Home Groups

Mid-week groups Home groups are a vital part of church life at Christ Church Queensferry.

Each Wednesday, groups of church members meet in one another’s homes to open God’s word together, reflect on the previous Sunday’s sermon passage, and pray for one another. These smaller settings help us grow in faith, deepen relationships, and live out the Christian life side by side.

Once you become a member of Christ Church Queensferry, we’ll gladly connect you with a group leader who will welcome you into their home group.

Why are home groups for members only?

You may have wondered:

Isn’t that a bit unwelcoming?
Why can’t I attend home groups before becoming a member?
Can I go to one church on Sundays and another for home groups?

These are good and understandable questions. Different churches take different approaches, so here’s why we do what we do.

1. Membership reflects the Bible’s vision for church community

We live in a culture that often treats commitment with suspicion and prizes individual choice above all else. That mindset can easily spill into church life—wanting the benefits of community without the responsibility, accountability, and shared commitment that Scripture calls us to.

But the New Testament paints a very different picture.

There are 59 “one another” commands in the New Testament, including:

“Love one another…” (John 13:34)
“Be devoted to one another…” (Romans 12:10)
“Accept one another…” (Romans 15:7)
“Encourage one another daily…” (Hebrews 3:13)
“Offer hospitality to one another…” (1 Peter 4:9)

These commands assume a clearly defined community—a local church made up of people who have committed themselves to one another.

The word translated church (ekklesia) literally means “the called‑out ones.” In Acts 2, those who responded to the gospel were baptised and added to their number. Someone knew who belonged to the church and who didn’t. Later, Paul even instructs Timothy to maintain specific lists within the church (1 Timothy 5).

Throughout the New Testament, churches are described as:

one flock
one body with many members
a household
a temple
a building joined together

Each image emphasises unity, belonging, and mutual commitment—not a loose collection of individuals dipping in and out.

2. Home groups depend on trust, commitment, and shared responsibility

Our home groups are places where members share deeply, pray honestly, and support one another through the joys and struggles of life. That kind of openness requires a shared commitment—knowing that everyone in the room has promised to walk together as part of the same church family.

Allowing people who are not yet members to move in and out of these groups can unintentionally hinder that openness. Membership provides clarity, safety, and a foundation of trust.

3. We want to care for people wisely

We love welcoming newcomers on Sundays, and we want everyone exploring faith or considering joining our church to feel at home. But we also want to care well for our members by protecting the spaces where they share their lives most vulnerably.

For that reason, we believe it’s wise to wait until someone becomes a member before they join a home group or begin serving in ministries.

If you’d like to explore membership, you can find out more on our Membership page.

In summary

Different churches structure their home groups in different ways, and that’s okay. This is simply the approach we believe best reflects Scripture’s vision for committed, accountable, joyful church life.

If you have any questions, we’d love to chat. Speak to one of the elders on a Sunday or get in touch through our contact form.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and plan your visit.
Please click here.

Planning your Visit

Hello!

The following information will help you plan your first visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday. Below you'll find information about our location, parking options, accessibility, the format of our meetings and what we have on for children and babies.

If we have missed anything, just let us know by using the form at the bottom of this page.

Where and When

We meet at Rosebery Hall, 17 West Terrace, South Queensferry, EH30 9LL for our Sunday Service which starts at 10:30am.

For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early - especially if you need to find somewhere to park.

When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard. If you have kids with you, the Welcome Team can tell you about our crèche and Sunday School.

Plan your journey

Here is a link where you can open Google Maps. Find our exact location using what3words: oblige.backswing.fallen

Parking

The building itself has no parking. There is free parking on Morison Gardens, Station Road and The Binks. Scotmid also has free parking but only for 2 hours so be careful to avoid a ticket!

Public Transport

Train

South Queensferry is on the Edinburgh side of the Forth Bridge and our train station is called Dalmeny. Trains from Haymarket and Waverley train stations in Edinburgh stop at Dalmeny. It's usually at 2 or 3 stop journey and it takes between 15 to 20 minutes on the train to get to Dalmeny from Edinburgh.

It is a 15-minute walk to our church building from the train station.

Visit https://www.scotrail.co.uk/ for train timetables and ticket information.

Bus

The number 43 bus will bring you from Edinburgh almost to our church building. Ask to get off on 'The Loan,' then walk down the hill and turn right at the bottom onto the cobbled street. You'll soon pass The Little Bakery and The Stag Head Hotel. You'll then see Orocco Pier. Our building is across the road.

Visit https://www.lothianbuses.com/our-services/lothian-country/ for bus timetables and ticket information.

Accessibility

There is wheelchair access to the rear of the building (accessed via the flats at the bottom of The Loan). We have a ramp set out each Sunday and someone from the Welcome Team is always standing by to assist. As you come along the corridor you'll find accessible toilets on your left. From there you'll enter the main corridor and our meeting room is only a few metres away. We have moveable seating rather than pews and we have plenty of space for wheel chairs.

If there is something we can do to improve access for you, please let us know. We want to make our church as accessible as we can because we want everyone to feel welcome.

Our Service

The service begins at 10:30am with a warm welcome from the person leading the service. The service includes different aspects: songs (led by our musicians), prayers, Bible readings, as well as news and notices being shared.

One of our leaders will then give a talk based on a passage from the Bible. The talk will help us understand what the passage meant for the original hearers and us now, how it points to Jesus Christ, and how it applies to our everyday life. We then finish with a final song.

At least once a month we also take the Lord's Supper together. This is offered to all members who are in good standing with their church family and who aren't living in unrepentant sin. Visitors who belong to other gospel-preaching churches where they are in good standing, not living in unrepentant sin and where they'd normally take the Lord's Supper, are also welcome to participate. Everyone else is welcome to observe what is happening.

At the end of the service there is always someone around to talk with you about what you have heard or about anything else that you want to talk about!

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids:

Crèche (0 months to 3 years).
Sunday School (3 years to the end of Primary 7).

Children under 3 years old can be dropped off at crèche before the service begins. In crèche the children get a snack. Please let the crèche leader know if your child has any dietary requirements and please make sure you pack a water bottle for them to use during this time.

Children over 3 years old stay with their parent or grown-up for the first part of the service. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. Part way through the service someone will announce that it’s time for Sunday School. If it is your first Sunday you will need to go with your children to register them as part of our child safety policy. Even if you come regularly you still need to take the children to Sunday School to sign them in.

In Sunday School there is a friendly welcome, bible stories and lessons, praying, music, craft, drama and fun games. Please remember to pick your children up when the service finishes!

Nursing Mums' Room
If you would like somewhere discreet to feed your little one or you just need to settle them, we have a room specifically set aside for this near our main meeting hall. Just ask one of Welcome Team to show you the way.

You'll find baby changing facilities in the accessible toilet which is just off the main corridor.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel very welcome when you visit!