Beliefs

Worship

What we believe worship is:
 
Sunday morning is our community celebration time. You are probably now aware that we have three Sunday morning worship times. They are each quite different and are intentionally designed to appeal to different people Pick the time and the style that best meets your needs.
 
  • 7:45 a.m. Traditional Anglican Quiet Communion
  • 9:00 a.m. Charismatic praise with Worship team
  • 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Anglican worship with Choir
     

Progression of Worship:

If you are new to a liturgical form of worship, you might not be aware of the reasons for certain elements of worship here at St. Paul’s. We begin with a “call to worship” or invitation, the purpose of which is to gather God’s people both physically and spiritually. Depending on the service, there may be various songs or hymns of praise that declare God’s attributes. This reminds us of how we have fallen short of His glory, and calls us to a general and personal time of confession.
 
We have an opportunity to worship through the financial contributions during the offertory, and to hear the word reached during the homily or sermon.
 
In direct response to the admonition in scripture to “make peace” with your brother before coming to the temple, we “pass the peace” of Christ before the commencement of the “Eucharist” or Communion. During Communion we approach the Lord’s Table or “altar”, and individually receive representing Christ's body and wine representing His blood. All baptized believers are welcome to receive Eucharist with us. Those who prefer not to receive Communion, but would prefer a prayer of blessing are asked to cross their arms in front of them as a sign to the clergy that they are requesting a blessing instead of Communion A common cup is used and individuals may choose to drink from it or they may choose to receive the bread only. During Communion, opportunities for prayer with people who have been trained in prayer ministry are provided in the church lobby. Our service concludes after Communion with a prayerful benediction, encouraging us all to cling close to the Lord throughout the next week.
 

Worship through giving to God’s work:

While St. Paul’s works hard to facilitate the spiritual growth of its members, and to provide for their pastoral needs, what are the expectations that we have of our members? The Anglican Church lists the following standards for its members:
 
Weekly worship
  • daily prayer and Bible devotions
  • ordering our lives according to the example of Jesus
  • giving witness of the faith through word and example
  • participation in the life of the church and the use of your ministry gifts
  • financial tithing to make possible: the work of the church in this community, mission work around the world, and the care of the poor & disadvantaged. (adapted from the Rule of Life on page 555 of the Prayer Book.)
 

Worship through Holy Communion

Most of our Sunday services include Holy Communion. If you have been an active member of your own church, you are invited to receive Communion with us. Those who do not receive Communion are also invited to come to the altar rail and to receive a blessing; just leave your hands at your side to indicate that this is your intention. Those who would like to prepare themselves to receive Communion are invited to take the ALPHA course and to speak to one of our staff.
 

Holy Matrimony and Holy Baptism

These two sacraments assume an active faith life. Therefore we ask that new families worship with us for three months prior to making arrangements for Weddings and Baptisms. There is a weekend seminar to prepare couples for marriage, and three classes to prepare baptismal candidates. Please note that baptismal sponsors/godparents must be active in their own church and send us a letter to that effect signed by their own pastor.
 

Worship through Finances

Our commitment to the work of God in the world requires a monetary contribution. The church relies on the regular tithes of its members for the work of the church in this community, mission work around the world, and the care of the poor and disadvantaged. Offerings above and beyond our tithes are often given in thanksgiving for special blessings.
 
At St. Paul’s we preach and follow the Biblical model of tithing.
 
Risk, and give generously to the work of the Lord and see the Lord bless you. The following scriptures outline God’s promises when we tithe, and guidance regarding the state of our hearts when we do so.
 

What is the Biblical model of tithing?

Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
 
2 Corinthians 9:7-11
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Will tithing place a person or family under financial strain?
 
Giving to God’s work should not cause us to go bankrupt, neither should spending time doing work for the church adversely affect your health. But if you do not live a healthy lifestyle, and do not plan or manage your household finances well, then there could be problems. The problem is not with giving to the church, the problem is with lifestyle and the fact that it has left you with scarce resources.
 
The purpose of tithing is to both contribute to the work of God financially and to recognize that all we have comes from Him. Heaven has no self-made men. Tithing also challenges us to evaluate what we spend our finances on. We are called to ask if “buy now pay later” is good stewardship of our finances. Do we really need to buy “that”, or do we just want it: God wants His children to be good stewards and managers of their household finances.
 

Donations to St. Paul’s

St Paul’s has two convenient ways of donating on a regular basis. There are regular offering envelopes that can be placed in the weekly offering plate, or donations can be made via a Pre-authorized remittance (PAR) system with automatic withdrawals made from a designated bank account. Both systems allow the church to maintain accurate and up to date records so that receipts for income tax purposes may be issued at the end of the year.
 
If you would like to use either of these methods, please complete a PAR registration form available in the lobby, or check mark the “wish to have envelope” box on the visitor donation envelope in the church pews. Changes to the PAR system take 10 business days and a request for envelopes request will mean that the envelopes are ready for pick up at the church by the following Sunday.