“We were all new at one time and we remember what it was like. So we’ve provided the information below, knowing that it’s easier to venture into a new place when you know what to expect.”
What do people believe?
Belief in God or Jesus is not a prerequisite to visit us. Everyone is on a spiritual journey. Some have been Christians all their lives, some are brand new in their walk with Christ and others are just exploring faith and aren’t sure yet what they believe. You are welcome, no matter where you are at on your journey.
What do I wear?
This is a middle class Suburban church north of Perth, so expect to see people wearing anything they are comfortable to worship in. Some people dress very formally. Some very casually. Most can be best described as wearing “smart casual”.
Can I bring my Children… They are very small
Yes! Most definitely. Children are most welcome in this place. They will be safe. We have set up their own area in the worship space so they can be part of worship in their own way. Noise and wandering around the church is OK with us. Let children be children.
Where do I park? Where is the entrance? Are there steps?
Park in our car-park from Calectasia street, or across the road. We have disabled (or blue) parking bays for those who need it. The main entrance is at the front of the church. There are no steps anywhere from the car-park to the main entrance. The whole building is disabled friendly.
What type of music can I expect?
Mostly the music concentrates on the beauty of the words rather than repeating a phrase over and over again. Much of the music can be described as traditional hymns played with an organ, but not always.
Am I welcome at communion?
Yes! All are welcome to receive both the bread and the wine. You do not have to be Anglican. If you love Jesus a little and want to love him more you are welcome. You may choose to come only for a blessing by the priest. Just fold your arms to signal this.
When do I stand or kneel?
Don’t get hung up on this. Some people stand or kneel according to the prayer book. Most do not. Simply watch what others may be doing and do the same.
What does this church believe?
This church is part of the Anglican Church in Australia and has strong links to many churches through the Anglican Diocese of Perth and the rest of the world. You will find most people have moderate Christian beliefs and others believe a wide variety of things within the Christian Faith. Do not get tricked by our simple appearance. Many of us have very deep faith. A good place to start is to look at the ‘Nicene Creed’. You may also wish to look at this link https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe
Are there different ways of knowing things?
There are many ways to know things, art and music are just two. Our western culture values science more than any other way of knowing things. We want to add to our culture. We value science and also value knowing things through a faith perspective.
How are we governed?
We mostly govern ourselves through the parish council and the Anglican Diocese of Perth. Gender is not much of an issue in the Anglican Church. Governance is a mix of lay and ordained men and women. At a diocese level, representatives of all the Anglican Churches in this diocese gather together once a year for a synod meeting.
What time should I arrive?
At least a third of the congregation seem to arrive in the three minutes after the official start time… Why not get here earlier and nick their seats? 5 to 10 minutes early is a good idea. Then you can get settled.
Oh – how do I make sure I’m not in someone’s seat?
There’s no such thing, really, even though people tend to sit in roughly the same place every week! If a seat is empty, with no ‘reserved’ sign on it (and it’s not up on the stagey bit up the front!) – you can sit there. We’re always happy to see visitors, and it does us good to get a different view from time to time.
How long does the service last?
Our main Sunday Services tend to last just over an hour. Our Priest aims to limit sermons to about 15 minutes.
How much do I have to pay?
Nothing! As our guest, we do not expect you to pay when you visit. Let the offering bowl pass you by. We do not have membership fees. St John’s is funded by free will offerings.
Cake & Tea?
After the main services we all meet in the hall for morning tea. Please join us and make yourselves known to us.
If you have any questions give our priest a ring or contact us.
