Can anyone explain a couple of things, goinf to a Church of England service for Easter Sunday

[Fluffygreenblanket]

I’m Catholic but my (young) dc are CofE and I’m taking them to a CofE service tomorrow, is there any automatic should and shouldn’t do’s at church tomorrow?

It won't be massively different from the service you are used to and I'm sure that if you get anything 'wrong' it will be obvious why. Probably nobody will genuflect. Communion includes everyone drinking the wine as well as eating the bread. There will most likely be an order of service explaining everything and giving the words to prayers, so you'll be able to rely on that.

Not really! Encourage your kids to be enthusiastic if the vicar tries to invoke them in some kind of game or show-and-tell at the front. As a Catholic you’re very welcome to take Communion in a CofE church. Stick around for coffee afterwards if you can!

Not really. Depending on how high the particular church is it could be really different to a RC one or virtually indistinguishable. Don't forget to carry on with the "For thine is the kingdom...." immediately at the end of the Lord's Prayer. If you already take communion in your own church you are welcome to. If you want to go for a blessing instead carry a service book.

Communion will almost certainly be in both kinds. You can only take the bread if you prefer.

Easter services, like Christmas, often have more attendees who don't come so often. The priest will usually be very good at giving directions about where you are in the service book and telling you what is happening for Communion. If you are a Communicant Catholic then you are invited take Communion. However you don't have to and can just go up for a Blessing. The norm is to take a hymn or prayer book/sheet rather than the crossed arms across the chest used in Catholic churches. DH is Catholic and both DC have done FHC. I'm CofE. When they come with me DC take Communion, but DH has a Blessing only.

Depending on the Church if it is a family service there may be some sort of egg hunt for the children after the service.

The vicar should lead the service so just follow what they say. If it’s a family friendly service it’ll be quite relaxed so don’t worry about getting anything ‘wrong’. I have been attending church over 20 years and still get muddled sometimes!

Enjoy and happy Easter!

Although you are allowed to take communion by C of E rules. As an RC you really shouldn’t receive communion in the C of E. Get a blessing instead.

One of the fundamental differences between the Catholic Church and the C of E is in regards to Communion.

The C of E believes bread and wine to be symbols of the body and blood of Christ whereas the Catholic Church believes in transubstantiation.
Ergo, I don’t think you should take communion.

Thank you all for your replies. I started to get nervous as it’s a church we haven't been to before (away for Easter) feeling a bit less so now.

Everyone is welcome to take communion in Anglican churches. With Jesus’ love and blessing

Bring some cash for the collection plate (i don't know if you have these in Catholic Churches)

Yes we do

All the CofE churches I've been to have invited Catholics to take communion.

My understanding is that the while the CofE welcome Catholics to take communion, stricter Catholics don’t.

Please don't be nervous, it'll be completely fine - the vicar will give really clear info up front and signpost throughout in my experience.

I was RC, and I think the only differences are;

1. the service won’t be 7 hours long
2. no standing or kneeling when a little bell sounds (honestly I think I am conditioned to kneel on the commend of a bell a thankfully I haven’t heard one in the wild 😜)
3. Taking the wine is expected, if you get the idk about drinking from a communal cup, I would stay seated and pretend to pray (not on your knees though!)

A 7 hour service, @WillItEverWork ? You should have been around when they introduced Vatican II and the length of Mass got cut down to an hour (or less, depending if you got a Fr Ted type)! 😉
We were very happy 😊

(sets satnav to @WillItEverWork 's house to ring a little bell when she's on the loo...)

Very similar, take the bible when you enter, stand when the choir etc enter the church, watch the choir for ques when to stand or sit if they stand you stand, bold in books means all sing,no bold just the choir, communion you will be prompted to join the queue you can choose not to, once it's your turn bow head for a blessing hands crossed Infront for bread / wine.

All file out from front to the back and shake hands with priest on exit.

I've never taken a Bible when I've entered a church.
In the RC churches you have a Missal which gives the order of Mass and the usual prayers. They give out a paper liturgy to guide the worshippers.
The Bible is on a lecturn at the front, usually for a reading from a Gospel.

Actually I'd be careful watching the choir for cues on Easter morning as there might be an anthem which the choir sing and the congregation remains seated. On a 'normal' Sunday you'd be fine following the choir but feast days can be different.

This.

I went to a Christening and sat next to a friend.

The church had the stations of the cross on the walls and my friend and I had a discussion because we were fairly sure the parents were not RC.

We solved the puzzle by looking up the Lord's Prayer in the order of service or what ever it was.

@Cathandkin my parents got married in 1964, mum was a convert but my dad had been an altar boy.

After Vatican II they missed the English Mass so went to the later Polish Mass, apparently that wasn't cut down so much.

Our Easter vigil was 2hours 45 minutes last night!

Yes! Good going 👍
I'm going to say that it's not a regular Sunday morning Mass, now, though.

Ah, the famous Polish Mass! Legend has it that it's still the lengthiest Mass in Christendom.
I remember when the Mass changed to English, my Dad was furious because he said he'd been to Mass all over the world, and Latin made it standard. Which I suppose is point.
When I was growing up the 11am Mass was the Latin Sung one.

Yes, this is correct.

And this from @KnickerlessParsons
"The C of E believes bread and wine to be symbols of the body and blood of Christ whereas the Catholic Church believes in transubstantiation.
Ergo, I don’t think you should take communion."

is the reason why Catholics are not supposed to take communion at a C of E service.

As for the rest of the service, if you sit in the middle or towards the back you will be able to watch what the rest of the congregation do.