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 week to week. It includes all-ages-together time and often we break-out for part of the service to do age-appropriate learning and other activities.
The typical Sunday worship pattern for the month during school term time is:
Sunday
- Altogether inter-generational service which usually runs for about one hour. We remember and pray for those who are having birthdays or other significant anniversaries during the month. The service is very participatory. We do not share holy communion in this service.
- We gather all together for about 10 minutes before we break-out into age groups. We re-gather to say prayers before communion, we share the communion together and we sometimes share with the other groups what we did during the break out time.
- We gather all together for about 10-15 minutes before we break-out into age groups. We re-gather over morning tea after the service. We do not share holy communion in this service.
- We gather all together for about 10 minutes before we break-out into age groups. We re-gather to say prayers before communion, we share the communion together and we sometimes share with the other groups what we did during the break out time.
- We gather all together for about 10-15 minutes before we break-out into age groups. What happens then varies. Sometimes we will re-gather to share communion. Other times, when we do not share communion, we re-gather over morning tea.
During school holidays we do not normally break-out into age groups
during the service. We seek to be relevant to all ages on these Sundays.
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. Terry is trained to
administer "Prepare" and "Enrich" marriage preparation and refreshment material.
Fees are very reasonable and will be discussed at an initial interview.
