What can I expect in a Catholic church service?

Best thing to do is just pay attention to what the others are doing and follow their lead.

Probably not a good idea to do the communion thing. Catholics have special rules about when you can and can't take communion. They generally frown on non catholics taking communion.

I went to catholic schools and had to go to mass 6 days a week for 10 years and I still wasn't quite sure what to do and when to do it.

You should select Matthew R's answer. It is concise and correct. The only issue with all of the above is that it is likely that the Roman Mass is not the service used by Catholics in Cyprus. Contrary to what most Western Catholics believe there are a wide variety of Catholic services. Indeed, Pope John Paul II went to an effort to make sure he said each different kind at least once per year. If it is a "Roman" Catholic Church the service will be identical to the one you would see in Scotland, except it would be in the local language. As Matthew R said, "do not go up for communion."

If it is not a Roman service, it is likely to be the liturgy of St. John Chrysostum which is a shortened service of the liturgy of James. If it is the John Chrysostum liturgy it will be very unlike the kind you would see in Scotland, though the core elements are tightly connected. Both services are nearly 2000 years old, but different apostles left similar but different services in different parts of the world. As Cyprus is an ancient community, it is difficult to guess which liturgy will be used. The best bets are on the Roman Mass or the Greek Divine Liturgy, but even that is uncertain.

You cannot do anything wrong by following along and that is the best bet. Stand when they stand, you are likely to be kissed as it is Cyprus rather than have someone shake your hand, sit when they sit and so forth. They may not have pews or chairs either. Pews are a Lutheran invention. Before that everyone sat on the floor or stood. There were no rows and so forth. Since it is so close to the Levant, don't be shocked if they bow to the floor just as Muslims would. That is common in many near Eastern Catholic services.

Communion won't happen if it is the "liturgy of the hours," but will otherwise.

Since most people only experience their local version of Catholic they don't realize it isn't as uniform as they believe.

Catholic services are generally uniform within a jurisdiction, but not necessarily across episcopal jurisdictions. A Maronite Catholic, Malabar Catholic, Byzantine Catholic and Roman Catholic service set side by side don't look much alike at all, but they are all nearly 2000 years old and are considered equal in all respects. There are 23 primary types of services used in the world, each one at least somewhat unique

Follow along and mimic. It cannot hurt.

What makes this easy to answer is that the Catholic Church lays down exactly what should be in the service so it's the same all round the world. Very different from Protestant churches like the Church of Scotland, where it's allowed to be flexible. The only variation can be in exactly how ceremonial it is - the priest MUST use the words laid down by the Vatican. Until the 1960s it even had to be in Latin but now the local language can be used. Because the words never change, Catholics tend to know the words they should say during the service off by heart.

Almost all Catholic services are Mass, which is a communion service. Catholics are required to attend this at least every Sunday. The order of service goes like this: Priest and any assistants come in - priest greets the people - prayer of confession - Kyrie - Gloria (an ancient hymn, which may be said or sung) - prayer - first Bible reading - responsive psalm - second bible reading - alleluia chant or hymn - gospel reading (there will be more ceremony about this than the other readings, including responses between priest and congregation before and after) - sermon - everyone says the Creed, or it might be sung - prayers for the church and the world - bread and wine are put on the altar - the priest says a long series of prayers to consecrate the bread and wine - the Lord's Prayer - the priest says some more, possibly including singing the Agnus Dei and sharing the peace - the priest receives communion - communion is distributed to the people (probably just bread in the form of a thin wafer: it's only recently that the Catholic Church has allowed the congregation to receive wine as well) - a short prayer - the priest blesses everyone.

There may be hymns or songs at various points, but traditionally-minded Catholics aren't used to this so they might not be enthusiastic about singing them! I remember going to Mass in Austria once where us Protestants at the back who decided to go along felt embarrassed to be singing louder than everyone else.

Do not go up for communion as you aren't a Catholic and aren't allowed to - this is for confirmed Catholics only. The best thing to do is just go along and stand up and sit down when everyone else does. The Mass will presumably be in Greek and maybe your friend won't understand it either, though she will know what is happening at each point because it will be exactly the same as she's used to, just in a different language. Catholic sermons tend to be quite short. The whole thing may be less than an hour. My sister has Irish friends, and in Ireland they have the phenomenon of "speed mass" where the priest rattles through the whole thing in half an hour flat! I don't suppose the Cypriots will be quite so disrespectful of their tradition. Treat it as a learning experience.

There is really not much you can do to embarrass yourself. Just sit when everyone sits. Kneel when everyone kneels. And stand when everyone stands. And whatever you do, don't walk up there to get communion when the time comes. Communion is when everyone walks up to near the altar to get the bread and wine (You cannot/should not particparate in this since you are not Catholic)

Other than that, like I said there is not much else to do. What you will be witnessing is very old and historic. The Catholic Church is the first Christian religion and parts of the Catholic Mass have remain unchanged in th8e past 2000 years. They will also read about 5 minutes from the bible and the priest will explain the reading.

Catholic services do not vary. That's one of the reasons the Catholic Church is unique in Christianity because no matter if you are Taiwan, Canada, the U.S. etc, you will hear the exact same readings on that given day no matter where you are at. Catholic means "universal"

--Catholic

Hmmm....I think the Church of Scotland may have similar rituals. Just do what your friend does, though you may not want to kneel. My dad, who's a Protestant, never knelt when we knelt the few times he's gone with us to church for whatever reason. He sat instead. (We kneel because Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Since you don't believe that, like my dad doesn't, you can just sit.) You don't have to pray, either. My husband never says a word at Mass--not even the Our Father. (He claims a language problem but he could just read it from the book.) It's the same every week. Yes, we do have Communion at each Mass--that's what it's all about. We believe Jesus is physically present in the Eucharist. You don't have to kneel or get up for Communion.

