What to expect at The Gathering
We aim to be a space that is safe and accessible for everyone attending, particularly those who may have additional access requirements. We also know that attending a new church, especially if you are LGBTQ+ or aren’t used to going to church can be very daunting! Here’s a handy guide to what our services look like so that you can be prepared and decide if we’re the church for you!
If you have any particular questions or have any access requirements you think we need to know about, feel free reach out to us!
A typical service
The service starts at 7:15pm in the sanctuary. It usually begins with the person who is leading the service introducing themselves and going through some introductory info. This is typically followed by Bible readings, prayers and worship songs. The person leading the service will then talk about the Bible readings and offer their insights. We then break into smaller groups to discuss some questions about the service topic. When we come back from our small discussion groups, we go into a time of prayer and more worship songs.
Our Sunday evening services are very relaxed and informal, and are led by different people each week, so the style of services may differ a bit week-to-week. But a typical evening at the Gathering starts with people arriving at 7pm. We usually have a tea and coffee station and snacks available in the vestibule (the hall area outside the sanctuary) where we say hello to each other and settle in.
Usually our worship music is played through lyric videos, projected onto the screens. (You can find those videos and get to know the songs we use on our YouTube page, or through our Spotify playlist!) But once per month we have live worship with our volunteer worship band. You can see which weeks we have worship and when we have pre-service socials by viewing our calendar.
We always have at least one pastoral leader present at every service and they are usually wearing blue Gathering tops. They are available should you have any pastoral needs or want to talk with someone about anything that has affected you during the service. We also post on social media who will be leading during the following month.
There are often some of us who go to the pub next door (Central Bar) after our services, or the dessert place opposite to socialise.
Rules & Boundaries
No photos or videos are permitted at all during our services. This is an essential part of how we keep our community safe.
We do livestream our services but you will not be visible or heard unless you sit in the front two rows or speak into a microphone. We clearly signpost the camera at the start of all our services.
NO PHOTOS OR VIDEOS
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Our church is for everyone, not just LGBTQ+ people, and we welcome everyone from all walks of life at our church, but we do not tolerate queerphobia, hatred, and other forms of bigotry in our space.
KINDNESS AND RESPECT
We treat each other with kindness and respect at all times. We may have differing viewpoints about the questions we discuss, but we expect everyone to remain respectful during our discussions.
It also means that we respect each other’s personal boundaries and needs, such as not touching people unless you know they are happy to be touched.
