AWE

AWE – or the Alternative Worship Experience to give it its full title – offers the chance to worship in refreshing ways that feature worship songs, video, drama and interactive activities designed to engage congregations which can range in age from primary school children to people in theirnineties.

AWE is blessed with a cracking band of musicians and a dedicated team of singers who help services to ring with God's praises and the Thursday night practices at West Ardsley are also a great time of fellowship – not to mention a chance to share plenty of biscuits and cake!

AWE has a dedicated following of people who support the event wherever it is held across the circuit but it would be lovely to see more at the services – so why not bring your musical talents and join the band or the singers or simply come along and experience different and enriching ways to worship God?

AWE services are held five or six times a year and pick up on a different theme every time so watch out for the posters.

AWE service 6th July 2025 (6.00pm) at West Ardsley "Out of your comfort zone"

The bible is full of characters who, when assigned a task by God (or Jesus), felt very much ill at ease and a long way out of their comfort zones. For example, in the Old Testament there was Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Esther and Gideon, to name but a few, whilst in the New Testament characters such as Mary, Joseph, Simon Peter, James, John (and other disciples), Paul, Timothy and Silas, automatically spring to mind.
And ever since the birth of the early church, some 2000 years ago, ordinary men and ordinary women have been called by God to tasks that have taken them deep into the unknown and way out of their everyday comfort zones.
As we now zoom forward to the year 2025 and reflect on our Christian lives and journeys, I think the situation is still very much the same. For example, many Ministers, Deacons, Local Preachers and Worship Leaders will probably tell you that once they had answered God's call to preach, there were moments and situations along the way that they struggled with which took them way out of their own personal comfort zones.
The next AWE service on 6 th July at West Ardsley focuses on this very subject, using Luke 10: 1-11 as our text and study guide (the commissioning of the 72). The service includes hymns, worship songs, prayers, drama, youtube clips, personal testimony and a short reflection, not to mention a great band and song group. 
When I personally answered Gods call to preach some 20 years ago, I definitely felt very much out of my comfort zone, but thankfully I had the benefit of an excellent mentor (Douglas Perry), a fully supportive team of Ministers and the encouraging support of a wonderful group of Local Preachers.
This letter, therefore, is a personal invitation to everyone in the circuit to come along on the 6 th July and support those who are taking part and to offer their worship to God. Yes, the AWE service is a slightly different form of worship and yes, it may take you slightly out of your comfort zone, but please come along and give it a try. Little did I know when Douglas was my mentor way back in the year 2003, that he himself felt exactly as I did when he personally answered his call to preach some 65 years ago. I can't tell you any more than that at the moment as Douglas will be offering a short testimony at the AWE service, which I can assure you will be well worth listening to.
So, please come along if you can to support Douglas and to offer your heartfelt worship and praises to God. Comfort zone or no comfort zone, rest assured you will be made very welcome.

With every blessing
Stephen (on behalf of the AWE team)

The next AWE services are at

West Ardsley on 6th July 2025 at 6pm
Cleckheatonon 21st September 2025 at 6pm
Batley Central on 30th November 2025 at 6pm