Upcoming Events
As Christians we believe the full purpose of our lives is to praise God. As we do so we begin to recognize more and more that everything comes from God and to feel ever more thankful and full of praise. Worship helps us recognize who God really is and it opens our hearts to what is good. It is something we are called to every day of our lives and is fulfilled, among other ways, when we say the Lord’s Prayer. We offer God songs and words of praise in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs We listen to God’s words in Scripture. We gather around the table of the Lord in the Holy Communion. We offer prayers for ourselves and those in need and for the needs of the world.
SERVICES
The Eucharist, (also known as Holy Communion, Mass, or the Lord’s Supper), is at the heart of Christian worship. It is celebrated by Christians around the world as a memorial of the death and resurrection of Jesus, in response to his words at the final meal he shared with his disciples, ‘Do this in remembrance of me.’ It can take many forms but at the heart of the celebration there is always a special prayer of thanksgiving, or ‘Eucharistic Prayer’. This is offered by the priest who presides at the service in the name of all who are gathered, giving thanks for all that God has given us in Christ. The Eucharist is celebrated with reverence and joy, as it renews believers’ communion with God and strengthens their commitment to live as disciples of Christ in the world.
At St John’s, we celebrate the Eucharist with a service where the community gathers, asks God’s forgiveness for its sins and listens to readings from the Bible, including a reading from one of the Gospels. Hymns may be sung and a sermon be preached, and the community prays together. Bread and wine are brought to the holy table (also called ‘the altar’), the priest prays the Eucharistic Prayer, and everyone says the Lord’s Prayer together. The community then receives the consecrated bread and wine. At the end of the service, the community is sent out into the world as a ‘living sacrifice’ to live and work to God’s praise and glory.
Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer.
At St John’s, our priest offers Morning and Evening Prayer services week days (Monday to Friday) at 8.00 am and 5.00 pm. These are short services held for all in the beautiful little Lady Chapel in the Church and live-streamed via our Facebook page. On Sundays, Compline – also known as Prayer at the End of the Day – is available only via live-stream at 6.00 pm. The Morning Prayer service helps the soul prepare for the day. The Evening Prayer service gently allows the soul to come to peace with the day and approach the night with love and gratitude. The services include scripture readings, Psalms and prayers.
Children’s Church – Godly Play
Godly Play is a Montessori method of telling Bible stories through parables, sacred stories and liturgical lessons using tactile natural materials. It invites children to connect faith stories with personal experience through wondering questions and open-ended response. The sessions introduce children to the important stories, traditions and language of the Church and help prepare children to join the worship life of their congregation.
Godly Play is offered as part of the 9.30 am service on Sundays.
For more information about Godly Play please contact Revd Canon Karen Cave priest@anglicanchurchalbany.org.au
Contemplative Prayer.
A contemplative prayer service is held in the Lady Chapel every Tuesday at 11.00 am. The format is flexible but follows The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer by David Adam and includes a time of silent prayer. The service for the day is chosen as a result of discussion about matters on the hearts of those attending, and the contemplation is based on a mantra taken from the psalm. The service usually takes less than an hour and, for those who wish to stay, it is followed by the regular Tuesday 12.30 pm Eucharist. The service books are supplied and contemplative time can be modified for those new to this form of prayer. You are most welcome to come and try a new experience.
OSL Healing Ministries
The Order of St Luke the Physician in Australia (OSL Healing Ministries) is an ecumenical network of people throughout Australia who are dedicated to the ministry of Christian healing. The OSL encourages cooperation between the ministry of the Church and healing professions and seeks to be an avenue whereby this cooperation can be achieved and maintained. Healing professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the spiritual aspects of healing and empirical studies now show direct links between prayer and recovery from illness and surgery. Services are held in the Lady Chapel on the second Thursday of the month at 9.30 am.
‘Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’ Matt 10
Special Services
St John’s Church conducts a variety of special services throughout the year, following the seasons of the Liturgical year. The most important of these are at Christmas and Easter, where extra, unique services are held. Details are posted throughout the year.
Other services are part of our Church’s sacramental life. including Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Reconciliation (Confession), Ordination, and Anointing of the Sick. These services are held when requested by members of the congregation and are revered as significant means of God’s grace and are deeply cherished within the Anglican tradition.
Daily Lectionary Readings
We live-stream readings from the Anglican Common Worship Lectionaries of the readings appointed for that day. Please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/p/Anglican-Parish-Albany-Service-Stream-100067485279337/ for daily readings.
Mothers Union Services and Meetings
Mothers Union is a Christian membership-based organisation with 4 million members across 83 countries. Members gather for worship and fellowships as well as conducting varied grassroots initiatives that give hope and empowerment to women to further their education and become self-sufficient thus enabling them to provide for themselves and their families. They also include nurturing, supporting and encouraging each other in times of need.
Vision: A world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.
Aim and Purpose: To demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the transformation of communities worldwide through the nurture of family in its many forms.
Mission:
- To promote and support married life
- To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children
- To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
- To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
- To help those whose family life has met with adversity
Services and meetings are held in the Dorothy Wood Hall next to the Church on the third Wednesday of every month at 1.00 pm.
https://www.muaustralia.org.au/dioceses/diocese-of-bunbury
Prayer Chain
A parish prayer chain has been established. If you have prayer requests, please contact Revd Karen (0434 702 343), who will communicate with other members of the team. Prayer requests will not be discussed by prayer chain members and will be kept in confidence. If you wish for prayers to continue for more than one week, please contact Revd Karen again. The importance and power of prayer is intrinsic to our faith. Prayer is an act of worship that glorifies God and reinforces our need for God.
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7.
Pilgrimage Hospitality –Bibbulman Walk Track or Munda-Biddi Cycle Trail
The Parish of Albany (at the Southern Terminus) is offering hospitality to those departing and arriving upon the Bibbulmun Track and the Munda-Biddi Trail. Many of those setting out on these journeys do so with a spiritual intention, or in response to a major life event; and many of those arriving have deep feelings about their experience. St John’s offers to meet people walking or cycling for a time of fellowship and sharing. You’ll also be invited to ring the Church bell, announcing your arrival or departure.