Christian Faith and Worship  
'Being a Christian' by Baron Williams of Oystermouth

Christian life is lived in relationship with God through Jesus Christ and, in common with other Christians, seeking to deepen that relationship and to follow the way that Jesus taught.

Central to that relationship is knowing we can trust God. Saint Paul says at the end of the eighth chapter of his letter to the Church in Rome, 'if God is for us, who can be against us?' And this is the heart of faith.

How do we know that 'God is for us'? Because Jesus Christ, the one human being who is completely in tune with God - with what God wants and what God is doing - has carried the burden of our human betrayals of God and running away from goodness. He has let himself be betrayed and rejected, executed in a humiliating and agonising way, and yet has not turned his back on us. Death did not succeed in silencing him or removing him from the world. He is alive; and that means that his love is alive, having survived the worst we can do.

Nothing - says St Paul in the same passage - can separate us from this love. But this isn't an excuse for doing what we like, knowing we can get away with it. Once we know that God is 'for us', we open up to the gift that God wants to give us - which is a share in his own love and freedom and mercy. We breathe with his breath - that's part of what it means to say that we receive God's 'Spirit', which makes us live like Jesus 'in tune' with God. If we have really taken the message in, we shall live lives of selfless generosity, always asking how the gifts given us - material or imaginative or spiritual or whatever - can be shared in a way that brings other people more fully alive. And we shall be able to trust the generosity of others and be free to receive what they have to give us.

Generosity, gratitude, confidence that when we fail we are still loved - all of this focused on Jesus' life and death and resurrection. That's where we start in the lifelong job of being a Christian.
 

Our services - Sadly our public worship is subject to change at present due to the Coronavirus pandemic - please see our home page for current services

In normal times our regular worship is:
Every Sunday:
8.00am Said Eucharist
This is a quiet reflective service of said Holy Communion which lasts about half an hour. It is held at St Clement's (2nd and 4th Sunday) and St Saviour's (1st and 3rd Sundays).

9.15am Dittisham Parish Sung Eucharist This parish communion service usually lasts about an hour, our singing is led by the choir and everyone is invited to refreshments afterwards.
2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays at St George's Church with the first Sunday being lay-led Village Worship.

11.00am Dartmouth Parish Sung Eucharist This parish communion service usually lasts about an hour and 15 minutes, our singing is led by the choir and everyone is invited to refreshments afterwards.
1st and 3rd Sundays at St Clement's Church with the first Sunday being particularly family friendly (there is a children's corner with toys and games).
2nd and 4th Sundays at St Saviour's Church 
There is also a children's corner in St Saviour's with toys, colouring etc.

9.30am 'Wake up on Sunday' at St Clement's Church an informal, relaxed family get-together on the first Sunday of the month where children can enjoy interacting with Bible stories and parents can socialise.

6.30pm Sung Evensong/Taize/Compline
From Easter - September, there is Sung Evensong at St Petrox Church
From September - Easter, at St Saviour's Church there is Sung Evensong on the 1st and 3rd Sundays;
at St Clement's Church on the 2nd Sunday our Taize service is meditative worship by candlelight with music, prayer and times of silence; on the 4th Sunday we say Compline, an ancient service of night prayer

5th (Benefice) Sundays
Please see the calendar for details of our combined benefice services when there are 5 Sundays in a month.

The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in St Clement's and St Saviour's churches.

Regular midweek services
St Clement's Church
On Thursdays there is a Said Eucharist at 9.30am (followed by coffee for those who want to stay for a chat). Morning Prayer is said on Monday and Tuesday at 8.30am and on Thursday at 8.45am and whenever possible Evening Prayer Monday to Thursday at 4.30pm.
St George's Church
On the Tuesday after the 2nd Sunday of the month there is a Said Eucharist at 9.30am, preceded by Morning Prayer at 9am.
St Petrox Church
On the first Tuesday of the month all year round there is a Said Eucharist (BCP) at 10.00am
St Saviour's Church
On Wednesdays there is a Said Eucharist at 10.00am, preceded by Morning Prayer at 9.00am.
A short service of prayer is said daily (Monday - Thursday) at noon; this includes those who have asked for our prayers and any requests left on the board in St Saviour's; you can also email prayer requests. 

Festivals
Please see the calendar for details of celebrations at Festivals

Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham
We have an active and dedicated Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham which meets at St Clement's on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm for worship and prayer with a Eucharist and 'bring and share' supper each quarter.  We are exploring the ministries offered at the Shrine, in particular the healing ministries (laying on of hands, anointing and reconciliation.  All are welcome, you do not have to be a member of the cell to come along and join in, or simply to sit and listen; we especially welcome anyone who might be considering going on pilgrimage in the future.

Prayers for Peace
Each Wednesday, at our midweek Eucharist in St Saviour's at 10am, prayers are offered for peace throughout the world.

Advent and Lent Courses - we invite everyone to join in our Advent and Lent courses; we have used various study aids including Emmaus, Hilary Brand's 'Christ and the Chocolaterie', 'Everybody Welcome' by Bob Jackson and George Fisher and most recently Henri Nouwen's meditation on Rembrandt's painting 'The return of the Prodigal Son'.  We have also discussed questions raised by members of the congregation and the Creeds.

Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage can be a life changing event as setting aside a time specifically to focus on God is when we are most open to change and growth.  Each year a small group from the benefice goes on pilgrimage to The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham; there is a Walsingham 'cell' in the benefice (see above). We also have a tradition of attending the annual Glastonbury Pilgrimage.