As a new convert to the church of God (baptised Easter Sunday 2012). When entering church should I bow, out of respect, then when recieving the holy communion should I first make the sign of the cross before recieving the sacraments?
Mazel tov on your baptism!
Bowing on entering the church is a custom I've never encountered. In some places they put vessels of water near the door, and some will dip their fingers and cross themselves on the forehead with the fingers so moistened.
A custom I learned as a child was to genuflect before entering one's pew.
Another custom I learned as a child is to cross oneself when the Gospel is announced during the celebration of the Eucharist.
Another custom is to cross oneself on beginning to sing or recite the
Magnificat and
Nunc dimittis at Evensong.
Another custom is to cross oneself at the words "the resurrection of the body" or at the immediately following words "And the life everlasting" in the Apostles' Creed (but not at both! Pick just one.)
Another custom is to cross oneself at the words "I look for the resurrection of the dead" or at the words "ant the life of the world to come" in the Nicene Creed. But again, not at both.
Another custom is to bow or genuflect during the Nicene Creed at the words the narrate our Lord's earthly life, "Who for us" to "and was buried." Some will bow or genuflect only during the mention of the incarnation. They will rise from the bow or genuflection at the words "For our sake he was crucified," but I think remaining in the bow or genuflection until "on the third day he rose" is the better practice, if one is going to use this custom at all. (I do not.)
Another custom is to cross oneself at the words "the Son" when receiving a Trinitarian blessing, such as, for example, "The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the ✠Son, and the Holy Ghost, be upon you..." The little cross before the word "Son" (did it come through as a cross on your browser?) indicates that one crosses oneself there. Similarly one may cross oneself at the absolution or declaration of forgiveness after a confession of sin at Morning or Evening Prayer or at the Eucharist. Similarly at the Grace at Morning or Evening Prayer, one may cross oneself at our Lord's name: "The grace of our Lord ✠Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore."
When bowing toward the communion table, one is either acknowledging the Holy Rood if there is one, or the reserved sacrament, if there is one. Those who say that one only bows here if the reserved sacrament is present are mistaken. One may reverence the Holy Rood as well as the Holy Sacrament.
Another custom is, at a church-service that begins with a procession, to bow in acknowledgement of the processional cross.
Another custom is to cross oneself before receiving the cup at communion. If you want to cross yourself before receiving the bread, plan ahead so you will have your hands ready to receive it when the one who distributes it approaches (if you receive it in your hand) or so your arm will not be blocking access to your mouth (if you receive it on your tongue.) One may also cross oneself after receiving. My advice would be to cross oneself just once at the communion-rail, whether before receiving the bread, before receiving the cup or after receiving.
In the Western church it has been customary to cross oneself oneself (1) forehead (2) belly (3) left shoulder (4) right shoulder. In the Eastern church the right shoulder comes before the left shoulder. I do it sometimes the Eastern way, sometimes the Western way.
It is important to keep things in perspective and now allow minor practices like these to cause you worry. One must also not let them be occasions of spiritual pride: One who uses these customs should not think himself better than one who does not. One who refrains from using them should not pass judgement on those who use them.
