Worship

Put down your roots and let your spirit soar

Visiting for the first time?
No matter who you are or where you come from, the congregation of Donwood United Church invites you to join us and become a part of our community of faith. It doesn't matter if you have no religion, are of another religion, or if you've simply never been to church before. You will be greeted warmly. ‘Drawing the circle wide’ is our way of saying everyone is welcome. We want to help you celebrate times of joy, and support you through sorrow and disappointment.
We hope you will come and take part in a thriving spirit of fellowship, caring and community support.
Together, we will deepen our faith and find encouragement for living in today’s complex society and discover a true sense of belonging.
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Why worship?
Worship is central to Donwood.  It is when we all gather to give praise to God, and be equipped to go into the world to live for the earth and its peoples as Jesus did  Our usual worship service begins at 11:00 am on Sundays and lasts one hour, give or take a few minutes.
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When you arrive
When you arrive in the building you will be greeted by someone.  They will help you find where you're going and answer any questions you may have. People start arriving about 10:30 and most arrive about 10 or 15 minutes to 11:00.
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Accessibility
Donwood United is fully accessible with handicapped parking spots posted nearest to the building, an elevator to the lower level, and a sound system for those who have difficult hearing.  If you would like a large-print order of service (handout) just let us know.
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Washrooms
Washrooms are on the lower level to your left at the bottom of the stairs.
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Children
We are delighted to welcome your children into our worship experience.

Infants and children under 3 are welcome in the service and you will often find a toddler wandering the aisle with a wave for everyone. The happy chatter of little ones is all part of the community's life.

Children older than 3 begin in worship with adults, then most go to the front for some time with the minister if they want to and then depart with their leaders for the Sunday Kids program. You may accompany your child if you wish, and stay for all or part of the program to help them feel comfortable in a new setting.
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Entering the sanctuary
You may sit anywhere you wish (but if you sit in the choir you'll have to sing!).

When you enter the sanctuary there will be conversation and chatter as people catch up on the week past and share their concerns for each other.  Shortly before we begin the more structured part of the morning there is usually music playing. You may sit in silence in your seat, or join the conversations with a friend.

You can leave at any time during a service, if need be, but quietly please if we are in the middle of something.
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Welcome and announcements
We begin the service by sharing announcements and welcoming visitors. You will not be singled out, nor asked to stand up.  We hope though you will get a sense of the energy and life to be found in this community of faith as we keep each other up to date on coming events, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and share concerns.
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Communion
The sacrament of holy communion is celebrated five or six times a year. Everyone is welcome to participate in this sacrament, however if you are not a Christian or you really don't feel like you understand it enough to do so, you are perfectly welcome to stay in your seat. We generally come to the front and stand in a semi circle to be served bread and a small glass of grape juice.  Watch the first group or two to go forward and you will get the idea. When you are offered the bread you take a piece and so too with the small cups and consume them immediately.  We use a pasteurized grape juice instead of wine. If you would prefer to remain seated servers will bring the bread and cup to you in your seat. Please indicate to the usher where you would like to be served.
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Music and singing
Christians love to sing! (Well, most of them. Some just like to listen.) We are blessed at Donwood United with a fantastic music ministry including a choir, music director and instrumentalists. Music in the service is a blend of traditional Christian hymns and more modern worship songs. Feel free to join in or just listen. There are hymn books in the seats for those of you who like to read the music, and sometimes the words for songs are in the bulletin or on a screen at the front.
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Bible readings and sermon
There will be 1 or 2 readings from the Bible each Sunday. These readings are chosen by the Christian church as a whole, and rotate on a 3-year cycle known as “the lectionary”.

There are several translations of the Bible into English from its original Hebrew and Greek. We will read from different versions on different Sundays. 

The sermon is usually an oral presentation by the minister on the Bible texts and relates to how we understand their meaning in our lives today.  This usually lasts about 10-15 minutes.  Occasionally this will also include drama or video clips to help deepen our understanding.
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The Offering
The offering is an act of worship for Christians. It is symbolic of the fact that we believe everything we have comes from the blessings of God. It is also an act of generosity. Offerings support the ministry programs at our own church (including salaries) and various programs across Canada and throughout the world to help others. It is perfectly acceptable to let the offering plate pass you by. If you would like to make a gift please use one of the small envelopes found in the seats, fill out the info. We will make sure to send you a tax receipt.
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Coffee time
On the first Sunday of the month we gather right in the Sanctuary for coffee, tea, juice and a social time before the service, beginning about 10:30 am.  If you're a newcomer, you are most welcome.  It's a great time to get to know people.  
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Next steps ...
You are most welcome to visit as often as you wish.  If you have specific questions, our contact page has ways to reach us.  And if you feel this is the community for you, just mention it to Rev Prince and he will explain about formally joining.  Thanks for taking the time to read our website.