Our Worship
Into the Light
This quilted hanging was created by Laura Mann, Patricia Baker and Nancy Climie, members of St. John's United.
The process began with talking about the wonderful "blank canvass" of the front wall of the sanctuary and the ways in which we speak of our spiritual life as a journey toward the "Light of God." The earliest infant church communities were known as "People of the Way" long before they were called "Christians." The images of "Path" and "Way" became the focus of the design. Pencil drawings were translated by computer into small blocks of colour. A fabric template, created to replicate the computer design, was then turned into this 9' by 12' banner. Appliqued trees and rocks give dimension and direction to the path. The base was quilted using several different patterns to enrich the design. Read more about the banner here.
Sunday Morning Worship
Worship services are held each Sunday morning at 10:00 am. This is an opportunity to hear God's word for us and bring our praise and concerns to God. You can view the order of worship for each week, posted in advance.
Children are an important part of the church family. A special word is shared with the children each worship service before they go to their class.
We are a church that believes in prayer. During our worship there are several opportunities for prayer: when we approach God we confess to God our shortcomings and sins (when we were not truly the people God created us to be); prayers of the community when we give thanks to God and bring our needs and the needs of others around the world to God; a prayer of dedication when we give our offering and ourselves to God.
Special Worship Celebrations
At various times through the year special worship services are offered to assist people in their faith journey. These are held during Advent (the four weeks before Christmas), Christmas, Lent (the 40 days before Easter) and Easter.
Music at St. John's
The choir holds rehearsals on Thursday night conducted by Janice Brunson and accompanied by Ken Dalgleish. These are stimulating experiences in terms of sight reading through new music. Many of the musical selections are chosen for their liturgical content and lack any musical sensibility whatsoever. According to Ken Dalgleish, a slathering of lots of salsa, or arpeggios instead of chords, or chords instead of arpeggios, or drop the drama, or add the drama will correct the problem.
Then on Sunday morning the choir rehearses an hour before the service so the choir is warmed up and ready to go. We can always count on something inspired or inspiring before worhip begins. The piano which accompanies our songs and hymns was rebuilt by Ken Dalgeish installing new German, Renner action parts and re-doing the geometry so that modern Whippens could replace the ancient squeaking stickers.
Sacraments
Baptism
Whether you are seeking baptism for yourself or for a child in your family, baptism can represent a meaningful and joyous milestone in your life and the life of your family.
Baptism is a sacrament, a holy symbol of our life-long relationship with Jesus Christ. In baptism we find our deepest identity and vocation in Christ. It is also a special celebration for the Church. In baptism a person is declared to be a child of God, and takes on the identity and vocation of a follower of Jesus Christ. This is true regardless of the age of the person baptised
Baptism marks the beginning of a spiritual union with Jesus Christ and with other Christians. In baptism we become a member of the Christian church. The person baptised becomes a member of our congregation but also shares in the wider fellowship of The United Church of Canada and of all Christian people everywhere.
The baptism of a child has implications for the whole family. Children are baptised into the Church when a parent commits to nurture them through their own active faith and in the fellowship of the congregation. The baptism of a child is an opportunity for a parent to reaffirm their own faith as they promise to give their child a Christian upbringing. The commitments and questions for a parent are the same asked of any adult presenting themselves for baptism or confirmation.
Contact the church office if you wish to talk to the minister about Baptism at St. John's.
Holy Communion
Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper, has its origin in the Passover Meal which celebrates the ancient Hebrews' escape and deliverance by God's hand from bondage to freedom. It is a meal to which Jesus gave new meaning as he shared it with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion. From the earliest of times, believers have experienced Christ as present among them in this holy celebration. In the United Church we believe Christ is present in this meal as Spirit, not actual flesh and blood.
Everyone who claims Christ as Lord is welcome at the table, for it is not a United Church table but the table of the Lord. Children are most welcome! While they may not understand the deep theological meanings, they can share and feel the blessing of being a part of God's family who love one another and who are deeply loved by Jesus Christ.
We celebrate Holy Communion at our regular service of worship on the first Sunday of each month.
Congregational Care
'Pastoral care' is the term the church uses in describing people offering help and caring to others in the church or wider community. Pastoral care is listening, supporting, encouraging and befriending.
One of the greatest rewards of belonging to a faith community is the caring. Not just the comfort of knowing that someone will be there for support in hard times. It is the gratification that comes from helping a shut-in with grocery shopping, driving an older person to church on Sunday morning, or just a giving a hug to someone who is having a bad day. Perhaps without even realizing, we all work with the ministry staff as part of the Pastoral Care team.
Healing Touch Ministry
Our Healing Touch Ministry is an outreach ministry offering an energy based healing process derived from the ancient practice of laying-on-of-hands in the Christian tradition.
The practitioners are local volunteers who have been trained in the modality by a qualified teacher associated with the Naramata Center Healing Pathway Program.
Healing touch is a process that incorporates the use of gentle hand movements to balance the energy fields. It compliments other health care disciplines, for example:
- a preventive health measure
- post surgical
- muscle skeletal pain
- palliative care in the hospital
- to assist with grief, anxiety, depression, fear and anger.
The Healing Circle offers this ministry on the first Wednesday of the month at 11 am in the lower hall. A brochure is available on the literature rack with more information.
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