The Grove Centre Church
A PLACE FOR PEOPLE
About Us - The Grove Centre Church
The
Worship and Church Life
Worship is usually based on a rich liturgy drawn from many sources, with hymns old and new, sometimes with a thoughtful or meditative style. A group of singers and/or instrumentalists provide accompaniment occasionally. Music from Taize and
Communion is offered to all who love the Lord Jesus and are in fellowship with his Church. Children are not normally admitted to communion.
The church practises infant baptism, followed later by confirmation, and believers baptism for those not baptised as children. A service of infant blessing and dedication is offered for those not wanting baptism or who feel unable to make the promises required with sincerity. Confirmed or baptised believers committed to be part of this congregation are received into the responsibilities and privileges of full church membership.
Contact the minister in the first instance on the number given above to discuss services of Thanksgiving and Blessing, weddings, funerals, or to request a visit or homecommunion.
The minister is normally available in the Grove Centre Office, on Wednesday afternoons or at other times by appointment.
The
The
God calls us together to be "a worshipping people" honouring our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We aspire to be “a faithful people”, true to Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture, through our common life and in our personal lives, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
We aim to be “a welcoming people”, a church where all people are welcome, regardless of age, creed, colour, race, orientation, ability or status.
We need to be "a growing people", open to change, nurturing the hope, faith and love involved in growth towards spiritual maturity and through our lives and words drawing new people of all ages into saving faith and fellowship in Christ.
We aim to be “a caring people”, who seek to understand and serve our needs and those of our local community and the wider world as laid upon us by the Holy Spirit.
As a means of showing God’s love in action and in partnership with others, we intend to sustain The Grove Centre as “a place for people” at the heart of the wider community in which we are set.
Church Meeting, June 1997, revised 2008
Organisation
"All of you are Christ's body, and each one is a part of it." 1 Cor. 12 v 27
The
Major decisions are made by the gathered members at the Church Meeting, held on the third Thursday most months. This is usually a relaxed meeting with participation encouraged, though only members are permitted to vote.
Leadership is provided by the Diaconate, which meets on the first Thursday of each month. This consists of the Minister, church officers, serving deacons and life deacons. Officers and deacons are elected for a three year term. Deacons share pastoral responsibility for the worshipping community.
Churches Together
The
At regional level, a representative attends the Churches Together in
The
United Reformed Church (URC)
We are part of the URC's South East London District within the Southern Synod, stretching from
Internationally the URC belongs to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and shares in the missionary enterprise of the Council for World Mission.
Baptist
Baptist churches form associations at various levels rather than speaking of themselves as a single church. The
The Grove Centre is usually linked with a BMS missionary.
The Wider World
The
Office Address:
2 Jews Walk
Sydenham
London
SE26 6PL