There are many ways to help out. There is no obligation but many find it rewarding and enjoyable. Activity times given are the general rule, but if in doubt, just call the relevant contact to check.
Food bank & Community Hub
The St Nicholas Church Community Hub runs on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am (set-up from 9am). The hub is a foodbank distribution point, hosts a cafe run by students from St Philip’s School, has a craft group, clothes rail, and more! We also hold monthly lunches and always appreciate help with those.
If you would like to volunteer with the foodbank please contact East Elmbridge foodbank at https://eastelmbridge.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/volunteer/
If you would like to volunteer with any other aspect of the Community Hub including community lunches please contact Ruth on ruth@stnicholaschurch.org.uk
CHOIR
The Choir sings at the 3pm/6pm Sunday service. The Choir can also be called upon for weddings and funerals. Additional singers are invited to join it for the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols at Christmas and it welcomes new members in all departments at any time. Weekly rehearsals are held in the Church before the Sunday service, these are informal and friendly gatherings.
WORSHIP BAND
The 09:30 Sunday service is a contemporary service which has an informal atmosphere with music led by our newly-formed Worship Band. We are looking for instrumentalists and singers to augment this exciting group. If you are an aspiring musician and/or worship leader, this is a wonderful opportunity for you to play a role in our Church.
Church cleaning
A regular cleaner is responsible for the weekly cleaning of the Church. However, from time to time, volunteers help when necessary and there is an Annual Spring Clean when a team of helpers attend to the more inaccessible areas. If you wish to help with this, please contact the Church Office on 020 8398 9641.
Church working parties
Occasionally there are light maintenance jobs to be carried out in and around the Church and Church Hall. A team of volunteers is called together to carry out these tasks. News of these working parties usually appears in the weekly Newssheet and is sent out by email to those on the Church database.
Coffee / squash
Refreshments are served either in Church or in the Church Hall after the 09:30 and 11:15am services. There is a rota on the weekly Newssheet for the volunteers who help to organise this.
Tots Praise and Sunday School
These groups are run by volunteers, all of whom have been DBS checked and trained. If you would like to join the teams, the Church has a Child Protection Policy and you must, of course, be willing to abide by these conditions.
FLOWERS
Flower arranging in the Church for Sunday services is done by volunteers. The volunteers arrange the flowers but the cost of the purchase of flowers is covered by Church funds. Volunteers are very welcome either to help on a regular basis or to step in less frequently, especially at busy times such as Harvest Festival. Please contact Jan Ricketts via the Parish Office on 020 8398 9641.
GARDENING
There is a team dedicated to looking after the Garden of Remembrance/Church Close which normally meets on the second Saturday of the month at 09.30 and occasionally at other times. Simply turn up – or get in touch a few days beforehand so that tasks can be suitably planned. The team is organised by Mary Turner who can be contacted via the Parish Office on 020 8398 9641.
NEW ACRE GRAVEYARD
We have a second graveyard, which are currently turning into a meadow, in order to encourage more flowers and natural habitat to bloom and flourish. If you would like to get involved in this exciting project - please get in touch.
We are very grateful to the follow companies that have kindly donated seeds to help us:
Longacre Garden, Shepperton Wildflower Lawns & Meadows Sutton Seeds Squires, Long Ditton Crossys, Hinchley Wood Garsons Farm, West End Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley Seeds4bees
Court Farm Garden Centre Chessington Garden Centre. Fishing Community of Brixham B&Q Leatherhead Weybridge Garden Centre
Bell RIngers
The bells are rung before the 10:00 Sunday service (except during the month of August) and both beginners and more experienced people are welcome. Instruction on how to ring or to improve is given and practices usually take place on Monday evenings from 19:45 to 21:15. You can see a video about bellringing at St Nicholas’ Church at:
If you are interested in joining, please contact Giles André via the Church Office on 020 8398 9641.
SIDESPERSONS
Sidespersons are the people who greet you when you come into church and who hand you your hymn book and service sheet. Their job is similar to that of the Servers in that they help prepare the church for worship. Their area of responsibility is everything outside the altar and Eucharist. They also look after the congregation. Sidespersons act on a rota and perform their duties either at the 8am or at the 3pm/6pm Sunday service. This is a great opportunity for busy people to contribute. The rota is organised by Angus Sherriff who can be contacted via the Church Office on 020 8398 9641.