April 26, 2009 11:00 am
St. James Presbyterian Church, 1476 Portage Ave. Winnipeg
Rev. Allan Farris
So I remembered to check which side of Portage this church was on, unlike last time. I was greeted warmly by several people walking in and though at a quarter-to the tiny sanctuary was almost empty, around 100 people had arrived by go time. For such a small congregation the youth were fairly well-represented, with lots of families in attendance as well.
The service followed a pretty normal format, opened with prayers, announcements and hymns. I noticed how full the pew shelves were: a hymnal, a bible and two psalm books were in every compartment and all were used during the service.
Reverend Farris was probably one of the youngest ministers I've encountered so far. His mannerisms seemed a bit awkward at the beginning and for a while I couldn't put a finger on what was different about him... eventually it hit me. He was smiling the whole time; genuinely enthusiastic and excited about what he was talking about. Making eye contact too. And his sermon was pretty neat; he used a hilarious story about his nephew's interpretation of Jesus as a popculture zombie to illustrate how we categorize things we don't understand. He went on to argue that Jesus and the resurrection defies categorization, and therefore as a people Christians should (and sometimes do) defy categorization as well. I think he got a bit hung up on this idea and had trouble drawing a conclusion, but it was an engaging and generally relevant sermon.
Offertory, a few more hymns, a neat children's "sermon" about the idea of children of God versus 'regular' children and the service was capped off. I would say I definitely got a positive experience out of this one.
http://www.stjamespresbyterianwinnipeg.com/
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Bethel Mennonite Church, Take Two
April 12, 2009 10:45 am
Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Ave. Winnipeg
Lisa Enn-Bogoya
As on Christmas, the family decided that Bethel would be a good choice for Easter. I must say I enjoyed my first visit and so I was happy to go back for the Easter service. The big, open church was again filled to capacity as the large (and really excellent) choir sang a processional.
The service was similar in content to the Christmas service, with scripture readings interspersed with prayers, offerings from the choir and lots and lots of hymns, always certain to make me happy. The children's story was a bare-bones version of the connection between the CS Lewis classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Easter story.
Lisa Enns-Bogoya was a really great speaker. She talked about her family's recent trip to Disneyland and contrasted the exhibitionist, so-called "Mickey Mouse theology" with the story of the ressurection. She talked well and got her message across, and I definitely enjoyed her sermon.
The service ended with an open invitation for congregation members to join the choir in singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. It was an extremely powerful and uplifting way to end a really great service.
http://www.bethelmennonite.ca/
Bethel Mennonite Church, 465 Stafford Ave. Winnipeg
Lisa Enn-Bogoya
As on Christmas, the family decided that Bethel would be a good choice for Easter. I must say I enjoyed my first visit and so I was happy to go back for the Easter service. The big, open church was again filled to capacity as the large (and really excellent) choir sang a processional.
The service was similar in content to the Christmas service, with scripture readings interspersed with prayers, offerings from the choir and lots and lots of hymns, always certain to make me happy. The children's story was a bare-bones version of the connection between the CS Lewis classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Easter story.
Lisa Enns-Bogoya was a really great speaker. She talked about her family's recent trip to Disneyland and contrasted the exhibitionist, so-called "Mickey Mouse theology" with the story of the ressurection. She talked well and got her message across, and I definitely enjoyed her sermon.
The service ended with an open invitation for congregation members to join the choir in singing the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. It was an extremely powerful and uplifting way to end a really great service.
http://www.bethelmennonite.ca/
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
April 10, 2009 3:00 pm.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Parish, 4588 Roblin Blvd. Winnipeg
Pastor Barry Schoonbaert
I have to apologize for this entry a little. I didn't remember that there was no order of service handed out for this one, so details may be sketchy. I decided to go to a second service on Good Friday, this one at the Catholic OLPH, another church that I've been driving past for years. I was also interested in the Catholic take on the Good Friday service.
The place was packed. I'll never guess the right number, but there were probably 5 or 600 people there. It was as close to standing room only as churches get these days. Ushers were helping people find their spots but there was absolute silence; not a person was speaking. Inside the church itself was tastefully decorated, with a very low ceiling.
The service began with a processional up to the front, followed by some lengthy preemptive scripture passages alternating with solos done very well by soloists and a vocal quartet. Pastor Schoonbaert led a prayer and then the Passion was recited responsively, readers alternating with the congregation.
After the Passion and the prayers, also done responsively but in song, was an event I've never personally witnessed before. Dubbed the "Veneration of the Cross," it involves a large crucifix supported by the Pastor brought up to the front, after which the entire congregation lines up to pay respect to it whether by bowing, kneeling or in many cases kissing the depiction of Jesus' crucified body. I won't go into my issues with the "Veneration of the Cross" here, suffice it to say I didn't take part.
