|
Sunday Worship: 10:30 AM
Sunday Worship: 10:30 AM
- casual and contemporary with multimedia and drama
- blend of new and older hymns and songs, organ and piano
- Baptism and Holy Communion at various times
- Worship and learning for children and youth at 10::30 AM
- children worship for the first part of the service, with a children's time and song, before continuing in the lower hall with their peers and a teacher
- youth stay to listen to the message, then continue in the lower hall with our Youth Minister
Sunday Healing Services 7:00 PM
- The last Sunday evening of every month, with our Parish Nurse and volunteers
- Worship that focuses on healing and meditation.
- Prayer, song, scripture, candle-lighting rituals.
- Tea, coffee and fellowship following
Senior’s long term Care Facilities worship
- Oceanview Nursing Home: First Sunday of the month: 2:30 PM
- Whitecliff Care home: occasional Sundays throughout the year
Worship Leadership:
- Our ministers, current and retired, are active leaders in worship.
- In addition, there is a network of lay leaders who read scripture, offer prayers, and conduct the worship services. Training and support is provided for them in an ongoing basis
- There are several trained lay preachers, who preach at least once a year.
- The Dr. Wes Buch is in his final year of preparation towards becoming a “Licensed Lay worship leader”.
“The rich tradition of beautiful and inspirational music ministry is found at First united. A band with guitar and drums or formal choir. Young and older together. Listen or participate. As beginner or experienced. In worship or group settings. We delight in “singing the Lord’s song”!”
- Chancel Choir: sing at most Sunday morning worship services, and occasionally at special concerts and events. Offers a wide repertoire of sacred music – from gospel to contemporary to the classics. Rehearsal is 7 PM Thursday evenings. All who enjoy singing are invited to join.
- Youth Choir: for teenagers interested in choral music and presenting in worship once a month. Any teenager is welcome to join.
- Children’s Musical Theater: for elementary school aged children, K to grade 7. Weekly classes in performing art skills: music and drama. Encourages the “general Christian spiritual’ goals such as valuing unconditional love in family and friendships, care of the earth, appreciating differences in face and culture, and enjoying God and the sacredness of life.
Music leadership:
· Music is part of many events and activities at First United Church.
· The Children’s Musical Theatre Director and Youth Choir Director is Ashley McConnell.
· As well as staff, there are a host of volunteers to lead our singing and play our instruments. Some of the venues for music include: Senior’s Tea, Care facility worship services, study groups, lunches and parties!
Community Concerts in the Sanctuary:
- First United Church sanctuary has excellent facilities for musical concerts and the community uses the building for many of these events.
- See our “Building Rentals” for more information on costs and how to book space.
- Some of the groups utilizing our space include the Community Arts Foundation, White Rock Children’s Choir; Kent Street Singers; Surrey Children’s Choir.
Baptism is a sacramental seal acknowledging our welcome into and acceptance of Christian life. In the United Church of Canada, adult and infant baptism is one of the two sacraments that we celebrate, along with Holy Communion. At First United Church, we baptize any who come to us seeking this sacrament, regardless of church association, and who are committed to a relationship within the Christian community.
Baptism is not a requirement for God's love. We believe people who die without baptism are in no way condemned, lost, or damned.
Baptisms normally take place during our regular Sunday 10:30 a.m. service, witnessed by our full congregation. This is important, because during the ceremony, the congregation makes a promise to the person being baptised to support that person in his or her spiritual growth. The ceremony takes about 5-7 minutes, and includes:
· Welcoming to the front of the church during a worship service
· Pouring and blessing of the water
· Asking of three questions of faith
· Anointing with water.
· Prayer for the newly baptized
· Presentation to the Congregation
The person being baptized will receive a Baptismal Certificate to mark the celebration and it will be recorded in our Baptismal Registry
Adults who are baptized become full members of the congregation and are recorded in our Membership Roll.
In Jesus teachings, he used the table as an image of inclusivity, hospitality, and God’s in-breaking reign. At his last supper with his followers he initiated the mystery of what we have come to call a sacrament of Holy Communion. Christians continue to enact this ritual of proclaiming God’s care and concern for the world and ourselves on a regular basis.
· First United celebrates the Sacrament of Holy Communion about six times a year in Sunday morning worship.
· All are welcome at the table.
· Usually the bread and wine (we use grape juice!) is served by “intinction” , the dipping of the bread into the cup. Sometimes it is served while people remain seated, in small cups and broken bits of bread.
· The worship ritual of communion includes prayers of thanksgiving, remembrances of Jesus last supper, the lifting of the cup and breaking of the bread, the distribution and giving thanks.
The congregation is pleased to participate in the Celebration of Marriage and several of our ministers enjoy the opportunity to conduct the Wedding Service.
· We have a beautiful sanctuary with a central aisle and suggestions for the liturgy and vows to personalize the experience.
· We occasionally conduct the service outside of the church building.
· What is important to us is that the couple be interested in a Christian service that includes prayers and references to God.
· We conduct weddings for same-sex couples.
Contact the Church Administrator for more information about your wedding including our fee structure.
Funerals and Memorials
Part of our pastoral ministry, is to be involved in a Funeral or memorial Service. These are often held in our sanctuary with a reception in the lower hall. We are open to conducting services for those in the community who may have no formal church connection. Contact the church administrator who will forward your request to one of our ministers.
The beautiful Memorial Garden, located outside the front doors of the church sanctuary, was developed over 20 years ago to provide a place for ashes of members of the First United Church. It is maintained by volunteers and by a small one time fee of $100 from the family at the time of the interment. Only ashes are put into the ground. No plaques are permitted.
The Memorial Garden Book contains the names and dates of all persons whose ashes have been interred in the Memorial Garden. It is located in the Narthex of the sanctuary.
The Memorial Fund
The Memorial Fund provides a way for friends and relatives
· to either honour a member of their family on a special occasion (anniversary, baptism, birthday)
· or to express their sympathy at the time of bereavement –
by making a cash gift to the church.
The funds are administered by the Worship Committee and will be used to develop aspects of worship and praise (as according to our policy). The memorial Book is located in the narthex of the Sanctuary and records the names of those in whose honour or memory a gift has been given.
|
