SUNDAY WORSHIP

Looking to Lent and Easter

In anticipation of the coming of Easter we enter into a reflective time in the church known as Lent. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which we will recognize at St. Paul's with an evening service on March 1 at 6:30 pm. Through the six Sundays of Lent we take a look at our personal and community life and ask for insight and direction from our guiding Spirit. 

 

• Prelude: Sets the tone for worship by music appropriate to the season

• Bell Ringing: Calls the community to worship

• Greeting: Tells that all are welcome here

• Centering: A song that invites quiet inner reflection

• Lenten Liturgy:

  • ​Earth, ashes, dust — Acknowledging our humanity and our mortality

  • Candle out — Extinguishing one of the six candles to experience the solemnity of darkness

  • Silence — Deepens our openness to the Spirit

  • Glimmer of hope — The Spirit speaks of and to our longing

  • Christ candle — The Light shines in the darkness

  • Kyrie eleison — God have mercy

• Lenten Hymn - To sing the sacred songs of the Lenten season

• Responsive Reading: Using ancient scripture of the peoples who looked to the coming of the Messiah

• Gospel: The Good News of the Christian Community

• Sung Response: We honour the words of scripture as valid and valuable for us

• Anthem: The church choir offers their gift of sacred music

• Commentary: The one ministering speaks of an understanding and interpretation for today

• Hymn: Singing that supports the message 

• Mission: Statement about who we are, what we believe, and how to participate

• Offering: Our expression of thanks for life and blessings

• Music: To accompany the gathering of the offering

• Life and Work: Sharing about what we are up to in making a difference

• Community Prayers: We speak of our global community and ask for direction and compassion.

• Prayer of Jesus: We recite or sing in unison the prayer commonly known as the Lord’s prayer

• Hymn: Our final song of faith and intention

• Benediction: The words of blessing based on letters written to the church of the first century 

• Sung response: Lively words of encouragement to one another

• Postlude: Music that nurtures our spirits