Today

Today

  • Worship Group
    22/04/2025 19:30pm
Sunday morning worship

Our worship services

Our Sunday morning services start at 10.30am. Other services start at the times listed below. 

If you cannot attend in person for Sunday morning services then you can join on Zoom using the log-in details below.

  • Sunday morning worship led by Phil Rutt
    27/04/2025 10:30am
  • Sunday morning worship led by Rev Nicky Gilbert
    04/05/2025 10:30am
  • Sunday morning worship for Christian Aid Week led by Sue Brown
    11/05/2025 10:30am
  • Sunday morning worship with Holy Communion led by Rev Dave Harkison
    18/05/2025 10:30am
Junior worship and fellowship

Junior worship and fellowship

Junior Church takes place every Sunday morning and is open to all ages. Young people and children take part in the beginning of morning worship and then join in age-related groups for a variety of activities. 

Families with babies and pre-school children are welcome to sit anywhere in the sanctuary, or in the safe area at the back of the church, so that everyone can participate in worship. Soft play bags are available for the very young. 

Fun for Under Fives (FfUFs) runs every Monday morning in term-timefor pre-school children and accompanying adults. The session includes play, craft activities, story time, songs and a prayer.

Messy Church is normally held on the first Monday of school holidays except Bank Holidays. All ages are welcome, accompanied by an adult. A fun morning, including a variety of craft activities, a short time of worship, and a light lunch. There is no charge for Messy Church, but booking is essential.  The next Messy Church meeting is Friday 30th May at 10.00am.

For further details, contact secretary@farehamurc.org.uk who will pass on your query to the relevant co-ordinator.

Parent Free Zone Youth Group

Parent Free Zone Youth Group

Every month we host PFZ (Parent Free Zone) Youth Group on the second Sunday of the month between 5.00pm and 7.00pm, on behalf of Christians Together in Fareham. All children from 8 years of age are welcome. 

Children and young people can choose to play a range of table games, table football, table tennis or air hockey. The evening also includes team games, a short time of reflection, and a cooked meal is provided. 

An enjoyable opportunity for young people from the local churches to meet together for fun, faith and friendship. Booking is essential via secretary@farehamurc.org.uk who will pass on your query to the relevant co-ordinator.

Future dates are:

  • Parent Free Zone
    13/04/2025 17:00pm
  • Parent Free Zone
    11/05/2025 17:00pm
  • Parent Free Zone
    08/06/2025 17:00pm
  • Parent Free Zone
    13/07/2025 17:00pm
  • Parent Free Zone
    14/09/2025 17:00pm

Welcome to our church

Welcome to our church

We hope that you will find much to interest you here and will want to join with us as Christians in Fareham. Our church mission statement is "Sharing Jesus' love with the world today". This means we, all ages, come together each week for Sunday worship to listen for God's word for us. The rest of the week we try our best to act on what we have heard both in church and through our own prayers. We try to care for each other to the very best, and this love and care then flows out through all of us in our work, leisure and home lives. Wherever you are as regards faith in God, come among us and help us together, to grow closer to him day by day.

You may or may not be aware that there are now daily reflections, written by all kinds of contributors, made available by the United Reformed Church as emails. You can subscribe here to receive them. You can also find them on our website or on  Facebook

On the Death of His Holiness, Pope Francis

PopeFrancis

The United Reformed Church, with Christians everywhere, mourns the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, and extends its sympathy to Catholics who will grieve this loss most keenly. A reflection has been prepared and we hoped you find it useful in public and private prayer and reflection.

Eternal Majesty,  we commend to You our brother Francis, give him the rest he so sorely needs. 

Faithful Shepherd,  help us to model in our lives and ministry, the mercy, radicalness, and missionary zeal of Your servant Francis, that Your kingdom will come. 

