At the Last Supper, Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples and invited them to break bread and drink wine together in remembrance of Him. We observe this sacrament in the United Church. At First†Metropolitan United Church, we practice an “open table,” that is, we invite all those who seek to follow in Christ’s way to take communion. Membership, baptism or confirmation is not required.
Communion service is usually served using the practice of intinction. A small piece of bread or rice wafer is dipped into grape juice and consumed. At the 9:00 a.m. chapel service, communion is offered every Sunday and the elements of bread and wine are brought to the seats of those attending by lay leaders.
At the 11:00 a.m. service communion is offered several times a year, including World-wide Communion Sunday. Those attending the service are invited to come to several stations around the Sanctuary. At each station, two servers hold the elements. Once you have taken a piece of bread or wafer, dipped it into the cup of grape juice and eaten it, you return to your seat. Lay leaders watch for those who might have difficulty in leaving their seats and bring the elements to those members of the congregation. As an alternative to intinction, traditionally trays with cubes of bread and small glasses of juice are passed amongst the pews.
Baptism is the second of the two sacraments in the United Church of Canada (the sacrament of communion being the first). It is an initiation into Christianity and into our own church family and is held as part of a regular Sunday service. As such, it requires a commitment from the individual or in the case of a child, from his or her family. Adults, children and infants may be baptized. Adults who have previously been baptized into another denomination need not be baptized again; they will be admitted into membership in the Church through confirmation.
Normally, at least one parent of a child or infant being brought forward for baptism should be an active member of First Metropolitan United Church or have stated an intention of becoming a member. If you regularly attend church at another congregation, we would encourage you to have your children baptized in that church so that your church family can support the commitment you are making to your child as well as the Christian faith as a whole.
At baptism, parents are asked to commit themselves to leading their child to Christian faith by their teaching and example. The congregation vows to encourage the participation of parents and children in our community and to support them as they grow in faith. Baptisms are generally held at least four times during the year, on designated days.
In the United Church, we believe all infants are blessed and known by God. Baptism is not necessary to remove the stain of original sin from a child or to protect a child from evil. In baptism we celebrate the love that God already has for the child.
Are you looking for a contemplative way to reflect on your week? This is an ecumenical form of prayer accessible to all in a peaceful atmosphere of meditative chants. Come and join us at a Prayer in the Style of Taizé service. Taizé services are offered by the Downtown Churches Association once a month between September and May. To find the date and location of this month’s service, click on Events. All are welcome to attend this candlelit ecumenical prayer and music filled service.
Can’t attend a service, but want to experience the meditative atmosphere of Taizé? Listen to a few minutes of prayer with song and a bible verse recorded live in Taizé, France, courtesy of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. Some samples of music used in services can also be found on the website of Elk Lake Baptist Church.
For more information, please contact Harry Ray of the DCA Taize Working Committee by email or Janet Gray, Committee chair, by phone at (250) 478-5066. For more information on the Taizé community and its programs, prayers, and songs, see: www.taize.fr/en.
Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”) is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ at Christmas. It is the start of the liturgical year, the cycle of readings and special days. In 2010, Advent begins on November 28 and ends with Christmas Eve. The colour blue is used for hangings in the church and vestments.
The season is also marked with an Advent wreath which has three blue candles and one pink candle. On successive Sundays of Advent, one, two, three and four candles are lit during the service. The origins of this custom, which some also follow in their homes, is no longer clear, but is probably rooted in pre-Christian customs surrounding the winter solstice. Evergreens were shaped into circles and adorned with candles to symbolize the return of light and life. Christian use of the wreath began in 17th century Germany. The wreath can be thought of as the church’s clock counting down to Christmas.
Each Sunday during Advent will be marked by special readings and music. In addition, the UCW hosts a special ecumenical Advent Service. The Children’s Ministry organizes an Advent Turkey Congregational Dinner, which celebrates the season and raises money for children’s programs.
