YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

For our Sunday morning services, we hire Thurston Community College. On some occasions, we are not able to use the school and so we meet back at our home building in Rougham. Make sure you check the homepage for details on where we’ll be gathering. If you’re joining us for the first time, we want to make joining us as simple as possible. We’ve put together all the information you might need below - we’re looking forward to meeting you soon!

What do I need to know before I come along?

We suggest that you aim to arrive in good time for a 10.30am start at Thurston. You’ll be directed to find a parking space and then to walk through the school to the auditorium and find a seat. If you have kids, you’ll also need to check them in before the service starts, so we advise leaving plenty of time to do just that. Please also bring along a reusable cup for your tea/coffee after the service!

How will I know where to go?

Whatever the location we’re gathering at we will have our fantastic Welcome Team to help you throughout the morning. Since Thurston has multiple entrances, please make sure to enter the school via the main front gates; you will see a BRBC Welcome flag there to help you spot the right entrance. You will be greeted in the car park and directed to a parking space. Parking is not allowed on the road outside the school, so please follow the directions of the Welcome Team. Once you have parked, please make your way to the front entrance of the school and then just follow the signs to the main auditorium.

What will the service be like?

The doors to the auditorium will open at 10.15am and the service will last around 1 hour, 20 minutes. There’s singing, Bible readings, prayers, and a message from Pastor James, Pastor Joe or one of our other speakers. The children and young people stay in our service until the mid-service break when they will go out to their groups.

What about my children?

We have four age-specific groups where our children and young people can enjoy age-appropriate activities and Bible teaching. If your children would like to go to age specific kids ministries at the mid-service break, then please sign them in when you arrive. You will see a ‘Kids Check In’ banner when you enter the school, and we will have tablets set up where you can check your child in. Each family will have stickers printed for each child with a family number on. If your child needs you during the service, then your child’s number will display on the screen.

You can then enter the auditorium; your kids will stay with you until it is time to go to their groups at the mid-service break. If you have a young baby and you need a space to go with them during the service, then there is a dedicated area that you can use. Just ask one of the Welcome Team and they will show you where to go.

Please select the relevant drop down menu below to find out more information about how to drop off and collect your children and young people. You can find out more about each group on our children and youth page.

  • When you check your child in, you will be given three stickers: one for your child’s back, one for their changing bag (if needed) and one for you to keep. During the mid-service break, please exit the auditorium  by the left hand doors and look out for the “Pips” banner. If your child is old enough to use the toilet, please take them just before bringing them to the group, using the nearby toilets. Members of the Pips team will be there to meet you and welcome your little one into the room. The Pips room has a designated infant corner for babies who are not yet confidently walking, and a larger, open play space for confident walkers. At the end of the service, please go to the same place to collect your child. Remember to take your sticker with your family number on to collect your child.

  • When you check your child in, you will be given two stickers: one for your child’s front and one for you to keep. During the mid-service break, please exit the auditorium by the right hand doors and look out for the “Little Oaks” banner. Please take your child to the toilet before they come into the group. Members of the Little Oaks team will be there to meet you and welcome your little one into the room. At the end of the service, please go to the same place to collect your child. Remember to take your sticker with your family number on to collect your child.

  • When you check your child in, you will be given two stickers: one for your child’s front and one for you to keep. The leaders will take the children to their group from the auditorium, so you will not need to go with them. During the mid-service break, the leaders will wait at the front of the auditorium, so your child can go down to meet them. They will all go together out of the right hand side of the auditorium to their group. At the end of the service, you will need to collect them. Please exit through the left hand doors and look out for the “Climbers” banner; this is where you will need to wait to collect your children. Please have your family sticker with your number on ready. The children won’t be released until you collect them.

  • You do not need to check your teen in prior to the service for this group; the leaders will check in the teens when they arrive. Teens can go to and leave their group independently. During the mid-service break, the teens should head out of the right hand auditorium door. They can look out for the “Rooted” banner to show them which room to go in.

What about after the service?

Please stick around for a coffee and a chat. Tea, coffee & biscuits will be served in the main cafeteria; please note that drinks and refreshments can’t be taken back into the auditorium. We will have a Connect Station at the front of the auditorium for anyone with questions.

 

Location:

Thurston Community College,

Norton Road,

Thurston,

Suffolk.

IP31 3PB