We worship with creativity, commitment, enthusiasm and inclusivity.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate, including our children and youth.  The 8:30 a.m. Sunday service, with an average attendance of 12 uses traditional language and follows the Book of Alternative Services.  This is a quiet meditative service without music.  The 10:30 a.m. Sunday service, with an average attendance of 82, also uses The Book of Alternative Services, following the contemporary language liturgy.  On occasion, we use other formats including a Celtic Liturgy.

There is a regular Sunday Children’s Program, during the 10:30 service, which operates on a “theme” rotation basis. Members of the congregation assist our Christian Education Co-ordinator in leading the various workshops. There is also a supervised Nursery offered at the 10:30 service, as well as for many other special functions. Parishioners enjoy the coffee and fellowship time following all of our worship services.

There is also a Wednesday morning Eucharistic celebration in the chapel with an average attendance of 15 to 18 people who participate in and enjoy a lively discussion of the daily scripture readings.

Special Services

During Advent our creative juices begin to flow.  The season opens with a variations of music such as O Come, O Come Emmanuel and often closes with a reggae version of that same hymn as we dance our way to Christmas. The Advent Candle is lit each Sunday by a  mixture of adults and children.  Creative exploration of Advent themes are engaged as we joyfully await the birth of Jesus.  On Advent Four a few members of the parish family, both children and adults, participate in decorating our Christmas Tree.

The Feast of the Transfiguration is a time for celebrating our life together as a parish family.. We celebrated our first service in our renovated facility on Transfiguration Sunday 2014, with Bishop Michael Bird presiding.  And because we like to eat, there is always cake!

Holy Week observation is a hallmark of our parish.  From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, a theme is explored that draws us deeply into the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Stories and monologues shared by members of our parish are interwoven with the scripture readings and visual and dramatic arts are used to bring the theme life.   Our Good Friday service draws many from outside of the parish year after year.  Holy Week ends with a joyous Easter service celebrating the resurrection. 

St. Francis’ Day is celebrated by the Blessing of Pets at of our 10:30 Sunday service.  We are a parish of animal lovers and on this day our sanctuary is filled with dogs, cats, fish, turtles, rodents of all sorts, chickens and even a quail.   As each creature is blessed a ribbon is placed on their collar or crate. Homemade dog and cat treats are available for all pets attending and for those who are more comfortable at home. No Feast of St. Francis would be complete without singing:  All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir.

Remembrance Day we honour those who gave their lives in service. Our veterans lay a wreath, photographs of our loved ones who served are projected on the screens and music is tastefully and thoughtfully selected by our priest and music director to honour this day. 

Earth Day falls on April 22 but we celebrate it on the nearest Sunday.  God calls us to be stewards of creation loving and caring for this beautiful and amazing plant which is our island home.  Every year we incorporate the designated theme into our worship.  This is the day we kick off our community garden, blessing seeds and starting the plants.  We are blessed and have planted fruit trees that were added to our community garden.  We also have a pollinator garden.

World Food Day focuses on issues related to food and food security.  Every year we have a major food drive to support our local food banks.  This important date falls just after our National Thanksgiving when many of us eat too much while other people in our own community experience hunger and depend on food banks to make ends meet.  If you can, bring a can!

Music

The parish has identified music as an integral part of our worship, an offering of praise as meaningful as prayer. Seeking fresh ways to reflect the lections of the day has led to an eclectic musical mix. Spanning plainsong to jazz, selections are chosen from all over the world and from various sources inclusive of Traditional, Contemporary, Worship, Celtic and World music.

We have various Singer Songwriters who create music that is especially meaningful to our parish. Our main instrument is a Yamaha Electric Piano and  accompanied by the Mulit-Talented Worship Band and various other instrumentalists. Dejmbe, Conga, Bongo & Bodhran Drums, Guitars - electric, acoustic, 6 string & 12 stings, Mandolins, Banjo, Flutes, Chimes, a full set of acoustic drums and various other instruments.  We have a dedicated choir with beautiful voices filled with love who lead our Parish Family in song.  They are a fabulous group of singers and musicians who are always ready to welcome new voices and instrumentalists to join in.

For more information on our Music Ministry please feel free to contact our Music Director Lindsey M. Mills and check out our Music website link as well.

“May Our Voices Help Make This World A Better Place”  Lindsey M. Mills

Click here to see our Programs and Ministries