Plymouth Brethren families leaving church service

Services, meetings and readings

Each day, Brethren meet in purpose-built churches, which are used only for Christian worship and not for secular or other activities.

Our meetings are centered around the Holy Scripture. Selected scripture from the Bible provide the subject for mutually conversational Bible readings, gospel sermons and addresses based on texts of Scripture. We open and close our meetings with a prayer and the collective singing of a hymn.

Special meetings are often held. These may take the form of ‘fellowship meetings’ or ‘three day meetings’ (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). On these occasions, attendance is on the basis of invitation and often includes national and worldwide representation. The only material read and discussed in these meetings is the Bible.

Sunday (Lord’s day) is regarded as a special day, commencing with the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion) in the early morning at local churches and thereafter the day is filled with Bible readings and preachings of the Gospel and the Word of God. We also entertain Brethren in our homes for lunches and evening meals.

Weekly meetings calendar

Each day, Brethren meet in purpose-built churches, which are used only for Christian worship and not for secular or other activities.

DayMeetingTime of Day
SundayLord's Supper (Holy Communion)
Reading
Gospel Preachings
Early morning
Mid-morning
Balance of day
MondayPrayer MeetingLate afternoon or evening
TuesdaySermon MeetingLate afternoon or evening
WednesdayBible ReadingLate afternoon or evening
ThursdayBible ReadingLate afternoon or evening
FridayBible ReadingLate afternoon or evening
SaturdayBible ReadingMorning

Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)

The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is central to our lives. It is celebrated each first day of the week by every member of the Plymouth Brethren and it serves to hold our community together in the bond of Christian fellowship and in committal to the Lord Jesus Christ. This simple and private service follows the form given in 1 Corinthians 11:23-28, John 20:19, Acts 20:7 and other Scriptures. It is keenly attended by all our households, and we include our children who receive the sacraments on the basis of the words of Jesus: “Take eat, this is my body” Matthew 26:26-28.

Take eat, this is my body.

Matthew 26:26

Gospel Preachings

The gospel is preached in our halls each Sunday.

Bible Readings

All our meetings are based on the Bible and include Bible readings. Persons are free to select a text from the Bible and many other verses are brought into a mutual discussion by the congregation.

Prayer Meetings

Weekly meetings specifically for prayer are held in our meeting halls globally. At these occasions, prayers are made for a wide variety of subjects including governments, wars, natural disasters and persons in poverty, oppression, sickness and need. Brethren members keep updated as to current issues. Thousands of public prayers are made each week in our meeting halls.