Worshipping with Us for the First Time
Whether you are a life-long Christian or someone wondering about this thing called church, you are welcome to worship with us and participate fully with us. It doesn’t matter if you have no religion, are of another religion, or if you’ve simply never been to church before. You will be greeted warmly, treated with dignity, and your privacy will be respected. No one will try to “convert you” to Christianity or to our particular form of it.
Our services are livestreamed to Facebook, we also share a Zoom link so that people can connect with one another before and after the service if they would like to do so.
Why Worship?
Worship is the central ministry of the church, the time when we all gather together to give praise to God, as well as be equipped and sent forth into the world as followers of Jesus who care for the earth and its peoples.
Diversity
We celebrate diversity in all its forms. All ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations & gender identities are welcome in this space. It is regular practice for us to light a Pride Candle along with The Christ Candle in our weekly service.
Children
We are delighted to welcome children into our worship experience. . We have tables within the sanctuary that often children will gather and participate in crafts/colouring while being present for the entire service. We believe that it is only through being present in worship with the whole people of God that children learn their rightful place in worship.
The Sanctuary
The sanctuary is what the worship space is called. You may sit anywhere you wish. If someone comes and tells you to move because “you’re in their spot”, this person is in violation of our hospitality – but nobody’s perfect and people can be ignorant of our values, let alone common sense hospitality. When you enter the sanctuary, there is often music playing.
Music and Singing
Christians love to sing! And we do!
Communion
We celebrate the sacrament of holy communion on a variety of Sundays throughout the church year. Everyone is welcome to participate in this sacrament, however if you are not a Christian or you really don’t feel like you understand it enough to do so, you are welcome to stay in your seat. Instructions as to how to go up to communion, or receive it in the pew, what to do with the bread and wine will be given by the minister.
The Offering
The offering is an act of worship for Christians. It is symbolic of the fact that we believe everything we have comes from the blessings of God. It is also an act of generosity. Offerings support the ministry programs at our own church and various programs across Canada and throughout the world to help others. We don’t pass an offering plate, there is a box on a table at the back of the church. There are a variety of ways you can make a financial offering, envelopes, pre-authorized remittance, e-transfer, please contact us and we will make whatever arrangements necessary.
Bible Readings and Reflection
There are usually 1 or 2 readings from the Bible each Sunday led with a Prayer of Illumination. There are several translations of the Bible into English from its original Hebrew and Greek. We find the most scholarly and inclusive version to be the New Revised Standard Version (“NRSV”). We follow the Revised Common and Narrative Lectionaries. We also do sermon series throughout the year that use other readings.