I want to welcome you to Aldridge Parish Church! I know it can be quite daunting coming into a new Church. So, to help you discover what Aldridge Parish Church is all about we’ve put this ‘Welcome Pack’ together. In it you’ll find lots of information about our Church and its activities. Hopefully, there’s something for everyone, from the youngest to the eldest. Our Church life is centred around Sunday worship. We long to be a
Church which has Jesus  at the centre, open to the renewing work of the Spirit and which takes the Bible seriously, working out carefully how it all impacts on our lives today. All this influences what we do from children’s and young people’s groups to home groups,
to our evangelism and outreach, to our care and concern for our community.
We hope you will discover the flavour of Aldridge Parish Church and ways you can get involved here. A good way into the Church could be by
joining a Welcome Group or Alpha, as these are places where you can get to know other people and also get to know God better.

 If you have any questions at all about this ‘Welcome pack’ or about the Church please speak to me -  (01922 457732 or 455229) or our Wardens.
 Happy reading and God bless - Richard Cornfield  -  Rector
 

A church is not a building; a church is the people who meet there.
You are very welcome to our church and we would like to welcome you into our church family.
We are a lively church with many members so we understand that it can feel strange when everything is new and you are not sure ‘who is who’ or quite
 what is going on!!  This pack is designed to fill you in on all the necessary information so you can become involved in church life should you wish to. 
Please come and make yourself know to us if we haven’t already met you and if you would like further information on any of the activities,
please don’t hesitate to contact any of the numbers listed or have a look on this website.

SUNDAY SERVICES  Two morning services:9.30am with crèche & groups for children, and then repeated again at 11.15am.      6.30pm evening Worship. 
Monthly evening pattern:1^st Sunday at Tynings Lane Church 2^nd 3^rd & 4^th Sundays at Parish Church 5^th Sunday alternate St Thomas’ & Parish Church
All-age Worship usually once a month  Holy Communion usually either morning or evening
Selestial (a joint youth event with the Methodist Church) takes place on the first Sunday of the month at the Methodist Church
 
MIDWEEK GROUPS FOR ADULTS
In a church the size of ours its not easy to get to know one another.  One of the best ways to get involved and to get to know others is by going to one
of the midweek groups for adults.  There are groups that meet in the evening and during the day.
 If you would like to find out more then do talk to anyone on the staff or call the church office. 
24/7 prayer - Monthly worship, study, prayer and fellowship meeting for all members of the church.

HOME GROUPS There are about 10 home groups, meeting weekly or fortnightly, Tuesday or Thursday evenings, in homes around the parish.
  Each group consists of about 10-15 members and has its own programme of Bible study, discussion, prayer and social activities.
 
ALPHA  A ten-week course discovering what being a Christian is all about.  For those who are new to Aldridge Parish Church,
and for anyone wanting to brush up on the basics of the Christian faith. 
 
BETA Follow-on groups to the Alpha course, meeting weekly, understanding more about discipleship.
 
MEN’S MINISTRY with four main outreach events each year, usually with buffet and guest speaker, open to all men from
 the Parish Church, St Thomas’ and Tynings Lane Churches. 
 
WOMEN’S DAYTIME GROUP  Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings from 9am (breakfast included) in the church rooms,
learning and praying together, support and fellowship.
 POP IN A group for older members of the congregation and community. Meets on the 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd Wednesday afternoon each month in the church rooms,
 with lunch at 1pm on second Wednesdays.
For specific details of dates, venues and contacts, contact the Church Office. 01922 455229

CHILDREN’S GROUPS          Children’s Work Co-ordinator: Joan Gorman     Sunday Groups during the morning service:
 
Crèche: 0 to 2½ years - Bubbles:  2 ½ to 4+ years (Playgroup & Nursery) - Surfers: 4+ to 7+ years (Reception–Year 2)
- Xstream:  7+ - 10+ years (Year 3 – Year 5) Pathfinders:  10+ - 14+ years (Year 6 – Year 9)
 
Noah’s Ark Parent & Toddler Group: Thursday mornings during term time 9.30am – 11.30am in the church rooms & monthly Fun Service at 10.15am in church
 
Little Fishes Playgroup: meets in the church rooms on Monday mornings, Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings.

Aldridge Youth Fellowship www.aldridgeyouthfellowship.co.uk is the teenage group from the Parish Church.
The age range is from year 9 (13+) to the end of school age before moving on to finding a job or going on to further education.
We meet on friday nights in the church lounge from 8pm until 10pm, doing a varied programme of activities special geared for teenagers.
These activities include laser questing, tobogganing, bowling, quizzes, games evenings and so on.
We also meet together on Sunday nights after the evening service, and pile into someone's lounge to have a time of more structured teaching mixed
 in with fellowship. We have a weekend away in February at a conference centre called Cloverley Hall in Shropshire,
 and an 8-day canvas camp on The Gower Peninsular in South Wales.
"Through Friendship, Through Fellowship, To Christ" is the aim of the group -  to introduce teenagers to the living Lord Jesus Christ,
 and then it's up to them to make choices without pressure.
For more information contact:
Matt Wallace (Youth Coordinator) 0785 596 0179 or email :

Information sheets about Baptism and Weddings are available in church and from the Church Office. (01922 455229)
Arrangements for Funerals should be made directly with Richard Cornfield or the Church Office.