Shirley Parish Church
About our Services
We welcome visitors of all ages to our services and hope that you will find a worshipping community with an obvious love for Jesus.
Our main 10.30 am service at St James is accessible to all. We see our services as times to come together and focus on God: to sing His praise, hear His word to us and offer up our prayers to Him. There is usually news about some aspect of our church life as we seek to fulfil our mission of reaching out with God's love to those around us.
Our children's work has grown to be based in a local school and the Parish Hall to provide space for all the children who attend our Junior Church. The children join with the rest of the congregation for the first part of the service each week so that we can worship together in Church. At about 10.50am there is a creche for the very small [0-2 years old]. The younger children [pre-school and year R] are looked after at the Parish Hall a few yards from St James. Older children [school years 1-6] are taken to Shirley Infant School at 10.50am for their groups. We encourage people to stay for a drink and a chat after the service. There is usually the chance to pray with someone at the end of the service.
Once a month, on the 2nd Sunday, there is a children's club at Hollybrook Junior School off Seagarth Lane.
The youth work in St James’ (BUZZ) is grouped into different school years. Years 7&8 attend BUZZ.ignite every 1st,2nd & 3rd Sunday, from 10.15am at St John’s Centre. BUZZ.equip takes place during the Sunday morning sermon at St James’ and is for Years 9-13 every 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sunday, and all Years 7-13 on 4th Sunday. All Years 9-13 are encouraged to be in a .connect group, which meet every Tuesday during term time to explore the Bible together and to seek ways to connect with their friends. This is only a fraction of what goes on. For more information, visit the BUZZ.website!
Our early morning communion service alternates between using the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship. It is a said service with a sermon at 8.30am each Sunday at St John's Church. Once a month, usually on the third Sunday, there is a traditional service of hymns with the organ at 3pm in the afternoon at St James Church. This is a more informal traditional service with the chance for a drink, a cake and a chat after the service.
Sunday evenings are used to help support the life of the church with special services to celebrate or inform, or help us by offering training in different aspects of the Christian life.
Neither of our Churches have car parks but space can usually be found in the surrounding streets.