The Veneration took an extremely long time. Afterwards a solid communion was shared and after a blessing the service ended. There had been signs posted beforehand asking the congregation to exit in silence, and so they did. I found the service an extremely interesting experience, very reverent and in the somber mood of the day. I'd be interested to see what the turnout is at a regular OLPH service.
http://www.olphwinnipeg.ca/
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Parish, 4588 Roblin Blvd. Winnipeg
Pastor Barry Schoonbaert
I have to apologize for this entry a little. I didn't remember that there was no order of service handed out for this one, so details may be sketchy. I decided to go to a second service on Good Friday, this one at the Catholic OLPH, another church that I've been driving past for years. I was also interested in the Catholic take on the Good Friday service.
The place was packed. I'll never guess the right number, but there were probably 5 or 600 people there. It was as close to standing room only as churches get these days. Ushers were helping people find their spots but there was absolute silence; not a person was speaking. Inside the church itself was tastefully decorated, with a very low ceiling.
The service began with a processional up to the front, followed by some lengthy preemptive scripture passages alternating with solos done very well by soloists and a vocal quartet. Pastor Schoonbaert led a prayer and then the Passion was recited responsively, readers alternating with the congregation.
After the Passion and the prayers, also done responsively but in song, was an event I've never personally witnessed before. Dubbed the "Veneration of the Cross," it involves a large crucifix supported by the Pastor brought up to the front, after which the entire congregation lines up to pay respect to it whether by bowing, kneeling or in many cases kissing the depiction of Jesus' crucified body. I won't go into my issues with the "Veneration of the Cross" here, suffice it to say I didn't take part.
The Veneration took an extremely long time. Afterwards a solid communion was shared and after a blessing the service ended. There had been signs posted beforehand asking the congregation to exit in silence, and so they did. I found the service an extremely interesting experience, very reverent and in the somber mood of the day. I'd be interested to see what the turnout is at a regular OLPH service.
http://www.olphwinnipeg.ca/
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Charleswood United Church
April 10, 2009 11:00 am
Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Blvd. Winnipeg
Rev. Michael Wilson, Rev. Joanne Kury
So I'm a bit behind on the posting, and cause of exams these next few will be a bit haphazard. But I'm still going in order. I decided to take in two services on Good Friday, one am, one pm. This was my first one of the day.
Even though my background is in the United Church, I can't remember ever going to the actual Good Friday service. Probably too busy enjoying the day off school, I guess. Charleswood United recently had a slew of renovations done, so the church building is looking really good. They've got a nice big room for alternative worship and the sanctuary itself is decked out nicely too. When I walked in there were black coverings on the windows, creating an appropriately somber mood.
There were a few prayers and hymns before the Passion was played out, alternating scripture readings, sung responses and solos by members of the large choir, which were done very well. Some churches I've been to didn't have a congregation the size of Charleswood's choir and altogether I'd say there were about 2-300 people in the sanctuary.
Rev. Wilson was called upon to do the sermon. He was an extremely good speaker, talking about the story of the crucifixion as going beyond the traditional "good versus evil" scenario. He tried really hard to pull in pop culture references from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings and though I'm sure they would appeal to some, the connections were a bit weak for me to find them effective. Altogether though it was a nicely done sermon.
The service ended with a few more hymns, the prayer and a final blessing before the congregation filed out. It was a very nice, peaceful, traditional service, though as I often do I found myself wishing for some deviation from the standard worship format. I'd be happy to go back and see what regular worship is like at Charleswood; from my observations it really seems to be a vibrant community.
http://www.charleswoodunited.org/
Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Blvd. Winnipeg
Rev. Michael Wilson, Rev. Joanne Kury
So I'm a bit behind on the posting, and cause of exams these next few will be a bit haphazard. But I'm still going in order. I decided to take in two services on Good Friday, one am, one pm. This was my first one of the day.
Even though my background is in the United Church, I can't remember ever going to the actual Good Friday service. Probably too busy enjoying the day off school, I guess. Charleswood United recently had a slew of renovations done, so the church building is looking really good. They've got a nice big room for alternative worship and the sanctuary itself is decked out nicely too. When I walked in there were black coverings on the windows, creating an appropriately somber mood.
There were a few prayers and hymns before the Passion was played out, alternating scripture readings, sung responses and solos by members of the large choir, which were done very well. Some churches I've been to didn't have a congregation the size of Charleswood's choir and altogether I'd say there were about 2-300 people in the sanctuary.
Rev. Wilson was called upon to do the sermon. He was an extremely good speaker, talking about the story of the crucifixion as going beyond the traditional "good versus evil" scenario. He tried really hard to pull in pop culture references from Harry Potter to Lord of the Rings and though I'm sure they would appeal to some, the connections were a bit weak for me to find them effective. Altogether though it was a nicely done sermon.
The service ended with a few more hymns, the prayer and a final blessing before the congregation filed out. It was a very nice, peaceful, traditional service, though as I often do I found myself wishing for some deviation from the standard worship format. I'd be happy to go back and see what regular worship is like at Charleswood; from my observations it really seems to be a vibrant community.
http://www.charleswoodunited.org/
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