CATHEDRAL
December
30
Services
If our cathedral were a body then we would say that worship is our heart. Our worshipping community gathers regularly to affirm our commitment to God and to receive Holy Communion so that we can be empowered to go out and serve God and God’s people in God’s world.
We are committed to relaxed but well-done liturgy and preaching which addresses the challenges of christian living in today`s world.
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist features the liturgy of the Eucharist at the heart of its regular cycle of worship. The word 'Eucharist', derived from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving', is also known as 'Holy Communion' or the 'Mass', and it is the central act of Christian worship. The title derives from the fact that at its institution it is recorded that after taking the bread, Christ 'gave thanks.' The 'Choral' reference in the title of the service refers to the fact that worship is led by The Cathedral Choir. The choir leads the congregation in the singing of the four hymns and the psalm. In addition, the choir sings choral settings to the Ordinary of the Eucharist (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei). During the congregational receiving of communion, the choir sings a motet appropriate to the theme or season of the service.
Every Sunday we meet:
We are committed to relaxed but well-done liturgy and preaching which addresses the challenges of christian living in today`s world.
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Evangelist features the liturgy of the Eucharist at the heart of its regular cycle of worship. The word 'Eucharist', derived from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving', is also known as 'Holy Communion' or the 'Mass', and it is the central act of Christian worship. The title derives from the fact that at its institution it is recorded that after taking the bread, Christ 'gave thanks.' The 'Choral' reference in the title of the service refers to the fact that worship is led by The Cathedral Choir. The choir leads the congregation in the singing of the four hymns and the psalm. In addition, the choir sings choral settings to the Ordinary of the Eucharist (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei). During the congregational receiving of communion, the choir sings a motet appropriate to the theme or season of the service.
Every Sunday we meet:
- 8:30 am Spoken Service of Holy Communion with Homily Book of Common Prayer
- 10:00 am Choral Eucharist with Sunday School followed by a coffee hour
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About Worship
- Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship; to give, at its simplest, worth to something. Evelyn Underhill (1946) defines worship thus: "The absolute acknowledgment of all that lies beyond us—the glory that fills heaven and earth. It is the response that conscious beings make to their Creator, to the Eternal Reality from which they came forth; to God, however they may think of Him or recognize Him, and whether He be realized through religion, through nature, through history, through science, art, or human life and character."Worship asserts the reality of its object and defines its meaning by reference to it. Anglican churches are built in many architectural styles; but whether the church be small or large, elaborate or plain, your eye is carried to the altar, or holy table, and to the cross. So our thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God whose house the church is. On or near the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the "Light of the world'' (John 8:12). Often there are flowers, to beautify God's house and to recall the resurrection of Jesus. On one side at the front of the church, there may be a lectern-pulpit, or stand, for the proclamation of the Word; here the Scriptures are read and the sermon is preached. In many churches, however, the lectern is separate from the pulpit and stands on the opposite side of the church. Anglican church services are congregational. In the pews you will likely find the Book of Common Prayer, though some countries use supplementary prayer books (Canada, for instance, uses the Book of Alternative Services regularly.) This enables the congregation to share fully in every service. In the Book of Common Prayer, the large print is the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people for conduct of the service.
You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary; even among individual Anglicans. The general rule is to stand to sing---hymns (found in the Hymnal in the pews) and other songs (many of them from the Holy Bible) called canticles or chants and printed as part of the service. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Eucharist. Psalms are sung or said sitting or standing. We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as children or as an act of humility before God. The principal service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). In some Anglican churches it is celebrated quite simply, without music, early on Sunday morning. Weekday celebrations also are frequently without music, and without sermon. When celebrated at a later hour on Sundays, or on other great Christian days such as Christmas, music and a sermon are customary. Another service is Morning Prayer. The parallel evening service is Evening Prayer. These services consist of psalms, Bible readings, and prayers; and may include a sermon. They may be with or without music. While some parts of the services are always the same, others change. At the Holy Eucharist, for example, two or three Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday. So do the psalms. Certain of the prayers also change, in order to provide variety. Page numbers for parts of the service printed elsewhere in the Book are usually announced or given in the service leaflet. But do not be embarrassed to ask your neighbour for the page number.
You will find the services of the Anglican Church beautiful in their ordered dignity, God-centred, and yet mindful of the nature and needs of human beings. It is the custom upon entering church to kneel in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is also the custom to bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ. Most Anglicans do not talk in church before a service but use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons kneel for a private prayer before leaving. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude. If there are ushers they will greet you, and may escort you to a pew. If you desire, they will answer your questions about the service. Pews are usually unreserved in Anglican churches. Following the service the pastor greets the people as they leave. To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other ministers customarily wear vestments. Choir vestments usually consist of an undergown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered overgown called a surplice. The clergy may also wear cassock and surplice. Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Over it (or over the surplice) ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of coloured fabric. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders. At the Holy Eucharist a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon's corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes wear a special headcovering called a mitre. Stoles, chasubles, and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their colour changes with the seasons and holy days of the Church Year. The most frequently used colours are white, red, violet, and green.
The Anglican Church observes the traditional Christian calendar. The season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30. Christmas itself lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts fifty days, concluding on the feast of Pentecost. During these times the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the year--the season after Epiphany and the long season after Pentecost (except for a few special Sundays)--the New Testament is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme with one of the New Testament readings. When you visit an Anglican church, you will be our respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way, nor asked to stand before the congregation nor to come forward. You will worship God with us. Should you wish to know more about the Anglican Church or how one becomes an Anglican, the priest will gladly answer your questions and suggest the way to membership.
Worship | CATHEDRAL