I currently attend (mostly) and Anglican congregation, which is probably not that different from many RC churches. Our main service most weeks is the 10am Parish Communion (fairly traditional, using the new 'Common Worship' liturgy, with formal prayers biddings and responses etc. - ministry of the Word > eucharistic celebration, interspersed with hymns and/or choruses from books; members of the congregation read the lessons (normally and Epistle and a Gospel reading, on feast days also an OT lesson) and lead a short time of intercession). We are slighlty freer about when to sit/stand/kneel than some congregations, and also tend to be invited to join in with the priest in reciting parts of the eucharistic liturgy.
The kids start off in the service for the first hymn, then leave for their 'Sunday School' groups, returning to come up to the altar for a blessing when their parents go up to recieve Communion. (It's usual to kneel at the altar rail, tho' some prefer to stand, the clergy give out the consecrated bread (wafers) while licensed lay people pass round the chalice - normally the communicant takes this in their own hands). And at the very end, the vicar invites children to come up and share something of what they have done in their classes. Once a month, we have a non-Eucharistic 'Family Parade Service', attended by all the Scouts and Guides etc., and centred on ministry to children and families. On those days, a slightly less formal Communion Service is held in the evening, oin place of the usual Evening Prayer. There's also a smaller, quieter communion service at 8am every week.
I also attend a Pentecostal Chruch, which is very different; the service starts with about 30 or 40 minutres solid praise and worship (mostly modern choruses on an overhead projetor) which is normally quite loud and energetic - it's usual to stand for this (some people raise their hands or occasionally dance - there are also some coloured flags at the front which folk may come forward and wave), tho' folk are free to sit down if they prefer. The morning services (held at 9.5 and 11.15) usually include communion - this is quite informal; a brief work/prayer from the pastor, then the ushers pass bread and grape juice (in individual glasses) around the congregation, seated in their pews - which normally comes near the beginning of the service, but could come at any point. Apart from not including communion, the Evening Service follows a very similar format. After notices and another hymn/chorus (maybe a traditional one from the hymn books), the climax of the service is the preaching of the Word - which normally lasts at least 20 minutes, often considerabley longer. One major difference is the amount of chatter in the church, particularly before the service (whereas in the Anglican church this is usually a time for quiet reflection) - and there's usually a 'meet and greet' time, when people wander all over the church chatting with friends and visitors until the pastor calls us to order (which is rather different form the more sober sharing of 'the Peace' in the Anglican church , which is normally limited to a formal "Peace be with you" (tho' folk may spend a few moments moving to greet those in other parts of the building). The service, altho' quite 'free' in many ways (there's no written liturgy, or set order of service - tho it is all quite well planned in advance), is very much 'platform led', with one or more of the pastoral team leading from the front throughout (except when the praise team take the stage at the beginning), and doing the bulk of the reading, praying etc. - tho' the congregation may join in with the occasional spontaneous 'Amen' or a spot of praying in tongues. Occasionally, someone may come forward to give a word of prophecy - tho' it is good practice to ask permission form the presiding minister first.
Anthony