We welcome people of all backgrounds—Christian or not. If you are a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist—or even if you’re not sure!—you are most welcome to visit our church, and observe or take part as you feel comfortable.

Whether you consider yourself Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian, Uniting—or something else—you are welcome.

While we are grateful that being Anglican means we are part of a supportive network of churches, with a strong history of faithfulness to God and his message, our priority is that people come to know, love and understand God better, however you might identify.

While both services welcome all comers, they each have a distinctive “feel”. Our 8:30 service is more “classically Anglican”, with prayer books and hymns, and it has the Lord’s Supper most weeks. Our 10:30 service is less formal. It uses Anglican patterns of worship and contemporary Christian songs. The Lord’s Supper is monthly. It has a program for kids and pre-schoolers—Kids on Sunday. See below for more detailed descriptions of each service. But if you are still unsure which service to go to, why not try them both, and see which fits best?

You’ll find a mix of people in our church services on Sundays. Old people, young people, people from different cultural and national backgrounds, married people, single people, blue-collar, white collar, homemakers—chances are there’ll be someone just like you!

Whatever you feel comfortable in! Most of us dress pretty casually—though the people up the front of the service may look a bit more formal. Jeans, t-shirts, skirts and shorts are fine. The 10:30 congregation tends to dress slightly more casually than the 8:30 service.

Limited parking is available onsite, but there is plenty of on-street parking in Parkinson St and Watling Pl. You can also use the Cooleman Court car park, just across the road.

As you drive into the car park, the main entrance is to your left (on the Watling Pl side of the building). If you are unsure on the day, we would be happy to help you find your way in—just ask!

The main entrance is wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp from the carpark to the main entrance.

The 8:30 service usually goes for about 1hr 15mins. The 10:30 service usually takes just over an hour. Sometimes we are longer, sometimes we are shorter!

We usually spend time together over food in the hall afterwards, where people stay for as long as they like.

When you arrive, feel free to sit wherever you like—there are no special or reserved seats.

You will be given a hymn sheet on the way in, and will find a green book A Prayer Book for Australia behind the seat in front of you. The service leader will tell you which pages to turn to as the service progresses.

The prayer book has various prayers, creeds and other things that we say together. There are confessions of sin, words of praise to God, prayers that asking him to fulfil his promises to us and so on. Some of the prayers in the service are read aloud together. Feel free to just listen, or you can join in if you choose.

We sing 3-4 hymns throughout the service. Most of us stand to sing, but you can sit if you feel more comfortable.

We listen to the Bible being read—usually a few sections from different parts of the Bible. Sometimes the congregation reads aloud a section of the passage too (the service leader will explain this).

We hear a sermon, which usually goes for around 25 minutes. Our sermons generally aim to help us practically apply one of the Bible passages read in the service.

Most weeks we share in the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion/Eucharist) together. This is a way that God helps us remember Jesus’ death for our sin—the bread and wine/juice which we eat and drink are symbols of his body and blood. Anyone who trusts Jesus as their Lord is welcome to eat and drink. If this is not you, use this time to reflect on everything you have heard during the service.

We usually finish with a time of notices, where we hear about different things happening in and around our church.

When you arrive, feel free to sit wherever you like—there are no special or reserved seats.

We sing 3-4 songs throughout the service­—a mix of contemporary Christian music and modernised hymns. Most of us stand to sing, but you can sit if you feel more comfortable. The words are projected on a screen.

We listen to the Bible being read—usually a section from the Old Testament and a section from the New Testament.

We hear a sermon, which usually goes for around 25 minutes. Our sermons generally aim to help us practically apply one of the Bible passages we read.

We spend time together in prayer—praising God and asking him to fulfil his promises to us. Usually one person prays on behalf of the whole church. You won’t be asked to pray, but you can say “Amen” at the end if you agree.

There is a time of notices, where we hear about different things happening in and around our church.

We regularly pray prayers of confession together, and occasionally say creeds—the words are projected on a screen.

We usually have a Kids’ Spot—a short talk or Bible story for children (but often fun for all ages!).

Once a month we share in the Lord’s Supper (Communion) together. This is a way that God helps us remember Jesus’ death for our sin—the bread and wine/juice which we eat and drink are symbols of his body and blood. Anyone who trusts Jesus as their Lord is welcome to eat and drink. If this is not you, use this time to reflect on everything you have heard during the service.

In our 10:30 service, we have a program for toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary-schoolers, Kids on Sunday. Children younger than this can stay with their parents in the service—we don’t mind a little bit of extra noise (it’s how God made them!), however if you want to you can make use of the foyer as a “cry room” (you can still hear the service in there). Children in high school are encouraged to stay in for the service, however younger high schoolers may be able to join the primary school kids. (Just speak to a leader to arrange this).

Children who attend “Kids on Sunday” begin in the church building, for the first 15 minutes or so of the service. This time usually includes singing and an introduction from the service leader, followed by a Kids’ Spot (a short talk or Bible story for children). After the Kids’ Spot, kids involved in Kids on Sunday are led to the hall. Parents are most welcome to sit in on Kids on Sunday, whether it be to help their children settle, or simply to get a taste of what goes on each week.

Children also have the option of staying with their parents in the church for the duration of the service, if they and their parents wish to do this.

All Kids on Sunday teachers have undertaken accredited Safe Ministry training and Working With Vulnerable People checks. The safety of your children us of utmost importance to us.

Kids on Sunday runs during the school term. During the holidays a supervised space for children is usually provided, but no formal program or activities.

Note that there is no separate children’s program at the 8:30 service.

There is no compulsion for anyone to join in on any part of the service if you don’t want to. Feel free to sit and listen as songs are sung, prayers are prayed and so on. You don’t have to go up the front for the Lord’s Supper. You won’t be put on the spot, or asked to do something that may embarrass you.

No. As a visitor—even a long-term visitor—you are our guest and there is no expectation that you give any money. During our 8:30 service, a basket is passed around during a song, but this is for regular members to give, not newcomers. In any case, most church members give electronically, so they won’t be putting money in either.

St Peter’s is funded by its members—those who have settled in and made this church their own. There is no centralised body who contributes any funding. The majority of the money given by members finances ministry activities, staff, and upkeep of facilities.

You will not be pressured into to giving any personal details. However, if you would like to become more involved, and receive information about upcoming events, you can fill out a Connect With Us form (just scan one of the QR codes around the building).