Worship

In our congregations, we have two primary forms of worship. Though the exact form of each of them has changed over the years, they both go back to the earliest days of the Christian Church. 

Morning Prayer 

A service that starts with praise to God, continues with hearing Scripture, and concludes with praying for our own needs and the needs of the world. The Scripture readings are interwoven with sung "canticles," which are hymns of praise from the Bible set to music. In the Anglican tradition, Morning Prayer (and a similar service in the Evening) is the backbone of daily worship. On Sundays, it is enhanced with a sermon and additional hymns. 

Holy Communion

A service of Word and Sacrament. In the first part, we hear Scripture and a sermon (which is a response to the Scripture), pray to God, and remember our common bonds with our neighbours as we share the Peace of God with one another. In the second part, we remember Jesus' sacrifice for us and his continued presence with us, as we receive his grace and strength in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Another name for the service is "Eucharist," which comes from a Greek word meaning "thanksgiving." 

On Sundays, each of our four churches offers one or the other of these services. Check the individual church pages for a more precise schedule. 

Readings for This Week & Next

The readings for Sunday, 29 January are as follows (to read them, click here):

• Micah 6: 1-8

• Psalm 15

• 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31

• Matthew 5: 1-12

The readings for Sunday, 5 February, the Third Sunday before Lent, are as follows (to read them, click HERE):

• Isaiah 58: 1-9a, (9b-12)

• Psalm 112: 1-9 (10)

• 1 Corinthians 2: 1-12, (13-16)

• Matthew 5: 13-20

Parentheses mean that the verses are optional, but we usually read the optional verses anyway.

Hymns for This Sunday

Sermons for many Sundays are supplied in written and audio form on the Sermons page.