Abiding Spirit, guide the College of Cardinals as they pray, discern, and elect a new pope,  that that the ministry of oversight and leadership embodied in Pope Francis may bear good fruit. Amen 

Alleluia - Christ Is Risen

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God, we are blind, but you open our eyes, to see your glory revealed through your son Jesus Christ,

who died and rose again to lead us into life.

God, we are deaf, but you unstop our ears, to hear the power of your resurrection story.

Once we were dead but now in Christ we are alive.

God, we are dumb, but you set free our tongues, to rejoice and sing with all the hosts of heaven:

Holy, holy, holy is the one who infuses our world with the Spirit of life,

Holy, holy holy is the one who redeems and makes whole all who respond,

Holy, holy holy is the one in whose light we see that all creation will be made new.

Christians Together in Fareham - Good Friday Service of Witness

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Christians Together in Fareham met for a service of witness at the Podium, West Street, Fareham on Good Friday.

Many walked from their own church carrying a banner or cross.

Hot cross buns were shared with visitors to the town centre during and at the end of the service.

Prayer for the Covid-19 Day of Reflection

Covid-19 Day of Reflection

The UK Government asked people to use Sunday 9th March as a day to reflect on Covid-19 as we approach the 5th anniversary of the first lockdown.  This is one of the ten recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration.  Fareham URC offers this prayer at this time of reflection.

Prayer for Covid Anniversary 

Has it really been 5 years Lord? 

  • 5 years since lockdown, fear, heroic NHS staff, and a daily death toll on the news?
  • 5 years since panic, uncertainty, and incompetence mixed with dedication, unity, and scientific ingenuity?
  • 5 years since law breaking was contrasted so strongly with law keeping? 

It feels so much further away than just 5 years. 

  • We’ve seen several different prime ministers and a different monarch; there again we’ve got the same US president back.
  • The homeless have been returned to the streets – seems it was too expensive to keep on supporting them after all.
  • Politicians are busy rewriting history, seeking to influence which lessons are to be learnt...and we live with the trauma.   

So, we remember before you Lord those who have died, those whose lives are still wounded with grief and long Covid and those who gave their lives through caring. 

We give thanks for doctors and scientists who found a vaccine so quickly, for advisors and planners who got the vaccine delivered so well, and for those who devised treatments to relieve suffering. 

But Lord, we’re left with the pandemic’s legacy - unanswered questions, unresolved grief, and unaddressed anger which sit alongside our gratitude and admiration.  

We wonder, Lord, what we can learn from the pandemic, whether we’re ready to hold to account  

  • those who failed to plan,
  • those who could not lead with integrity,
  • those who profiteered from suffering, and
  • those who evaded justice.   

We’re left wondering how to deal with both the trauma and the memories, and, most of all, Lord we wonder if we’re any better prepared for the next one. 

So give us your wisdom, Lord,  that we can navigate these times, and our memories, with honesty, grace, and the ability to bring change. Amen. 

Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in the Middle East

Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in the Middle East

We pray for the people of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. We long for peace and for an end to violence and destruction of every kind.

We unite our hearts with all who are suffering, with those who have lost loved ones, and with all who cry out in anguish.

Please God have mercy on us. Hear our voice that we not despair.

That we will witness life with each other, that we have mercy one for another,

That we share sorrow one with the other, that we hope, together, one for another.

Inscribe our lives in the book of Life, for Your sake, our God of Life. Let us choose Life.

For You are Peace, Your world is Peace and all that is Yours is Peace,

May this be your will. And let us say

Amen.

Intercessions in difficult times

Intercessions in difficult times

Eternal One, we praise and give you thanks for all that is good in our lives

  • for those we love,
  • for those whose company we enjoy,
  • for the beauty that surrounds us in the created order,
  • for the random acts of kindness we see day by day,
  • and for all that adds value and worth to our living.

