Take a look at
one of our recent
bulletins
(PDF format).
A Walk through our Worship Services
Sunday morning worship:
Gathering: Sunday morning worship begins with people gathering in the sanctuary (the main worship space in the building). As you come
into the building, one of our Greeters will welcome you and offer you a bulletin.
Bulletin: The bulletin lists the order that the worship service will follow, along with the hymns and scripture readings being shared that day. You'll also find a page or two of announcements, attempting to let people know things coming up in the days and weeks ahead. The initials VU stand for "Voices United", the hymn/song book our congregation uses. As well, you'll find that the listing of the scripture readings give the page numbers on which the reading can be found in the bibles in the racks. We've tried to make sure that the bulletin also lets people know where they are asked to rise as they are able ... but, don't worry if you miss it... the worship leaders are careful to invite the congregation to rise and sit at the appropriate times.
Conversation: As you enter the sanctuary, you may find that a lot of conversation goes on during before the service startes, with various people catching up with one another about what is going on in their lives. People may come up to you and introduce themselves. If you need to take this time for private reflection and preparation for worship, please feel free to let people know when they approach you. We want you to feel welcome - but not overwhelmed!
Welcoming: About 10 minutes before the worship service is to start, the choir and minister will come into the sanctuary. The minister, or another worship leader, will welcome everyone to the time of worship, and the invite the entire congregation to rise and welcome one another - especially those who are guests with us - to our community. You are invited to share as much, or as little, as you would like with those who come to say hello.
Announcements: The minister and members of the congregation (around here known as "Minute Persons") will share announcements of what is going on in the life of the congregation. Following the announcements, the minister will ask if anyone in the congregation has a birthday or anniversary in the coming week.
A Moment to Get Ready: After the announcements and celebration time, the congregation is invited to take a few moments to prepare themselves for worship. During this time, the Director of Music will offer a musical interlude, and one of the children present that day will light the tall Christ Candle at the front of the sanctuary. To end this time, and to move us into the next part of the service, the minister or other worship leader says, "The Lord be with you.", to which the congregation responds, "And also with you!"
Call to Worship/Gather: When the interlude finishes, the congregation will be asked to stand and join in the "Call to Worship". This is the time to remind ourselves why we have decided to come and worship this day. The Call to Worship is often shared responsively, with a worship leader speaking one line and the congregation responding. (All of the congregational responses are marked by the word "All" and are printed in bold.)
Prayer of Approach: Following that is a "Prayer of Approach". Sometimes this is led by one person, while other times it is spoken aloud by the whole congregation. This prayer invites God to open our eyes to the presence of the Holy Spirit... to help us see that God is with us in every moment of our worship, whether here or in our daily lives.
Music: You'll find 'hymns' and other worship music spread throughout the service. Some of our music is quite traditional, while other pieces we sing would be considered more contemporary. While the piano is the instrument most often used, the organ is played at least once during the service... and guitars, drums and other percussion instruments make their way into our music on a pretty regular basis. While most of our music is in english, there may be choruses or responses in other languages. If the music is something that you don't know, please feel free to listen - or join in - as you are comfortable. As well, various groups in the congregation will share music on different Sundays - the Voice Choir, the Sunday School, and the Handbell Choir are three who have offered us music to move our spirits.
Learning Together: During most of the Sunday morning worship services, the minister or another member of the congregation will invite any of the children present who want to, to come and join at the front of the church. Usually there is a child-focused faith exploration, often including story, singing, and prayer. Although the children are the ones who are invited to answer first, the adults in the congregation are also asked to participate in the conversation.
Readings from the Bible: On most Sunday mornings, there will be two or three readings from scripture. The translation that we tend to use is the New Revised Standard Version, though, on some Sundays, the minister may choose a different translation. Some Sundays there is a reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (the 'Old Testament'), while on other Sundays there is a reading from the section of the Bible made up of letters to early Christians and Christian communities (often called 'Epistles'). Every Sunday there is a reading from one of the books focused on Jesus' life (the 'Gospels'). The reader will close each of the readings with a call and response. With the Hebrew Scriptures you will hear, "Hear the witness of the People of Israel," and the congregation responds, "Thanks be to God!" With the Letters, you will hear, "Hear the witness of the early church," and the congregation responds, "Thanks be to God!" For the Gospel, you will hear, "Hear the witness of the Gospel," and the congregation responds, "Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ." (The call/response is printed in the bulletin.)
Meditation: For 10 to 15 minutes someone in the congregation, usually the minister, reflects on one or more of the scripture readings. How the meditation is shared changes from week to week: monologue, conversation, storytelling, drama. We do not believe that the worship leader is telling you what you should believe - rather, they are attempting to offer a way of considering the message of the scripture, and inviting each person in the congregation to enter into conversation with God about what it means to them. (Our minister has even said that he enjoys when people let him know that they disagree with what was in the meditation, "because it means they were listening and thinking!") Following the meditation is a time of silence, so that people can continue to reflect and pray about what they've heard.
The Offering: The congregation believes that God has given each of us wonderful gifts, and that each of us are called to use these gifts to the best of our ability. We also believe that it is important to 'give back to God', by sharing those gifts with others. During this part of the service, a member of the congregation will share a "Minute for Mission" or a "Minute for St. Andrew's". The first talks about how our financial gifts to the Mission and Service Fund of The United Church of Canada are used, while the second talks about how our financial gifts to the Operating Fund of St. Andrew's Haney United Church are used. Four members of the congregation come forward and pass the 'Offering Plates' through the congregation. You may notice that some people place cash on the plate, others envelopes, while others put a small card on, while still others simply pass the plate along. There are a varity of ways of giving to the life and work of the congregation. While guests to the congregation are welcome to share their financial gifts, we hope that they feel no obligation to do so. After everyone in the church has had the chance to place their gifts on the plate, the congregation rises and sings an offeratory song (always printed in the bulletin). One of the worship leaders offers a prayer giving thanks for the gifts God has given and asking that God give us guidance to use them wisely.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Confession, and Intercession: At this time, we turn our thoughts and voices to God in prayer. Often, a worship leader will ask if there is any individual or situation for which we would like to pray by name. As people offer names - with or without background - the names are written down, to be woven into the 'intercession' prayers. The prayer of 'confession' usually contains a time of silence, for each person to intentionally share with God those areas of their life which they believe have come between themselves and God. Usually, the congregation is invited to sing a 'Kyrie' (an ancient prayer that, translated, means, "God, have mercy on us"). Following the prayers we often sing 'Gloria' or 'Alleluia'. There are a varity of forms that the Prayers of the People can take - the bulletin or the worship leader will describe the form for that morning.
Commissioning and Benediction: As we get close to the end of our formal time of worship, we are sent on our way, with a reminder that God calls us to live lives of love... and a reminder that, even in the most difficult times, we are never alone - God is always with us! In response to this, the congregation often sings a 'Choral Response' - usually a joyful chorus.
The Farewell: One of the worship leaders will call out, "The Lord be with you!" and the congregation responds, "And also with you!" To close, one of the members of the congregation calls out, "And the people said:", and everyone responds, "Amen!"
A Final Note: While this is the general pattern of our Sunday Morning Worship service, the order may
change - especially when we are celebrating Communion or Baptism. Please - if you've come to join us - feel free to ask
the people around you for help. (Not only are they pretty neighbourly, they're used to the minister changing things around!)
If you have any questions or commments about what you've read here, please contact us.