St Peter's
Wrecclesham

Of course there is a lot more to St Peter’s church than the building in Beales Lane. Many people are involved in church life and in God’s ministry in the parish.

The ‘board’ responsible for managing the church is the Parochial Church Council (PCC) which consists of the clergy, churchwardens and other elected members. The PCC meets about six times a year to discuss everything from finance to worship, grounds maintenance and this website. Sub-committees tap into PCC members’ expertise and allow for more in-depth discussion on specific topics.

The clergy are supported in pastoral ministry by a team of trained and experienced pastoral assistants. They share in many aspects of pastoral care, including visiting those who are sick, lonely or recently bereaved; visiting families preparing for their child’s baptism; and bringing holy communion to those unable to get to church, including those in the parish’s residential homes. Pastoral assistants, and others in the church community who share in pastoral visiting, are available to visit anyone who would value a friendly face and a listening ear. If you, or someone you know, would like to arrange a such a visit, then please contact either the vicar or the Pastoral Visit Coordinator.

The church building is cleaned, the brass is polished and the flowers are arranged by talented volunteers, and the church is prepared for every service by the Sacristan and his team of servers and acolytes. Sidesmen offer a welcome to familiar and new faces as people arrive for a service. The choir, led by the Director of Music, perform special anthems during communion, at weddings, and at all the services which mark particular events in the church year such as Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter and St Peter's day.
 

Servers

Servers facilitate the worship so that the congregation can focus on the celebration of the eucharist and truly feel themselves to be a worshipping community. They assist the vicar at the altar at Holy Communion, making sure that ceremonies are carried out in a respectful, orderly and devout manner.

They carry out a variety of duties, including preparing the sanctuary for the service, carrying the processional cross (crucifer), receiving the offertory, assisting with the preparation of the bread and wine and clearing away after the service.

The visible part of the role is in helping the celebrant to prepare the sacraments. You have probably noticed the servers receiving the gifts and administering the wine at the communion services.

What is not so visible is the way in which servers contribute to the smooth running of the eucharist in a variety of other ways. Duties include preparing the altar table, ensuring there are enough communion wafers and checking that the cruets contain sufficient water/wine. They also check that the Bible is open at the appropriate Gospel reading and wash the chalice and paten ready for further use.

Servers are required at each Parish Communion service and this duty is undertaken on a rota basis by a small group of people from the congregation. Full training and support is available, and anyone wishing to train as a server should contact the Vicar.

Sidesmen and sideswomen

Our sidesmen and women greet everyone who comes to worship at St. Peter's church with a warm welcome. They provide the visitor, newcomer and regular with the necessary hymn books and service sheets, and make all who attend feel at home.

They come to the church well before the service starts and make sure that the hymn boards are prepared and everything is in place. During the service they take the collection and direct the congregation as they go up to communion.

For normal services, there are two sidesmen or women on duty; for special services, including Christmas and Easter, there may be more. If you would like more information or to join the rota, please contact the Vicar or one of the Churchwardens.