Read our coronavirus response

Sundays

The government aren’t enforcing any kind of covid restrictions or safety measures at the moment, and we’re slowly working towards reintroducing the things we love back into Sunday services. You can find the details below – we’d love to see you at one of our services on Sunday.

Breakfast Church

77 The Strand, BN12 6DR
8:30-9:30am

Breakfast Church has a relaxed, family feel, where we all stay in the service together and chat around tables. Come along from 8:15 and grab yourself a hot drink, some cereal and toast (there may even be homemade jam), or you can bring your own brekkie if you'd rather.  In terms of covid-measures, we would kindly ask you to stay home if anyone in your household feels unwell, shows any symptoms of COVID-19, has been asked to self-isolate under NHS Test and Trace or has returned from a country outside of the UK government exemption list in the last 14 days. Otherwise, please be sensible, and continue to check in using track and trace, use hand sanitiser around the building, and wear masks where possible.

The 10:30

St Oscar Romero High School, BN12 5AF
10:30-11:30am

This is a bigger service with something for everyone. There is a crèche and groups for children up to 14. Occasionally we run an ‘all age’ service to bring the whole church family together. As 10:30 is such a big service, it takes a lot to make everything happen - especially in a post-pandemic world. Some weeks we'll sing along with a video, others we'll have a full band. Sometimes we'll have tea and coffee after the service, others we won't - we're keeping it very flexible at the moment, but we'll let you know what's happening. In terms of covid-measures, we would kindly ask you to stay home if anyone in your household feels unwell, shows any symptoms of COVID-19, has been asked to self-isolate under NHS Test and Trace or has returned from a country outside of the UK government exemption list in the last 14 days. Otherwise, please be sensible, and continue to check in using track and trace, use hand sanitiser around the building, and wear masks where possible. The balcony area will be reserved for those who'd like a bit more social-distancing space.

The Six

77 The Strand, BN12 6DR
6-7pm

The Six is a vibrant service that many of our young people go to, although we have people of all ages. The actual service kicks off at 6.15, but come along from 6 for a chat and to get settled in. In terms of covid-measures, we would kindly ask you to stay home if anyone in your household feels unwell, shows any symptoms of COVID-19, has been asked to self-isolate under NHS Test and Trace or has returned from a country outside of the UK government exemption list in the last 14 days. Otherwise, please be sensible, and continue to check in using track and trace, use hand sanitiser around the building, and wear masks where possible.

Church at Home

maybridge.church.online
10:30am

As much as we love being together for in-person services, digital church will still be happening for the foreseeable future so there is no pressure to rush back to joining us at a physical church service if that’s not the best option for you to take. Watch the service and chat with others on the church online platform from 10:25am each Sunday, or catch the service any time at youtube.com/maybridgecc

Watch Church at Home

Post-Pandemic FAQs

We will keep updating the answers below as we get clarity or as guidelines change, so do keep checking back for the latest information. If you have a question you don’t see answered here, get in touch at info@maybridge.org.uk and we’ll add it to the list.

HOW THE SERVICES WILL WORK

Do I need to book?

No – just turn up!

Will we be able to sing together? 

Singing is back! At Breakfast Church there’ll be worship videos to sing along with if you would like to (as with pre-covid), and at 10:30 and The Six we’ll either sing along with videos or have a live band (depending on volunteer resources). Doors and windows will be open to allow as much ventilation as possible, even if the weather isn’t nice, so make sure you’ve got the appropriate clothing with you. 

Will we do communion?

Communion will happen with individual, pre-packed communion kits (with wafers and individual cups of juice). There will be a gluten-free version also (look out for the square wafers instead of the circle ones!) Or, when resources allow, we’ll have gluten-free bread that’s pre-sliced by the communion team, that you can go up and collect rather than pass along rows. 

Will we have refreshments?

We’ll start doing breakfast at Breakfast Church from September, and are hoping to have refreshments at The Six in the autumn as well – but this depends on having enough volunteers. At 10:30, we’ll have refreshments some weeks but not others, again depending on volunteer resources – we’ll let you know beforehand each week. 

Will we have an offering?

We won’t be passing around offering boxes or gift aid envelopes. At the 10:30 service, there will be an offering box where you’ll be able to give cash or swipe using your Givt app. At Breakfast Church and The Six, you’ll be able to drop your gift in the red box on the wall at the back of the main hall. You can also give at maybridge.org.uk/give

What’s the plan for children? 

We currently only have enough volunteers to run two children’s groups at 10:30 – one for under 5s and one for 5-11s. The kids will be in the service at the beginning and then go to their groups. 

What’s the plan for young people? 

Our youth groups will be pausing over the summer and the 12-18s will be in the services (or off at their various summer camps!)

Can we have a chat before or after the service? 

Chat away! We’d encourage you to move outside for large groups or lengthy conversations, and please be respectful of others’ boundaries and ask before hugging or shaking hands. 

Will Church at Home be different to how it’s been so far?

Our plan is to put digital church together just as we have been doing up until this point. There will be a sermon, worship and notices all recorded in advance, and the content will most likely be the same as what happens during the in-person 10:30 service each week. 

COVID MEASURES AND REQUIREMENTS

Do I need to have had a vaccine to come to a service in person?

No, but please do ensure you’re using safety measures such as hand sanitising, mask wearing and social distancing to stay safe. 

Do I need to wear a mask? 

We’re encouraging everyone to wear masks as much as possible when gathered together. If you’re sat on the balcony at 10:30, or at the back at Breakfast Church or The Six, you will be required to wear masks.

Do I have to come back to in-person church?

Not at all. We’ll be continuing to offer church online for the time being, so there is no pressure to rush back to joining us at a physical church service if that’s not the best option for you to take.

Will we be socially-distanced?

We will space out chairs a little bit to make people feel comfortable, and there will be specially-designated areas at all our services for those who wish to distance more, wear masks etc. 

Will I have to sign in? 

We ask that you to scan the test and trace QR code when you arrive at church. 

Will I have to sanitise my hands? 

Of course, hand hygiene is always important. We’d encourage you to use hand sanitiser on arrival, and around the building.  

Is there a one-way system?

We’ll no longer be operating a one-way system.

Is anyone allowed to come to church in person?

Everyone is welcome to come along. However, we would kindly ask you to please stay at home and join us online instead if you or any of your household:

  • feel unwell
  • show any symptoms of COVID-19
  • have been asked to self-isolate under the NHS Test and Trace scheme
  • have returned from a country outside of the UK government exemption list in the last 14 days