Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jesus?
- Tell me more about Christianity
- Why do you meet in a school?
- Would you like a building/‘worship centre’ of your own?
- What sort of church are you?
- Why are there so many churches in Watford?
- What will happen to my children if I bring them on Sundays?
- I have Christian beliefs; why should I bother with church?
- How long is the service?
- Why does your adult teaching last for so long?
- Why are your celebrations so informal?
- Who leads your celebrations?
- Why do people in your celebrations wave banners?
Who is Jesus? Tell me more about Christianity
These web-sites are good introductions to the Christian faith:
- http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/
- http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/
- http://www.christianity.net.au/
Alternatively, if you would like someone from Watford Community Church to contact you with further information then please get in touch here.
Why do you meet in a school?
We do not have a building of our own large enough to hold our celebrations and cater for all of the activities we do on Sundays. We have a great working relationship with the school and the facilities and parking are excellent.
Would you like a building/‘worship centre’ of your own?
Yes, one day it will be great to move into our own church centre. In the mean time we will make the most of what God has given us, including Charis House.
What sort of church are you?
We are a mainstream church part of the Pentecostal movement. This means we follow in the central traditions of the Christian church, valuing the authority and truth of what the Bible teaches and preserving the nature of the Christian life as a relationship with God made possible because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. ‘Pentecostal’ churches teach that the life and power of the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost (see Acts 1-4) is available and necessary for the church today.
Why are there so many churches in Watford?
For the last 800 years there has been a church in Watford, with St Mary’s being established in the 1200s A.D. Since then many different groups of Christians have been established reflecting the changing and growing traditions within the church, each ‘stream’ emphasising different aspects of Christian teaching and experience. Now there are over 40 different congregations in Watford, each with distinct ‘flavour’, areas of ministry and in different neighbourhoods. We believe, however, that God sees one Church in Watford, and that we must work together with other congregations with a spirit of humility and unity.
What will happen to my children if I bring them on Sundays?
Most Sundays we will start our time together in all-age celebration, until about 11.30am. Then they will be prayed for, and go to various groups according to their age. Our Children’s Ministry Team are available to help you and your children settle in to their group and make the most out of their time with us. Team members are police-checked as part of our Child Protection Policy.
I have Christian beliefs; why should I bother with church?
In the book of Hebrews we are encouraged to not neglect meeting together, but rather to gather to encourage and challenge one another to explore and live out our faith in community, and in the wider community. Christianity is not a religion of the individual, but rather a faith that thrives in community with other believers. If you have a belief in the Christ and want to enjoy the fullness of what it means to be a Christian, we believe you will discover this most when you share your ‘journey’ of life with others. Find a church where you can belong and play your part; the church, the body of Jesus Christ, is one institution that will last forever.
How long is the service?
Usually we start at 10.30am, and have all-age praise, worship and prayer until around 11.30am. Then the adult teaching/children’s groups continue until 12.30pm. At this stage we have tea, coffee, and time for chatting with other members of the congregation.
Why does your adult teaching last for so long?
Often the adult teaching slot lasts for 30–45 minutes, occasionally even longer. We believe that it is important to ‘get our teeth in’ to the Word of God and spend sufficient time studying it together. Though we live in a ‘fast-food’ culture, we believe that thorough and stimulating Bible study is like eating a good meal – it takes time to eat it, and even longer to digest.
Why are your celebrations so informal?
We believe that the Spirit of God brings freedom; the liberty to express ourselves in worship and prayer in a way which is real and honest. Our flexible ‘style’ gives room for people to be themselves.
We want to involve children and adults of all ages in our gatherings and a more informal approach to our celebrations helps people feel able to take part.
Who leads your celebrations?
Our Sunday meetings are led by members of our Senior Leadership Team. They take turns in hosting the meeting, and work together with the person leading the music to help the congregation make the most of the opportunity to praise, worship, and listen to God.
Why do people in your celebrations wave banners?
Some find it very liberating to use their bodies, and symbolic banners, to express praise and worship to God. In the Bible the people of God used banners to express their worship, to celebrate truths about God, and we believe it still has significance to do this today.
