Creative Worship

Children's Church | Radical Worship | Food4Thought

An authentic life is the most personal form of worship. Everyday life has become my prayer.
                                                                                             Sarah Ban Breathnach

Not all worship comes in the same shape and size.  Here at Carrs Lane we have the opportunity to share in different, creative, alternative and radical worship.  Happening throughout each month there are many different varieties available and we're always willing to try something new.  Below you will find a list of those creative times of worship held during the month. 

Children’s Church

Second Sunday of the month at 2.30pm
This service has developed as a joint initiative with the Methodist Central Mission and several other churches in the city centre.

Many city centre congregations have few children sharing regularly in morning worship, and struggle to provide continuity of leadership. This service is intended to serve as a ‘gathered church’ for these children and their leaders, providing an encouraging, relevant and affirming act of Christian worship.

It is aimed primarily at those under 11 years of age. Refreshments, activity sheets, Christian music and conversation prepare the ground for worship itself.

At present, worship follows the pattern of ‘godly play’, with the careful telling of Christian stories at its heart: children and adults alike are then able to respond to the story through participation in a range of activities, often craft-based.

After this, there is a time of sharing and feasting, modelled on communion, but presented in such a way that even the smallest child will feel involved. Appropriate pastoral care is taken seriously; a welcoming physical environment is matched by full compliance on all matters relating to child safety.

Radical Worship

Fourth Sunday of the month at 6.30pm
Held on the last Sunday of every month, this takes place in the comfort of the ‘Lounge’ and is not easily characterised by ‘tag line’ or other brief description!  Again, we share with the Methodists and others in providing worship which we hope will stimulate personal Christian growth and help people reflect on the link between faith and action.

Speakers are drawn from a wide variety of agencies and groups, in a consistent attempt to help this congregation develop a radical, Social Gospel agenda for the 21st century. Film is used frequently to stimulate discussion. Sometimes, worship takes place within the reasonably conventional setting of word, music and silence – sometimes it does not!

For more information on the dates and themes of Radical Worship, please click here.

Food4Thought

Second and Fourth Monday of the month

This congregation for young adults (20's and 30's) is run in conjunction with Aston University Free Church Chaplaincy. It meets in the Martin Luther King Centre in Aston University for a short, informal service at 7.30pm (although punctuality has not been a redeeming feature of this group!).

Worship lasts for no more than half-an-hour and draws a variety of students, volunteers and others: all are welcome, whatever their circumstances.

Worship is followed by a shared meal, for which no charge is made: sometimes we eat out, sometimes food is shared on the premises. Other social events enliven the shared life of this group.