Worship Schedule
After a fruitful summer we are now preparing for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. We hope that you are finding time to study, reflect and learn more about your relationship with God.
Holy Week and Easter Worship
| Date | St. Martin-in-the-Fields | St. Columba, Strawberry Vale |
| March 29th 5th Sunday in Lent | Eucharist 9:30 am | Eucharist 11:10 am |
| April 5th Passion Sunday | Holy Communion 9:30am | Eucharist 11:10 am |
| April 6th Monday in Holy Week | Morning Prayer 9:30am | |
| April 7th Tuesday in Holy Week | Morning Prayer 9:30 am | |
| April 8th Wednesday in Holy Week | Morning Prayer 9:30 am,
NO Holy Communion |
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| April 9th Maundy Thursday | Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Foot washing service 7pm |
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| April 10th Good Friday | Morning Prayer 9:30 am
Simple Soup Supper 5 pm followed by Intergenerational Worship |
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| April 11th Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil | *Vigil held at Christ Church Cathedral* | Morning Prayer 9:30
*Vigil held at Christ Church Cathedral* |
| April 12th Day of Resurrection | Eucharist 9:30 am | Eucharist 11:10 am |
| April 19th 2nd Sunday of Easter | Eucharist 9:30 am | Holy Communion 11:10 am |
Mid-week Holy Communion at St. Martin’s is on Wednesday of each week starting at 11am using the Book of Common Prayer except for the last Wednesday in the month when we use a Celtic Healing Service with Eucharist.
Hospital Ministry at the Gorge Road Hospital every 1st Sunday of the month at 2.30pm.
Worship with the Family: Thoughts on worshipping with children.
Each and every worship service at St. Martin’s and St. Columba includes the ‘whole family’. You can expect to see the very young beside the very elderly; a wheelchair and a stroller are often seen ‘parked’ together in the church. For many people the thought of worshipping with children in the church is enough to scare them away. Equally so is the feeling of many children who often feel that the worship space is not for them. There are also the parents or grandparents of the children that wonder how on earth are they going to get along in worship with some active child
This section is a bit of a how-to guide, and part information package.
Much of the hassle of bringing children to worship reduces significantly with a bit of planning. Usually the Saturday evening before coming to church talk to the children about the excitement, anticipation, and even fears.
Let children know that it is ok to be active in church, but there is also times to be quiet. Agree on some toy, or small activity that they can pack with them to bring to church to play with in the pews when they have energy to burn.
When your in the church get ready to do some explaining. Remember the ‘Why?’ stage? Children have questions about what’s going, so feel free to tell them, and also tell them when you don’t know. Remember the mystery of it all and than not all questions might have an answer…yet.
Get ready to retreat. It is ok to get up in the middle of the sermon to assist the needs of children. It is natural that you might have to change a diaper, or deal with a tantrum. If it makes you more comfortable sit in a pew with an easy exit. Got a sugar low and forgot to bring a snack? Take a peak in the hall to see if there are any cookies or fruit to snack on.
A strange thing happens to many people as they age – they seem to forget what it was like to be child. Try to think like a child when you prepare and come to church. What were your own memories of church? How does it feel to be 2 feet tall in a cathedral?
Most importantly, keep a sense of humour, and respect the fact that you, as care-giver, are also in the liturgy to worship. Take your moments to catch your breath, relax and experience the Holy…even if you are sitting in a pew full of Cheerios and LEGO.
Ways to Grow
Bible Study held at St. Columba parish hall on Wednesday evenings 7 to 9pm
Choir Practice Thursday evenings at 7 pm at St. Martin’s SUMMER BREAK
Sunday Club each Sunday in both St. Martin’s and St. Columba for children age 2 and up
