Worship > Sundays > Road Map to 9:30 AM Eucharist
Road Map to 9:30 AM Sunday Eucharist
We welcome you to our 9:30 AM worship service. It is our hope that this guide will give you a sense of the service and answer any questions you might have, particularly if this is your first time attending an Anglican Church service. If we’ve forgotten something, please ask.
Every week at this time the community gathers to hear the words of scripture read, to offer prayers, and to celebrate the Eucharist (also known as communion or the Lord’s Supper). All are encouraged to take part in the worship service. There is a dynamic children’s program offered during this service. The liturgical season greatly influences how we gather as a community as we strive to make worship real and relevant.
As You Arrive
There are two entrances to our worship space – the front doors on Bloor Street and the ramp entrance on Avenue Road. Pushing the round paddle on the wall to the left of the door at the top of the ramp will open it for you.
Wheelchair accessible washrooms are located to the left as you come in the Bloor Street doors. In the area at the back of the worship space you will find a number of print resources about the parish. It is also in this area that a time of coffee and conversation will take place at the end of the service.
A member of the worship team will be at the door to greet you and answer any questions you might have. Children are welcome to stay in the worship service and are equally invited to join the other children in the nursery or church school program. Further information about the program can be found here. If your child would like to attend church school, one of the greeters will introduce you to the leadership of the children’s program who will help you get settled in. If your child wishes to stay in church, there are books and other quiet activities available to be taken to the pews for use during the service. When you are ready to find a seat, the greeter will give you a hymn book and a leaflet which contains everything you need for the service.
Preparing for Worship
The service takes place in the main worship space. There is the buzz of conversation, the choir rehearsing and quiet, prayerful calm all mingled together in the space. If you arrive early, wandering around looking at the stained glass windows is a good way to orient yourself to the space. There is a prayer request list on the lectern in the centre aisle. If you would like to add names of family and friends to this list, please do.
Please sit where you feel most comfortable. We use the Book of Alternative Services at all of our services. The leaflet contains all of the prayers and the hymn numbers as well as notices of upcoming events. You are welcome to take the leaflet home with you.
We Gather
We stand as the service begins with an opening hymn. The crucifer and the clergy enter the worship space in procession up the centre aisle during the hymn. The Presiding Celebrant greets the community and gathers us in prayer with the collect (collecting our prayers for the day).
To Hear Our Story
We are seated to hear the stories contained in the readings assigned from the Hebrew text (Old Testament), the psalm and the Christian text (the Epistles of the New Testament). We stand to sing an introduction to the Gospel and remain standing while it is read, to show our willingness to carry the good news into the world. The Gospel is read by the deacon from the centre aisle. It is our custom to turn and face the Gospel reader.
We then sit to listen to the sermon where the words of scripture are opened up for us through reflection on what the biblical story has to say to us in this time and place. The preaching at Redeemer is inspiring, challenging, and thought-provoking.
To Offer Prayers
After the sermon, we stand and turn toward the lectern in the centre aisle. A member of the worship team will lead us in the Prayers of the People where we offer prayers for our world, our church, and our community. In the silences we offer names and concerns aloud or quietly. On the first Sunday of the month this time of prayer is concluded with laying on of hands and prayers for specific concerns. All who wish may come forward to the altar rails when the celebrant indicates. The priests will quietly ask you "what would you like to pray for?" and then will lays his/her hands on your head or shoulder and pray for the specific petition.
At the conclusion of the prayers we exchange the peace - a public expression of forgiveness and mutual service within the community. People may hug or kiss each other, or more commonly shake hands. We usually say “peace be with you”, or simply “peace”. Please do whatever you find most comfortable.
To Gather Around the Table
After the peace, we sing a hymn, during which we move forward to form a circle around the altar. The children will return from church school during the hymn and join their family members in the circle. At this service we do not pass a collection plate; rather one of the worship team members stands at the foot of the steps holding the plate. If you are a visitor, we are happy for you to be our guest, but if you’d like to make an offering to support our ministry, please place it in the plate as you join the circle.
While the community gathers around the altar, the deacon and the server are receiving the bread and wine and preparing the table. After all are gathered the person holding the offering plate joins them so that all of our gifts offered are received with thanksgiving.
The celebrant leads the congregation in a Eucharistic prayer. The bread and wine are blessed. Following this prayer of thanksgiving, we say a version of the Lord’s Prayer.
The bread is broken, the wine is poured and it is shared by all who gather around the table, regardless of age. Please remain standing where you are, and the communion ministers will bring bread and wine to you. If you have gluten or wheat intolerance, we have gluten-free wafers available. Please let the bread-bearer know and they will get one of the wafers for you. To receive the bread put your hand out to receive a piece of bread and eat it. When the cup is offered, you may guide it to your mouth with your hand and take a sip. It is customary to say Amen after receiving.
All children, including infants, may receive the bread and wine, as you and they see fit. If you prefer, you may ask the priest to bless your child. If you would like to receive a blessing instead of receiving communion, you can indicate this to the celebrant by crossing your arms in front of you as indicated in the picture below.
To be Sent Out into the World
The prayer after communion reminds us of our responsibility to ministry in the world. While gathered in the circle, we sing a hymn before announcements about community events are made and then we are sent out with the dismissal.
Following the Service
The community stays in the worship space for a time of coffee and conversation. Coffee, tea and juice are available in the space at the back and we invite you to join us. Members of the community and the clergy will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
To download a PDF version of this road map, please click here.