Worship
Sunday Worship Pattern | Special Services | Weddings & Funerals | Music Ministry
We worship every day as we live the Christian lifestyle and formally and informally make our spiritual responses to God and to others.
Our daily worship may include Bible study and reflection, prayer, being gracious to people and expressing the fruit of the Spirit in and through our lives. It will express itself both in our thought life and in our actions.
Formal acts or services of worship with others, and particular those we do on Sunday, are commonly understood as true worship. However these are greatly enhanced when we rightly understand that worship is our constant, everyday expression of adoration and gratitude to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every Sunday we gather in St Mary's at 9:30am and give thanks to God for the week that has passed and we prepare for the week to come. Making music and singing in services is a very important part of what we do. We use a data projector linked to a quality sound system to enhance our services. A weekly newsletter is normally the only literature you are handed when you enter church for a service.
The way we express our worship on Sundays varies, with communion being celebrated 2-3 times a month. Sometimes our worship will be informal and relaxed while at other times it will follow a more traditional Anglican format.
Most Sundays the children ‘break-out’ during the service for age-appropriate teaching, but approximately every six weeks we will remain together for a family-oriented service.
During the summer holidays the children will continue with a shorter ‘break-out’ time.
We strive to make our Sunday worship a highlight of the week for those who come. We seek to do this by creating a relaxed atmosphere and by involving people in presenting our Sunday service.
Every Sunday there is always a gathering time after the service. It
will usually involve hot or cold drink and cakes or biscuits.
Occasionally it will extend to a brunch or luncheon.
Special
Worship Services
We are always looking to enhance Sunday
and other services of worship.
We keep the major Christian Festivals viz. Christmas, Easter, Pentecost
(May-June) and our Saint's Day (St Mary) mid-August. Otherwise, we have
special celebrations when there are baptisms, formal admissions to
communion, confirmations, Bishop's visits, guest speakers etc.
During Holy Week (the week before Easter), on Ash Wednesday (Feb/Mar)
and when visiting individuals or groups pass through, special services
are scheduled other than on a Sunday.
Once a term, as part of our chaplaincy to Marsden Whitby College, we
have a special service for Marsden students and teachers in St Mary's
on a Wednesday morning.
Weddings
and Funerals
You might like to use St Mary's for weddings or
funerals.
Normally the
St Mary's priest will be involved in preparation and leading services.
To enquire about or to arrange a funeral or a wedding, please make
contact.
You can be
assured that your
deceased loved one's and your own funeral
requirements will be respected as a funeral service is planned. After
funeral care and support will be offered according to your requirements.
The St Mary's priest is a licensed marriage celebrant and is available
to conduct your marriage ceremony in St Mary's or at other venues.
Recognising the importance of marriage, time will be given to adequate
preparation of couples for marriage and to the detail of the marriage
service.