Christmas is marked with a series of special events and services. Our annual Christmas Pageant, Carols in the Candlelight, is much anticipated by many in the community and brings a fresh understanding of the Christmas story through music, dance and song. The Family Christmas Eve service is focussed on children. There is also a Christmas Eve service with communion. Sunday, Dec 26 will feature a flute quartet and Christmas carols. What makes a carol different from a hymn? Carols are popular religious songs associated with a particular season of the Church year, especially Christmas. Hymns are songs focused on praising God. So some carols can be hymns and vice versa.
Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, the most important season in the church year. The week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday is known as Holy Week. While individual preparation and reflection is an important part of this preparation, there are also a number of events, activities and materials to assist in this process:
- Mardi Gras celebration for children and families, following the 11 am service on Mar 6. Hot dog luncheon and games.
- Experiencing God in Our Lives, a book of daily reflections for the Lenten season, written by the youth, their parents and other adults of the congregation will be for sale following church services. Cost $8; proceeds provide bursaries for summer camp and other summer youth programs.
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper: Mar 8, 5:30 pm. Hosted by the younger men of the congregation. Adults $7, Children $3, Families $15. Tickets available at the church office or following Sunday services.
- Ash Wednesday service, March 8, 7:00 pm
- Sunday services, Mar 27 at 9:00 and 11:00 am, Martin Brokenleg, guest preacher
- Palm Sunday, Apr 17, 9 and 11 am, with our new Minister of Pastoral Care and Shared Worship, Leanne Benoit, introduced
- Maundy Thursday service, Apr 21: Potluck supper seder and tennebrae, 6:00 pm (please note time correction)
- Good Friday service, Apr 22, 11:00 am
- Easter Sunday services, Apr 24 at 9:00 and 11:00 am. Bring flowers to decorate the cross. Featuring brass, choir and special hymns of Easter.
We at First†Metropolitan are especially proud of our Music Ministry. Services typically include the best of classical music as well as the newest hymns coming out of our church tradition. Hymns include old favourites and songs of celebration from other countries.
Accompanied by an Allen 4-manual digital organ, music soars to the heavens each Sunday morning.
Sanctuary Choir
Also posted in Music | Tag(s): Music Ministry |
First†Metropolitan United Church welcomes and celebrates diversity.
Friends, family and allies come together in a spirit of Christian love with people who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered, transsexual, two-spirited, queer, and questioning. We support one another through worship, spiritual study, socializing, studying scripture, health and wellness activities, and by discussing issues of the day. All are welcome.
First Metropolitan also provides a meeting place for a new group sponsored by the Victoria Presbytery. Queer Victoria Christians meets monthly.
For more information, contact Allan Saunders, Lead Minister at 250.388-5188, ext. 226 or by email
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See Also:
Affirm United is an organization of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities within The United Church of Canada. They work to provide the full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the church and in society.
Confirmation is conducted annually as needed. In the presence of the congregation, young and older adults affirm their Baptismal vows, stating those vows for themselves, and become adults of the faith.
Confirmation may be chosen by an individual who returns to the church after a period of absence and wishes to re-dedicate him/herself.
Persons who have been baptized and confirmed in other Christian traditions reaffirm their Baptismal vows as adults and are received into the United Church of Canada. Those who have been absent from the church for a number of years also are welcomed into our midst through Reaffirmation.
We encourage you to address questions about Baptism, Confirmation, Reaffirmation, and Reception to the Ministers well in advance of the desired time. We require education and preparation time for these rites as we consider them to be significant transitions, not to be entered into lightly. Part of the preparation includes having conversations with a Sponsor (a member of the congregation).
The United Church Women prepare three seasonal worship services at 11:00 a.m. on a Monday preceding Thanksgiving, Advent, and Lent. Members of our own congregation, other downtown churches and visitors are all invited to attend.
A time of refreshments and fellowship begins at 10:00 a.m.