Lord Jesus, you often told the rich off for ignoring the poor, you weren’t a great guest at dinner parties, rebuking the host for the guest list, telling folk not to grab the best seats, and to give without any hope of earthly reward. We lift to you, dear Lord

  • all who are desperate in these days,
  • all who already struggle to pay their bills,
  • all who are in worry about heating their home,
  • all who cannot make any further savings, and
  • all who will go cold and hungry.

Holy Spirit, you are the creative spark which sets us ablaze, you are the warmth of love that leads us to serve the poor, you are the fire in our bellies that leads us to cry for justice; Inspire, we beg you, those who aspire to lead our nations

  • to work for justice,
  • to be creative with building our economy, and
  • to offer relief to all who dread the coming days, weeks and months.

Eternal One, in the midst of our praises and our prayers, we’re worried,

  • worried about our own bills,
  • worried about our church’s bills,
  • worried about how the groups who use our church will afford to continue,
  • worried about how we can make a difference in these difficult times.

Keep us ever alive to your spirit, allow us to find ways to open our doors and our hearts to your promptings, to unleash our resources of time, talent and treasure, that none may go cold or hungry.

Amen

Prayer for Ukraine

A prayer for Ukraine

God of all, with alarm and concern we bring before you the military intervention in Ukraine.

In a world you made for peace and flourishing, we lament the use of armed force. 

We mourn every casualty of this conflict, every precious life extinguished by war. 

We pray comfort for those who grieve and those who are fearful. 

Hear our longing that leaders and nations will honour the worth of all people by having the courage to resolve conflict through dialogue. 

May all our human failings be transformed by your wonderful grace and goodness. 

We ask this in the name of Christ, the author of peace and sustainer of Creation. Amen.

Our prayers this month

Our prayers this month

Every week pray for our Church Officers, Elders, all who lead worship, those who provide and show the PowerPoint and work the camera and microphones, those who provide music during times of worship, those who prepare the flowers and those who provide welcome and hospitality.

30th March - 5th April

To ponder: ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10, NIV)

  • 30th March is Mothering Sunday
  • Give thanks for the work of the URC’s Children’s and Youth Development Officers, especially for Ruth, one of the two CYDOs for Wessex, who is leading our worship this week.
  • Pray for those who show kindness; those who go the extra mile and turn the other cheek; those who have helped others to value themselves and renew their hope in you.
  • Pray for those who were there when you needed them and who stood by you when others let you down.
  • Lord, the source of all kindness, fill the earth with your love.

6th (Passion Sunday) - 12th April

To ponder: Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3, NIV)

  • Give thanks for those who are gentle in times of trouble and give all that they can to show they care.
  • Pray for the people of Myanmar – those who are injured or have been bereaved. Pray that emergency workers and medical staff remain safe.
  • Let us pour out perfume on the ones we love, both nearby and far away so that they will know that they will never be forgotten.

13th (Palm Sunday) – 19th April

To ponder: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Luke 19:38, NIV)

  • Give thanks for the joy, deeper than any sorrow, with which God blesses us.
  • Pray for those who are sad or suffering.
  • Pray for those for whom depression or anxiety brings a denial of joy, that they may find healing and release.
  • O Christ, who entered the city in peace and was greeted with joy, bring your peace and joy to our world.

20th (Easter Sunday) - 26th April

To ponder: In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:5-6)

  • Give thanks for the good news that Jesus is risen and that we can celebrate Easter freely in this country.
  • Pray for persecuted Christians in all parts of the world.
  • Pray for those whose attitudes of hate, resentment and bitterness cause hurt and deep wounds in the lives of others.
  • Lord, give us a new joy in your presence and a new awareness that you are alive.

27th April (Low Sunday) - 3rd May

To ponder: Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (John 19:27-28)

  • Give thanks for those who have certainty in their faith that they will have the courage to pass it on to their friends and neighbours.
  • Pray for those who doubt because the circumstances of their lives don’t hold any sign of a God of love.
  • Pray for those who doubt because they have been hurt or let down by others or have never learned to trust.
  • Risen Christ, shine your resurrection light into all our lives.