The Church of Saint Bartholomew
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"Celebrating Life & Each Other with Joy and a Love of GOD!"


Our Worship Services

We have the gift of 2 distinct worship services that offer everyone the chance to encounter God through praise and Thanksgiving in ways that are as unique as they are.

8:00 a.m.

 BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Holy Communion service is a quiet, gentle said service using the older poetry of church language.


How We Worship

When we gather to worship God, there is a sense in which that worship is a mystery. But the real mystery is in how God acts and in our experience of that worship. There is no reason why we can’t all have a better understanding of what we do and why.

 Each Sunday at St. Bartholomew's we read a section of the Old Testament, a portion of the Psalms, something from one of the New Testament letters, and a portion of one of the four gospels. Every three years, we read through the Bible in our worship services. If you want to learn more about what the Bible actually says and what it means to our lives, we may be the church for you.


10:00 am

We offer a style of worship that invites us to "be" in God's presence just as we are.

This service, based on the BAS (Book of Alternative Services) offers an contemporary style of worship with music.

There is a church school offered at this service.

Coffee and fellowship follow in the Lower Hall.



Choir

St. Bartholomew's Choir provides choral accompaniment at the 10:00 am Sunday worship service.

New Music

St. Bartholomew's is committed to introducing comtemprary Christian music at its worship service and the choir take great joy in leading this. To help members of the congregation and newcomers get a taste of this music, the links below lead to recordings of songs that are currently being introduced. Depending on the speed of your internet connection, the songs may take a minute or so to download to your computer.


Amazing Grace (revised)

Blessed Be Your Name

Holy Is the Lord

How Great Is Our God

In Christ Alone

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today




Fellowship and refreshments in the lower hall after service.

As a newcomer, you might have a few questions about what happens during the worship service and what is expected of you.


 

What Should I Wear to Church?
There is no dress code at St. Bartholomew's. You will find that some parishioners dress up for Sunday services while others attend in jeans and t-shirts. Be comfortable and be yourself.


 

What Happens When I Get To Church?
On any given Sunday, you should expect the following to happen…

You arrive and enter through our front or back doors . Someone will smile and greet you — possibly holding the door for you if you need assistance. You can hang up your coat, mingle in the lower hall and visit the Sunday School classroom where children will begin their lesson, before entering the Sanctuary.

As you enter the sanctuary, a “sidesperson” will hand you a bulletin and then you can find a seat in a pew. We do not have assigned seating, so feel free to sit anywhere.

When you sit down, you can glance in your bulletin – it provides the order of the service so you know what is coming next, what page to be on, which prayer or hymn book to use, and who is speaking. It also mentions announcements for the week. If you have any questions, please ask anyone sitting near you.

The service will start with the clergy welcoming all, outlining where the service will begin. Special life events, e.g., birthdays, are celebrated at the end of the service. If you are attending the 10:00 service, the children will join us at the offertory hymn.

To Kneel or to Stand? 
At St Bartholomew's, we are pretty relaxed about personal worship preferences. If you prefer to kneel during a prayer, feel free to do so. Or stand if that is what you feel like doing. If you prefer to sit or are unable to kneel/stand, that is fine, too - please do what you feel is comfortable. Pews with kneelers (small fold-down benches to kneel on) are located in front of pews.


The Collection or Offering
At the 10am service, collection baskets are placed at both entrances to the sanctuary (as of July 31st, 2011). If you would like to make an offering, please place it in the basket.

At the 8:00am service, baskets will remain at the rail.

Offerings are used to pay church expenses and to provide resources and ministries. On the desk at the back of the church, you’ll notice envelopes. If you put your donation in one of these envelopes and fill out your name and address , you will receive an income tax receipt for your donation. If you become a member of St. Bartholomew's, you can receive a boxed set of envelopes to take home and use when you come to church or you may want to give electronically; either way, please make your preference known to one of the sidepersons' at the back of the church. If you wish to give your offering to a specific ministry, indicate it on your envelope; otherwise it will be used as most needed.


Communion or the Eucharist
Any baptized person is welcome to join us at Communion in receiving the Body (bread) and Blood (wine) of Christ. If you would like to participate but are not comfortable with Communion, please come forward and ask for a blessing from the person administering the bread.

 Just follow the person ahead of you to the front rail to receive communion. You may eat your wafer of flat bread and then sip your wine, or eat the bread alone and/or touch the base of the chalice when the wine is offered -- it is your choice -- but the practice of some Christians of dipping the bread in the wine is discouraged for sanitary reasons.


Coffee Hour
Join us for fellowship and refreshments in the lower parish hall following the 10:00 am service.

A Secluded Area - If you need to have a secluded area to worship in – perhaps you have a child that needs a more comfortable place or you just want a few minutes alone – please feel free to use our sitting area at the back of the church.

Large Print Books
Large print versions of the Book of Alternative Services (green prayer book) are available. Just ask a sidesperson handing out the bulletins for one.

Special Ceremonies
Please speak with our clergy member if you have any questions or concerns about St. Bartholomew's worship services.
They will also be happy to discuss Baptisms, First Communion, Confirmations, Weddings, Renewal of Vows, Funerals, etc.



Bishop Terry Dance visits The Church of St. Bartholomew - Easter Season 2011


     
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