St Paul's Anglican Church, Renfrew ON
Sacraments & Spiritual Care
Baptism
Baptism is the Sacrament of initiation, and "is administered with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble. (Book of Alternative Services, page 150)
Baptism is celebrated at the main Sunday celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and can be be performed on certain Sundays and Feast Days throughout the Church year. Unless it's an emergency, baptism is not celebrated during Advent or Lent.
If you would like to be baptised or have your child baptised, please speak to the Rector.
In his Letter to the Church, the Apostle James instructs that those who are sick are to call upon the Elders of the church for prayer and anointing:
"Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14)
In the Church, we have Ministry to the Sick. This is appropriate for those who are facing surgery, dealing with a major illness, or are in need of the reassurance of God's healing grace. Please contact the Rector by phone or email should you wish to receive a visit and have this sacrament.
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage
The usual place for a religious wedding is inside the church. Where much of the focus is on the wedding day, the Church seeks to not only make the day special, but also help the couple in their holy union. We're concerned about what comes after the wedding day more especially.
Marriage takes careful planning. Please consult with the Rector at least 6 months before the wedding day. It is a requirement of our Diocese that the couple take a marriage preparation course.
Should you wish a pastoral visit from Fr John or a member of the Parish Pastoral Care Team, please contact the Parish Office at 613-432-3062, email Fr. John OR fill in the Contact form on the Contact page.
You can also advise us of someone who can use a visit or would like to receive home communion.
Pastoral Care & Visits
May I receive Communion at your Church?
The very short answer is: YES! All are welcome to come and receive at the altar rail. The one thing we ask is that you are baptized. We won't ask for proof though. Communion comes in two "kinds" or forms: the bread, The Body of Christ, and the cup (wine), The Blood of Christ. As you receive the priest or lay assistant will say something like "The Body of Christ" (the bread of heaven). Your response of affirmation is: AMEN. We use a common cup -- you may choose to sip from it, or when presented with the cup simply reverently cross your arms, resting your hands on your shoulders on the opposite side. Again, you'll hear: "The Blood of Christ" (The cup of salvation), to which you respond AMEN, even if you did not partake of the cup. If you're not sure, just follow the flow of the people ahead and behind you, and don't worry, we don't judge at all!
Funerals
It's not an easy topic to talk about but there's a few things to think about. Firstly, do let your family know what you'd like for your funeral. There are many options, and it's easier if they know in advance "what you would have wanted". In the Anglican Tradition, you can have a funeral in the church, at the funeral home or simply by the grave. If you choose in the church, would you like to have the Eucharist (Communion) celebrated? Is there a certain hymn you'd like or Bible reading?
A question we get once in a while is, for example: "Mom's favourite song was Stairway to Heaven. Can we play that at the funeral? While it's a great song, it's not appropriate as a church hymn. Remember, we're celebrating a sacred (religious) service and not a party.