Sunday Worship Services
God is present in our lives, the church and the world. Worship is a time to rejoice in God’s presence!
St. Peter’s is a community of faith where everyone is welcome. Sunday Worship services follow a liturgical order focussed on Word and Sacrament. During Worship we:
- Gather in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Listen to and reflect on readings from the Bible
- Hear a scripture-based message
- Share a greeting of peace
- Give an offering to support the work of the church
- Receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion
- Bring our prayer petitions to God
- Sing hymns
- Listen to choral, organ and instrumental music
- Take time for personal reflection
- Depart with God’s blessing
St. Peter’s is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). Together with most ELCIC congregations, our common service book is Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006).
We provide a bulletin at every service to help follow the sequence of worship. Included within each bulletin is an insert called “Celebrate”, which includes texts for the Collect, Lessons, Gospel, Psalm and Prayers for the day. We encourage everyone to take these bulletins home, re-read them and reflect on the lessons during the week.
Services at St. Peter’s are usually led by the pastor, assisted by lay readers and liturgy assistants. At most services, Holy Communion is offered to all who are baptized and believe that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ. Children who do not yet receive the Sacrament are welcome to the communion table to receive a blessing.
It is the practice of the parish to receive the Sacrament by intinction, which means that the pastor dips the wafer into wine and places it on the tongue of the recipient.
Holy Days and Occasional Services
St. Peter’s observes Holy Days, such as Good Friday and Christmas Eve. Mid-week services are held during Lent. Occasional Services, such as Holy Matrimony and Christian Burial, are observed as required.
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism is administered upon request, usually in the presence of the gathered congregation. Lutherans normally practice infant baptism, but the Sacrament of Baptism does not have age restrictions. Older children and adults who were not baptized as infants are welcome to be received into the faith through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Worship and Liturgy Assistants
Worship assistants are volunteers who read scripture lessons appointed for the day and lead the congregation in responsive prayer. Liturgy assistants sing parts of the service, such as the Kyrie and Hymn of Praise.
Accessibility
Wheelchair accessibility – The church has a wheelchair ramp and main floor washrooms.
Assisted hearing – Assisted hearing devices are available.
Parking – The church parking lot is located behind the church with access from Queen Street.
Preparing for Worship
Preparing for worship involves time for personal reflection and time for the community of faith to gather. Personal preparation is a quiet time, which usually occurs in the sanctuary before the service begins. We may read through the Sunday Scripture reading printed on the bulletin insert. We may mark the hymns and liturgy for the day in the hymnal. The introduction and prayers printed on “Celebrate” anticipate themes that will be part of the liturgy. Quiet time before the Service is also time to pray personal prayers.
Preparation for worship also has a communal aspect. When the community gathers for worship, we greet each other warmly. It is a joy to meet friends at church and share the news of our week. We come as individuals and, through our greetings, prepare to join with others as a community at worship. The parish hall is a natural gathering place before the service. It is a place to share joys and sorrows with each other, before entering the sanctuary. After entering the sanctuary we may talk with each other, but conversations are brief and quiet, in keeping with personal preparation for worship.
Music before the service is another preparation for worship. The Prelude signals to the community that it is time to gather in the sanctuary. The Prelude is selected to help us prepare for the liturgy, direct our thoughts and prayers, and focus on worship.