Bloor Street United Church: Worship

Worship

with us

From the time you walk into the narthex to a warm welcome until you leave the coffee and conversation time after the service, everything that happens on Sunday morning at Bloor Street United Church is part of worship.

You can expect a friendly inclusive congregation, thoughtful, relevant preaching, enthusiastic congregational singing, inspiring choral music that might range from a setting of a plainsong chant to an African-American spiritual.

We try to provide an inspiring and visionary centre for worship where we can help each other to discover, develop and nurture our spirit and faith. To do this, our goals are to foster worship which is inspirational through empowering preaching, both traditional and innovative liturgy, music and the arts; worship that is participatory, inclusive and supports all elements of the congregation; and worship that reflects our commitment to a theology which is liberating. We are proud to be an Affirming congregation.

At Bloor Street, the congregation is involved in the service of worship. We may read the scripture lesson, give the pastoral prayer, act as greeters and ushers, or prepare and serve refreshments after the service and a congregational lunch the first Sunday of the month.

Communion is an essential part of worship for Christians. At Bloor Street we celebrate it on the first Sunday of every liturgical season, as well as on special occasions. Ours is an open table; everyone is welcome. For more about our communion services, click here.

Our Music Program is key to our worship experience, with a great organ, choral anthems, soloists, guest musicians. To find out more about it, or about how to take part, click here.

Children are an important part of our church family. They are always welcome at the service, and there are also a nursery, Sunday School, and Youth group that run during the service. For more information about the nursery, Church School, and Youth on Bloor click here.

Baptism is the way in which children can be welcomed into this family. To find out more about baptism, click here.

Weddings and Funerals: The worship committee is also responsible for use of the sanctuary on such occasions as weddings and funerals. To find out about policy for weddings click here.

We meet at 10:30 a.m on Sunday throughout the year, except one summer month when we share services at Trinity-St. Paul's United Church. The church is located at the corner of Bloor Street and Huron Street, a block from the St. George subway stop, and has a small parking lot. Parking is free for members and adherents. We hope you'll come by and join us in worship!

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Getting Here

Bloor Street United Church is located at
the corner of Bloor Street and Huron Street
just one block east of the St George Subway station.
300 Bloor Street West,
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 1W3
416-924-7439
fax: 416-924-1889

Baptism is a symbolic action that signifies the new life God gives us as we join the church community.

Baptism uses water as a symbolic cleansing that signifies the acceptance of new life within the church family. The sacrament of baptism is the single rite of initiation into the Christian community, the church.

The United Church offers baptism to all ages. We believe the gift of God's love doesn't depend on our ability to understand it, so we baptize people as infants right up through adulthood.

With children, instruction is given to parents or sponsors to equip them for the child's Christian nurture. During the ceremony, everyone in the congregation pledges support for the child and his or her parents.

Baptism is not a requirement for God's love. We believe people who die without baptism are in no way condemned, lost, or damned.

Baptism in the United Church is recognized by all denominations of the Christian church that practise infant baptism. Similarly, if people have already been baptized in another church, the United Church recognizes their baptism and welcomes them as Christians.

Please contact the minister, Rev. Martha ter Kuile ( martha@bloorstreetunited.org) if you are interested in being baptized, or arranging for the baptism of an in infant or child.

The Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, Holy Communion—these different terms refer to the same sacrament shared by most Christian denominations, a symbolic meal.

Communion is celebrated at a table that suggests the dining table in our homes. At the communion table, we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the host and all are guests. The meal uses the symbols of small pieces of bread and a taste of wine or juice to remind us of Jesus’ last supper with his followers and of God’s enduring love.

Jesus welcomed everyone, whether they were poor, rich, or just getting by; ill or healthy; self-made or educated; popular or a loner; secure or full of doubts. The United Church of Canada prides itself on welcoming everyone the way Jesus did, regardless of age, race, class, gender, orientation, or physical ability.

At Bloor Street United Church, we celebrate communion about six times a year. We invite everyone present to share in this family meal.

Getting Here

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