The Eucharist is the central act of worship in the life of our parish.

The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”. When we gather for the Eucharist, we give thanks for God's goodness and for his saving work in Jesus Christ.

At St Michael's, our Sunday Eucharist follows the structure and worship of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, using An Anglican Prayerbook 1989 while allowing room for our own parish's relaxed and welcoming style.

Our worship includes:

• Scripture readings

• A sermon or reflection

• Prayers of the People

• Hymns and songs

• The Peace

• The offering of ourselves and our gifts

• The Eucharistic Prayer

• Holy Communion

• Thanksgiving

• Blessing and dismissal

Although the service follows a recognised liturgical pattern, our style of worship is relatively informal and relaxed.

We seek to combine the richness and depth of Anglican liturgy with a warm, accessible atmosphere in which people can encounter God and one another.

The Liturgy of the Word

We gather together, listen to God's Word and respond in prayer.

This part of the service normally includes:

• Gathering and preparation

• The Collect for the Day

• Scripture readings

• The Psalm

• The Gospel

• The sermon

• The Prayers of the People

• The Peace

The readings allow us to hear the story of God's relationship with his people and to listen for how God's Word speaks into our lives today.

The sermon helps us reflect on the Scriptures and consider how we might live them out in our daily lives.

We then respond through prayer and by sharing the Peace with one another.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Having heard God's Word, we turn towards the Lord's Table.

The second part of the service includes:

• The offering and presentation of gifts

• The taking of the bread and wine

• The Eucharistic Prayer

• The Lord's Prayer

• The Breaking of the Bread

• The invitation to Communion

• Holy Communion

• Thanksgiving

• Our self-offering to God

• Blessing and dismissal

The Eucharistic Prayer gives thanks for God's saving work in Christ, remembers Christ's death and resurrection, and asks the Holy Spirit to unite and strengthen God's people.

We then receive Holy Communion before giving thanks and being sent out into the world.

Eucharist

Eucharist means thanksgiving.

This name reminds us that the Eucharist is fundamentally an act of gratitude — giving thanks to God for his creation, his faithfulness and, above all, his saving work through Jesus Christ.

This is why we call our main Sunday service the Eucharist.

Holy Communion

We often use the word Communion when referring specifically to receiving the consecrated bread and wine.

Communion comes from the idea of koinonia — sharing, fellowship and participation.

When we receive Communion, we are reminded that we belong not only to Christ but also to one another as members of his Body.

At St Michael's, you may therefore hear someone say:

“I'm going up for Communion.”

This simply refers to coming forward to receive the consecrated elements.

The Lord's Supper

This name recalls the meal Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, when he instituted the Eucharist.

The Breaking of Bread

This was one of the expressions used by the earliest Christians.

It reminds us that the Eucharist is a shared meal and a gathering of God's people around Christ.

The Mass

The word Mass comes from the Latin missa, associated with being sent out.

This captures something important about Christian worship: we do not simply gather together and then leave unchanged.

We are fed and strengthened in worship so that we can go into the world to love and serve the Lord.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Eucharist is also a Great Thanksgiving — our response to God's grace and goodness.

The Eucharistic meal can also be understood through four simple movements:

Taking

The bread and wine are brought forward and presented to God.

We also bring our own lives, gifts and offerings before God.

Blessing

Through the Eucharistic Prayer, we give thanks and praise to God and remember his saving work in Jesus Christ.

Breaking

The bread is broken as a sign of Christ's body given for us.

The Breaking of the Bread also reminds us that although we are many, we are one body in Christ.

Giving

The bread and wine are shared with God's people.

We receive Christ's gift with thanksgiving and are strengthened for the life of discipleship.

This movement does not end at the altar.

Having received, we are sent out to give ourselves in love and service to others.

Worship at St Michael's is not something carried out by the priest alone.

Our Sunday Eucharist depends upon the gifts and service of many members of the congregation.

Lay people contribute through ministries such as:

• Welcoming and assisting worshippers

• Reading Scripture

• Leading the Prayers of the People

• Serving at the altar

• Preparing the sanctuary and sacristy

• Arranging flowers

• Supporting music and singing

• Operating sound and audiovisual equipment

• Preparing the church

• Taking up the offering

• Assisting with hospitality and fellowship

These ministries are an expression of our baptismal calling to participate in the life and mission of Christ's Church.

Ministry is something we share.

If you would like to find out more about the different ways you can serve at St Michael's, visit our Ministries of the Laity resource.

Christian worship follows the rhythm of the Church's year.

Throughout the year, our worship changes as we journey through the story of God's work in Christ.

We celebrate seasons and festivals including:

• Advent

• Christmas

• Epiphany

• Lent

• Holy Week

• Easter

• Ascension

• Pentecost

• Trinity

• The Season of Creation

• All Saints and All Souls

• The Feast of St Michael and All Angels

These seasons provide opportunities to enter more deeply into different aspects of the Christian story and to allow the rhythms of the Church's year to shape our own lives of faith.

Additional services are offered at various times throughout the year, particularly during Holy Week, Easter and other major festivals.

Please see our calendar and parish notices for current services and special celebrations.

We welcome all baptised Christians regardless of their denomination affiliation or age along with members of the congregation to receive communion. Communion can be taken in either one kind (consecrated wafers only) or both kinds (consecrated wafers and wine) as each person feels comfortable. Anyone wishing to receive communion in both kinds may receive the consecrated wine from the common chalice or by intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine) from a separate chalice by following the guidance of the celebrant and/or indicating their preference to the chalice bearer. Consecrated grape juice is also available from a separate chalice for anyone who prefers not to take wine and for any children who receive communion.

If you are unsure about receiving communion you are welcome to come up with the congregation and receive a blessing from the priest. If you would like to just receive a blessing you can keep your arms down and bow your head when approaching the priest. It is also acceptable to make a Spiritual Communion without the physical Sacrament but still be certain that Christ comes to us in this way as surely as He does in the Sacrament. 

If anyone would like to receive communion but has trouble coming up to the altar rail, the priest can bring communion to you in the pew.  Just indicate this to one of the ushers or the lay minister before the start of the service so that they can let the priest know.