Yes, the modesty issue might be super important in Cyprus. Ask your friend what to wear. In the States, as long as your "naughty bits" are covered and your clean, it's OK--though some go with bit exposed. In Cyprus, the dress might be super conservative for Mass. Y'know, arms covered and the like.

Essentially identical to the Church of Scotland. You had practice with about the nearest thing to Catholic church service imaginable.

1) Is there a typical kind of service or does each church vary?

Local customs can affect minor details regarding how the service is run (ringing of bells or no ringing of bells, incense or no incense, etc.), but in general services in all Latin rite Catholic churches are practically identical. Note, though, that you might be attending an Eastern rite or Orthodox service on Cyprus - and I am unfamiliar with those two types of services.

2) Do they have communion at each service?

Yes, and as a non-Catholic, Catholics will expect you to not participate in Communion.

- Jim, Fundamentalist Christian with experience in lots of different kinds of church services

When you enter the church there could also be books stacked on a table or they might be within the pews the location where you sit. These books are referred to as "Missals", it will support guild you through the Mass. When entering the church seem for a stoup that includes holy water, go over to it place your finger pointers within the water and make the sign of the move. Than before you sit down at the pew genuflect closer to the Tabernacle which is frequently placed in the back of the alter. That you would be able to go up during communion to be blessed, but you must not got the Holy Eucharist being that your not Catholic. Simply cross your hands over your chest while you get up to the Eucharistic Minister, Priest or Deacon. At the finish of Mass genuflect towards the Tabernacle when leaving your pew. And upon leaving the church situation your finger hints in the stoup of holy water and make the signal of the pass. I will have to warn you ahead of time that throughout a Catholic Mass there's allot of kneeling, sitting, and standing simply follow the Missal and watch those around you on what they're doing. Additionally for the duration of the reading of the Gospel which is finished by using either a Priest or Deacon you will see humans making a small signal of the move over their foreheads, mouths, and hearts. You'll see what I imply.

Just Relax,you may exchange pleasantries. Follow the crowd on this. As you enter the church, you may notice a container of blessed water that people use to bless themselves from. You can follow form or not. In most Catholic churches it won't matter. You don't need your Bible because readings are preselected. (You can look them up here: http://www.usccb.org/nab/ )

Actually, you can participate or not at just about any point in the Mass with one exception, communion. (There are doctrinal issues there.) So be comfortable as you observe, or participate. If you see a missal in the pew, you can locate the order of Mass and follow along.

The Mass usually begins with a procession of ministers to the altar, as all stand and sing a hymnbook song. They begin with the sign of the cross (forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder, down), and some opening words. Then they go into the penitential right, either a general confession of sin, or a repetition of the words, "Lord have mercy" and "Christ have mercy". Depending on the season, they may sing/pray the Gloria, followed by a short prayer. Then everyone sits down.

There is a reading from the Old Testament, a psalm response, and a reading from one of the letters in the New Testament. Then the priest or deacon reads from the gospels, and continues with a homily or sermon. After a period of silent meditation, all rise for the Nicene Creed and the Prayers of the Faithful. Then the assembly sits again as the Preparation of the Gifts begins.

At that time, the ushers come around with the baskets. (There is no problem if you merely pass it along.) There is usually song at the time. When all donations are collected, they and the bread and wine are brought to the priest, who blesses them, then sets the bread and wine on the altar. There he prays over them and offers them as material for the sacrifice. When he finishes, he turns to wash his hands with the help of altar servers, then finishes with a prayer. All rise.

There are some preparatory prayers, but eventually everyone is singing/saying the "Holy, Holy". In most churches, the people then kneel to signify the solemnity of the next part, the Eucharistic Prayer. Here the priest prays to the Holy Spirit to come down and sanctify the offering, changing it into the flesh and blood of Christ. When the bread and wine have been elevated, signifying the completion of the change, he invites everyone to express the mystery of the faith in speech/song. He then prays for Church leaders, for those present, for those departed, and he recounts the past deeds of God and his Son. At the end, he chants, "Through him, with him, and in him...", shortly before the assembly confirms his work with a Great Amen.

Following this is the Lord's prayer, then a prayer for peace, then an exchange of peace greetings. Any lay ministers of the Eucharist come forward and assume their positions. The minister(s) at the altar consume, then often the lay ministers are given communion. Then all who wish come forward to receive communion, as a song is played. If you come up, cross your arms and place your hands on your shoulders to signify you aren't receiving (or just stay in your seat throughout). Once all have received and any remaining Eucharist is put away, all sit again and meditate silently. The Mass ends with a prayer, a blessing and a dismissal greeting, after which the ministers may process out of the nave, to another song.

That's it.

First, you must never be late. Be already seated at the very start of the Mass. Talking can be done at a minimum. Just follow what the members do. Seat, stand or kneel when you see them do it. Do not talk when the Priest is preaching or saying a sermon. Just keep silent as the mass is going on. Wear proper clothes only Act normally at all times Anything out of the ordinary must be avoided. Feel welcomed when you wish to come again.

I think I,m right in saying there is a Church of England cathedral in Valletta that is dedicated to royal navy submarines. I think its called St Andrews but I could be wrong. Google it.