All Saints Church, 301 King Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1B2
LIFE EVENTS
Christian Spirituality
Christian spirituality is deeply rooted in prayer which is a living relationship with God and it is lived out in community. At All Saints, our primary act of worship takes place on Sundays and is always a celebration of the Eucharist. This is known by various other names as well: The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, The Mass and the Great Thanksgiving. The weekly Eucharist recalls Jesus last supper with his friends, which took place the night before his death. When he broke bread with his friends around the table, he gave them a new commandment: to love one another. When we gather each week, we do so intentionally, praying for the needs of one another and the whole world, recalling the stories of God's people, proclaiming God's love for the world, forgiveness of sins and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism
Baptism is a Sacrament, that means it is a holy action where we believe God is at work. It is a ritual that happens only once in life and commits a person to be part of the story of God’s work in the world by following Jesus as part of the community which we call the Church.
In the ritual of Baptism we make promises before God and the community. For infants and children, these promises are made on behalf of the child by their parents and god-parents. During Baptism we are washed in water, to remind us of the new beginnings God gives us, we are anointed with oil and we receive a lighted candle.
Baptism is always a joyous occasion and is customarily done on particular dates within the church year. To prepare for baptism a person meets with one or more other Christians, often the priest, to learn and think more about their faith and how following Jesus might shape their life.
Weddings
Weddings are a celebration of love between two people that commits them to one another. These are always wonderful occasions and a way we see God’s love lived out in our community. If you want to be married in the Church you will meet several times with the priest so they can get to know you and how best to celebrate the love you share. All couples are welcome to be married at All Saints! Contact the priest at All Saints for more information.
Funerals
If someone you know and love has died, a funeral can be a helpful way to gather friends and family for a time of grieving, celebrating their life and saying goodbye. A funeral service includes music and readings, memories and prayers, times of silence and thanksgiving. The service itself may be preceded by a visitation and is often proceeded by a reception which give family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours a more informal time to connect and to share memories, tears and laughter.
If you would like to plan a funeral service for your loved one, or plan ahead and leave your loved ones a service for yourself, please contact the priest at All Saints.
THE CHURCH
THE LITURGY
THE CHURCH
The Church is not a building. When we say ‘Church’ we refer to the community of believers, those who, together, try to follow the way of love embodied by Jesus. The Church is a people in relationship with God, one another and the world God loves and this relationship gives the Church a Mission, which is to live out and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The Good News (which is the meaning of the world ‘Gospel’) is not just a set of beliefs but a way of being in the world that nurtures faith, hope, love, dignity, inclusion, justice and peace for all people; this was what Jesus embodied and called ‘The Kingdom of God’!
As a Church we have inherited lots of traditions- ways and wisdoms from our ancestors- about how to go about this Mission, but we also understand that the Church is to be like Jesus, ‘incarnate’ in the world, that means we’re always praying and looking for new ways of being the Church in the communities in which we live.
THE BIBLE
THE LITURGY
THE CHURCH
The Bible is a book that contains many stories, poems, prayers, histories and in reality is not a single book but a collection of books, like a library, containing the sacred writings of our Jewish and Christian ancestors. This 'library' spans several thousand years and many genres.
We understand that these books are inspired by God and are designed to teach and inspire people about God’s relationship with the world and our relationship with God and how God brings these together by becoming one of us. Reading and studying the Bible forms and shapes us to do and be what God calls us to be and do.
The Bible is divided into two parts; the Old Testament, which was originally written mostly in Hebrew and the New Testament, which was originally written mostly in Greek.
Among the books of the New Testament are four called ‘Gospels’ and these books contain stories about the birth, life, teaching, miracles, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God-with-us.
THE LITURGY
THE LITURGY
THE LITURGY
Liturgy means "the work of the people" and it what we do when we come together as the community of Christians called ‘The Church’ to take part together in worshipping God.
The form of service in the Anglican Church follows an ancient shape:
· Gathering and Greeting
· Hearing the word
· Praying, including asking for and receiving forgiveness.
· Sharing a sign of peace
· The Eucharist
· and receiving God’s blessing.
Music and singing is often an important part of these actions.
The liturgy is shaped not only by its structure, but also by the church year which with varying words and colours, music and stories, asks us to relive the meaning of our faith year after year.
This work of prayer is put into practice in living ways as we embody the faith in our community by volunteering, partnering, giving generously, advocating for Justice and loving others.
