SUNDAYS

We meet at 10.30 in the morning and 6.15 in the evening. Communion is on the first Sunday evening of each month and normally on the third Sunday morning.

The services have no particular set format, although generally we start with a time of sung worship, prayer and Bible reading. Depending on who is leading the service we may have as few as 5 songs or hymns or as many as a dozen. Morning services include a time for the children at the discretion of those leading. As a fellowship we are fairly open to many different ideas.

Music

We love to sing at Belper, and many visiting preachers comment on the volume and enthusiasm of our singing. We are fairly current when it comes to worship songs, and use Songs of Fellowship combined songs and hymns which has over 1500 songs and hymns published up to 2004. We use an overhead projector to display the words for hymns and books are available for those who prefer to use them. We try to learn new songs on a regular basis.

Our music group is able to cope with most things thrown at it, and we are very blessed to have a large number of musicians in relation to the size of the church. Most Sundays would see piano, violin, drums, guitar, bass guitar and either clarinet or cornet as a second lead instrument. We also have a Maiken electronic organ and other instruments that are used on an occasional basis.

Junior Church

Our Junior Church meet during our morning service. The children and young people leave after 15 minutes to spend time in their own sessions. There is also a crèche catering for the under 3s.

At family services, normally held at least every two months, the children are encouraged to take an active part, sometimes with songs or actions to songs, and the older children leading prayers or reading from the Bible or other appropriate text. We encourage the children to take an active part in the life of the church and all of the older children (age 10+) operate the overhead projector during services on a rota basis.

The church takes very seriously its responsibility towards children and has implemented a child safety policy in line with the Baptist Union's Safe to Grow policy.