Group) took part in the act of commissioning.

Posted by gdjjennings in Current, news, Worship
Holy Week services and events 2026

Holy Week services and events 2026

Thank you to everyone who helped plan and lead our Holy Week and Easter services and events this year, and to all who attended:

Our Palm Sunday service was led by our drama group, The Goldsmith Players, who shared a dramatic presentation of the Passion, using a script adapted from the Gospels of Matthew and John.

Mark Hodgson lead our Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday and our Service of the Nails on Good Friday.

The choir led our Service of Readings and Music for Good Friday which included the Lloyd Larson cantata Worthy is the Lamb.

Worship celebrating Easter Day was led by the Revd David Featonby and was preceded by an Easter Breakfast.

Thank you to all those who helped prepare for and/or clear up after our communion services and the Easter Breakfast as well as to all those who helped to decorate the church with flowers for Easter Day.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2026, Choir, Current, Easter, Goldsmith Players, Worship
Advent and Christmas 2025

Advent and Christmas 2025

We are so grateful to everyone who shared in our Advent and Christmas services and activities this year. Thank you for supporting these events.

Thank you, too, to those who prepared and lead them.

  • Thank you to Nicola R for guiding us through our Monday evening meditations during Advent.
  • Thank you to our members, the Revds David F and James B and to Mark H for leading services during this Advent and Christmas season.
  • Thank you to Richard G, our instrumentalists, our bakers, our craft club team and everyone who came to sing at Carols in the Courtyard.
  • Thank you to the members of the Junior Church and their leaders for writing, rehearsing and presenting our Nativity Service and to everyone who brought gifts of toys to be donated to the Women’s Refuge.
  • Thank you to our Junior Church leaders for organising and running the Junior Church and Youth Group Christmas parties and to everyone who contributed to the Junior Church pantomime (including the great audience).
  • Thank you to our Choir Director, Phil H; our organist, Gemma M; the members of our Choir and our readers for leading our Carol Service.
  • Thank you to Becky S and Derek G for leading the Christingle Activity Service for our younger members on Christmas Eve and to Peter N and Derek G for leading the Youth Group carol singing later that evening.
  • Thank you to everyone who helped more in the background – setting out, clearing up and welcoming visitors.
  • Thank you to everyone who gave generously to our church Christmas Charity Appeal which raised money for the Notts and Lincs Air Ambulance and the URC Ukraine Appeal.
Posted by gdjjennings in 2025, Christmas, Current, events, Junior Church, Outreach Activity, Worship, Youth Group
Advent and Christmas 2025 – events and activities

Advent and Christmas 2025 – events and activities

We’d be delighted to welcome you to any of our special events for Christmas 2025!

Remaining services and events this Christmas are:

Service of Nine Lessons and Carols        Sun 21 Dec 11.00am

The Choir shares music by living British composers including John Rutter, with readings and all the old classic carols for you to join in.

Christingle Service                                              Wed 24 Dec 3.00pm

Now mid-afternoon, the young and young-at-heart take a break from all the Sant-icipation to enjoy the Christmas story in song and craft.

Christmas Eve Carol Singing           Wed 24 Dec from 6.00pm

Sweet chiming Christmas bells! Our Youth Group and friends take festive requests on diverse doorsteps, before returning to base for…

Midnight Service of Holy Communion  Wed 24 Dec 11.15pm

Candle-lit worship and Communion led by The Revd James Breslin mark the moment of mystery when Christ comes into the world.

Christmas Day Family Service               Thu 25 Dec 10.30am

Young and old gather to ding-dong merrily and share Christmas cheer, as Mark Hodgson leads a short celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Sunday Worship at Christmas Time      Sun 28 Dec 11.00am

Festivities continue with The Revd James Breslin leading praise.

Worship for Epiphany and New Year        Sun 4 Jan 11.00am

Sunday worship with Communion as our Synod Moderator The Revd Geoffrey Clarke rings in the new and recalls the Wise Men’s visit.

 

Our Christmas charities are:

Posted by gdjjennings in 2025, Christmas, notices, Worship
Nativity and Toy Service 2025

Nativity and Toy Service 2025

Thank you to everyone involved in preparing for and presenting our Nativity and Toy Service this year: to the children and young people of our Junior Church and Youth Group and to all the adults and Junior Church leaders who supported them.

The toys donated by members have been delivered to a local Women’s Refuge.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2025, Christmas, Junior Church, Worship, Youth Group
Carols in the Courtyard 2025

Carols in the Courtyard 2025

Thank you to all those who joined us for Carols in the Courtyard on the evening of 1st December this year. We had a great sing – and it was wonderful to be joined by visitors.

Thank you to the musicians and to everyone who provided the refreshments.

Posted by gdjjennings in 2025, Christmas, events, Outreach Activity, Worship
Church 50th Anniversary Service

Church 50th Anniversary Service

On Sunday 6th April, our Church Anniversary Service was be led by the Rev’d Dr John Bradbury (General Secretary of the United Reformed Church) together with our Minister, the Rev’d Chris Ford.

The service was followed by a buffet lunch. (Thank you to everyone who helped prepare and clear away after the lunch!)

Inlcuded in the photograph below are:

  • the Rev’d Chris Ford (centre right) and the Rev’d Dr John Bradbury (centre left)
  • together with (right) Brenda and Ron K, who became members of our church on the day that the St. Andrew’s and the Castle Gate congregations joined to become one church
  • and (left) Liv F, our newest member – who was baptised and joined our church the previous Sunday – and Zoe L, recent recipient of the Lundie Award

Posted by gdjjennings in 2025, Current, events, Report, Worship