Stamford Lane United

Stamford Lane UnitedStamford Lane UnitedStamford Lane United

Stamford Lane United

Stamford Lane UnitedStamford Lane UnitedStamford Lane United
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  • Worship
    • A Place of Worship
    • History
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    • About Us
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    • Home
    • Worship
      • A Place of Worship
      • History
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Sunday School
      • Council
    • Music
    • Calendar
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Worship
    • A Place of Worship
    • History
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Sunday School
    • Council
  • Music
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us

Worship

Email minister@stamfordlaneunited to be added to the "At Home Worship Email"

  

Someone  will greet you for Sunday worship at either the St. Peter Avenue  entrance (up the main steps) or as you enter from St. John Street (the  glass doors with wheelchair accessible elevator). Hearing assistance is  available at the console near the St. Peter Avenue entrance inside the  main sanctuary.  Ushers will assist you in finding a seat as well as  provide you with an order of service bulletin.
 

The Sanctuary is designed and furnished to enable worship.    The congregation sits  in pews that face forward to the Cross of Christ, our Saviour Jesus was  Crucified on a cross but rose again in three days.  Between you and the  cross is the Baptismal Font and the Communion Table. These are symbols  of the only two Sacraments of our church.  Sacraments are celebrations  of God’s giving of God’s Self as it has been already revealed through  Jesus Christ. Outward and visible signs of the inward and spiritual  grace of God.  


The Baptismal Font is  where we  welcome all people into God’s family through prayer and symbolically  washing with the simple gift of water just as Christ washed away the sin  of humanity. Baptism is celebrated at various times through the year  during Sunday morning worship.  


 The Communion Table,  often called the Lord’s Table, is central to our faith.  Jesus shared  bread and wine with his followers to remind them of the need of  forgiveness which is given through the grace of God.   Celebration of  Communion is held 5 or 6 times a year with prior notice. 

 

A Bible, a Cross and a Candle of Hope are the only items normally left on the communion table for regular  worship.  These are symbolic of: the Word of God,  the Saviour,  the  Light of the World. The cup and plate, for bread and grape juice,  are symbolic of the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ  for the unity of all God’s people. Flowers are usually donated by an individual or family who want to celebrate or remember someone’s life.  They are placed at the front of the church acknowledging the beautiful  gift of God in all creation.   The lectern facing you on the left is commonly known as a pulpit, that is  where the minister speaks and leads worship and where the Word of God is read from the Biblical scripture. Members of the congregation will often assist  in the worship.  The sanctuary is often filled with the music of  our pipe organ, piano, bell or chime choirs, the voices of adult, youth or children's choirs, praise team, solos  and your voice.  All add to the praise and grace of  worship. The choir faces you and offers anthems, blessings and  leadership in our singing.  There is always room for you in a choir!  We  are blessed with many talented voices and musicians. The words of many of the songs we sing  together are found in Hymn Books called Voices United and are available  at your seat with music or in larger print, words only. Today you can often just follow the words on the projection screen.  


Offering plates  will be passed during the service to collect your offering to the work  of Christ’s church locally as well as any gift to the national church’s  Mission and Service fund.  Visitors are our guests and not expected to make an offering. As you decide to join us on a more regular basis,  envelopes are available at your seat and upon request. Numbered  envelopes better enable tax receipts which are issued once each year.  You can also sign up for PAR, preauthorised  remittance.  


Canadian  and United Nations flags, stained glass, plaques and the pipe organ all are part of the history of our church which remembers the sacrifice and  generosity of those who have gone before us, leading us to this day.     Following  worship every Sunday you are welcome into the gym where coffee, tea and  juice are served.  This is a social time of meeting and getting to know  the people who worship with you.There is often opportunity to pick up  books, movies or sign up for events.  


WORSHIP (*) indicates when to stand if you are able.  The order is usually similar each week but a printed bulletin or the projection screen will guide you through with any changes to the routine. 

  

 During  July and August regular services are held. Junior congregation is  offered by one teacher to all young children who prefer to gather  together.   A family service is a time for you and your church  family to worship together for the full service. On holiday Sundays we  normally will adjust worship to be of interest to all ages. These  services are usually less formal and often involve more active  participation. Nursery is usually available at any time throughout the  service on these Sundays for children 5 and under.  


BAPTISM This  Sacrament is always celebrated at a Sunday morning worship.  Parents  are required to meet with the Minister prior to the service.   Because  Jesus was baptised, Baptism is about uniting with God’s people who  discover together the need for forgiveness.   The United Church of  Canada acknowledges  the Baptism of anyone baptised in the name of God  the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  After Baptism, the family is strongly  encouraged to participate in this or another church. 

 

COMMUNION This  meal was first shared by Jesus at the conclusion of the traditional  Passover meal remembering how God saved the people of Israel from  slavery.  Now through Jesus Christ we have been saved from the emptiness  of death.  Eternal life with God is offered and nurtured in remembering  how Jesus’ body, like bread, was broken and his blood, like wine, was  shed for our salvation. The United Church of Canada normally will use  grape juice instead of wine to enable all people to participate in the  sacrament.  At whatever age or stage of life, you are invited to receive  this sacrament to nurture your searching faith or in celebration of  your committed faith.  Please receive this bread and grape juice (no  alcohol) as the gift of grace it is intended to be, remembering that  having been created in the image of God we are all equal. This sacrament  is also offered at home if you are physically unable to attend worship.  


CONFIRMATION Confirmation  class for youth begins in February and runs until the end of Lent.   Candidates are then asked to confirm the faith of their Baptismal vows.  


MARRIAGE Stamford Lane United Church will marry at the minister's discretion. Wedding  celebrations are arranged through the Minister, and the couples are  required to meet with the Minister prior to the wedding.  


FUNERALS Funerals  are conducted upon request of next of kin of anyone at any time.   Service is held either at the funeral home or at the church.   Arrangements are made with the Minister.  The In-Touch Committee may  also be available if requested for catering a reception following the  service, $15 per person including food.

Stamford Lane United Church

Stamford Lane United Church, 3855 St. Peter Avenue, Niagara Falls, Ontario, L2J 2N7

(905) 354-8841

Copyright © 2019 Stamford Lane United Church - All Rights Reserved.