Services | Worship at Churches, Worship, Fellowship & Activities

Our Churches, Worship and Fellowship

Our Church

Each of the three participating fellowships have their own way of worshipping, and we recognise the need for harmony and diversity in worship as we move forward, respecting where we have come from and where we are being led by the Spirit. Whilst recognising that teamwork is essential, each centre of worship in the congregation runs its own rota of readers, musicians, AV, cleaning, etc., co-ordinated by the joint Session Clerks.

We have a number of willing volunteers, but we recognise the limitations of an ageing congregation and the need for succession planning. However, we are finding people willing to step up and become involved in the practical functions of the church, e.g. hospitality and welcome, audiovisual equipment, readers, cleaning, groundwork, etc., as our united parish discerns God’s future for us.

Sunday Worship

We gather to worship each Sunday morning at 9.30am in both Fearn and Portmahomack,and at 11.30am in Tain.

Currently our Locum Minister leads two out of these three services (one in Tain, and alternately in Fearn and Portmahomack), supported by elders, and visiting preachers.

Where the month has a fifth Sunday we may hold a single joint service in one centre.

Tain and Fearn have organists, and all three centres are well equipped with TV screens and sound systems, and all three congregations are used to praising alongside recorded worship music.

Each service includes singing a variety of old and new praise songs, reading and preaching from the Bible, and prayer. The Kirk Session has provided that communion is currently celebrated four times each year.

Services at Tain are recorded on CD and distributed to those unable to attend. During the pandemic services from Tain and Fearn were routinely streamed online. Our website is currently being updated, and our Facebook page is current and active. We have used Zoom during and since lockdown for Bible Study and prayer but we continue to meet in person in Tain on a Wednesday evening..

Some key features to our worship:

Flexible approach to the service at all worship centres, with options for younger families to watch on-screen in the Crèche Room at Tain.
Blended modern and traditional praise on the organ, keyboard, guitar, and also using videos.
Congregational participation in leading worship and Bible reading.
Café Church at Fearn
Fellowship over tea and coffee before/after services at all worship

Services, Fellowship and Worship at other times

Until recently, in Tain, we routinely ran Children’s Church, Youth Club, Summer Holiday Club and Messy Church but currently only the Mother and Toddler Group is running and we need to encourage and develop fresh involvement from the united congregation

Midweek meetings for prayer and Bible study take place in Tain and Portmahomack and recently we started a house-group model of Bible Study. ‘The Gathering’ is a drop-in session held each Tuesday afternoon from 12-4.30pm in Tain, providing food and fellowship, singing and discussion. It is open to all, regardless of any church affiliation.

We have regular opportunities for involvement with the community throughout the year, such as Holy Week/Easter, Christmas, Harvest Thanksgiving, Remembrance, and school assemblies/services. There is active involvement in the community by individuals within the church. Our first, joint Harvest Thanksgiving service was held “on farm” in 2024 and welcomed Christians from other denominations, as well as the local farming community.

Our Churches, Worship and Fellowship

Our Church

Sunday Worship

Services, Fellowship and Worship at other times

Tain Church

Portmahomack Church

Fearn Church

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