A Church of England church in Haywards Heath
Ascension Church
Home Groups
What is a church Home Group?
A church home group, sometimes called a small group, cell group, or community group, is a small gathering of church members who meet in an informal setting, usually someone's home. Home groups play a vital role in building community, encouraging spiritual growth, and supporting one another.
What happens at a home group?
Fellowship. Home groups offer a warm and welcoming environment where people can build genuine friendships. Members share their lives, experiences, and faith journeys, creating a real sense of belonging.
Bible study and prayer. Home groups read and discuss scripture together, explore how it applies to daily life, and pray for one another. Exploring faith in this way deepens understanding and strengthens belief.
Support and accountability. Home groups provide a safe space to share both struggles and joys. Members offer each other encouragement, accountability, and practical help, building a strong support network.
Service and outreach. Home groups encourage members to live out their faith in action and make a positive difference in their local neighbourhoods.
Why join a home group?
Joining a home group can be a transformative experience. It offers the chance to connect with others, grow spiritually, and find encouragement in your faith journey. Whether you're new to the church or looking to deepen existing friendships, a home group is a wonderful place to belong and thrive.
When and where do groups meet?
Home groups meet at different times during the week:
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Wednesday afternoons — 3.30pm in church
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Evening groups — venue and times confirmed each week in Ascension Weekly
Everyone is welcome, so why not come along and join us?
Autumn 2026 - The Bible Course
Have you ever opened the Bible and wondered how it all fits together? The Bible can feel like a big, confusing library with dozens of books, countless characters, and a story that unfolds over thousands of years. If that sounds familiar, the Bible Course was made for you and we are running it in the Ascension Home Groups through autumn 2026.
The Bible Course
The Bible Course is an eight-week small-group resource from Bible Society, designed to guide your church, life group or small gathering through the Bible's big story — from Genesis right through to Revelation. Over eight sessions, it introduces the Bible's key themes, characters and stories, and helps you confidently apply Scripture to everyday life. More than 200,000 people have already taken part nationally. Why not join them?
One of the great strengths of the course is how welcoming it is, whatever your starting point. The course is designed for people with different levels of Bible knowledge — from those who are new to Christianity or looking for a follow-on from a course like Alpha, to mature Christians who have been reading the Bible for years and want to understand its big picture more fully.
Each week combines engaging, interactive films with a beautifully designed Guidebook, and there's no preparation needed — everything you need to run a session is provided. The New Edition of the course is free to access, and Bible Society recommends that each participant has their own copy of the Guidebook, currently £9.99 per book.biblesociety.org
Whether you're exploring the Bible for the very first time or want to read it with fresh eyes, The Bible Course offers a clear, friendly and practical way in.
Find out more
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Watch the video for an overview of the Bible Course
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Bible Course — Bible Society: the official overview page with everything you need to explore or run the course. biblesociety.org
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Bible Society group resources: browse other small-group materials from Bible Society.