St. John's United Church Community of Faith actively living out our core ministry of radical and intentional hospitality
The Community of Faith that is St. John's has developed some policies to help guide us through discussions with others about our services. These services are used by our own congregation but are also requested by the community outside the congregation's membership.
Baptism
As a Community of Faith, we believe that the grace of God is for all people.
Baptism is a Christian sacrament celebrating that grace. It is witnessed by God and the congregation of God's people. This Sacrament acknowledges that the individual being baptized is a child of God. The individual becomes a member of the Holy Catholic (Universal) Church and is welcomed as a full member of the United Church of Canada. Baptism is an act of faith and a covenant between the individual, families and the church community. Baptism is a sign of a new beginning and of new life on the journey of faith.
- Requests for Baptism will be given advanced approval from the Official Board.
- Baptism shall take place during regular worship. except in extraordinary circumstances.
- In the case of child baptism, one member must be a member of the United Church of Canada. Where a parent is not a member of the United Church of Canada, a mentor may be provided by the congregation.
- Parent(s) or individuals seeking baptism:
- shall profess a belief in Jesus Christ
- shall take part in Baptismal Preparation
- are encouraged to actively attend and participate in our al faith community.
The St. John's Community will endeavour to involve parent(s) and individuals in the life of St. John's by:
- being welcoming
- providing Christian Development
- providing sponsors where necessary
God parents are optional but are expected, where possible, to take part in baptismal preparation.
Baptism for those from other congregations will be celebrated at the request of their home congregation.
Weddings
We are an Affirming Congregation, which means in part that these beliefs and practices apply to all marriages regardless of sexual orientation.
As a Community of Faith, we believe:
- A marriage is a relationship of equality, mutual respect and support committed to growth as individuals and as a couple.
- A marriage is unique and primary among other relationships in terms of intimacy and fidelity
- A Marriage is entered into with the expectation that it be a life-long relationship.
- A wedding is a celebration of a public covenant between God, community and the couple.
- That when a wedding takes place within our faith community, we commit ourselves to pray for and support the couple in their relationship.
Our Guidelines for Wedding Ceremonies
- That the Official Board review and approve or decline all requests for weddings.
- That one or both of the individuals making the covenant be regular participants in our faith community for at least three months prior to their ceremony or that we are requested by another faith community to act on their behalf. Sponsors may be provided.
- That couples take part in appropriate pre-covenanting preparation as determined by the minister, the couple and the Pastoral Care Committee.
- That, while the ceremony itself may vary, the values and beliefs of our community will be respected.
The Ceremony will be explicitly Christian:
- Vows, music and readings will reflect the values described under What we Believe .
- The Ceremony recognizes the equality of both partners (For example: "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?" is replaced with "Who gives their blessing to this union."
- No photos will be taken during the actual ceremony in order to respect the sacredness of the ceremony.
Currently the minimum requested donation to the ongoing ministry of St. John's United Church is the lesser of $300 or 10% of the total cost of the wedding.
Memorial Celebrations
We offer our Condolences and our Assistance
If you are reading this you may already be engaged in the process of grieving. We, as a faith community, are honoured to support you at this time. We hope that the information you find here will help you plan a meaningful ceremony to celebrate the life and grieve the loss of your loved one.
Services We May be Able to Offer Include:
- Initial grief and trauma support
- Memorial/Funeral Worship Service Planning
- Arranging for musicians and soloists
- Preparation and copying of a Service Program
- Wheelchair accessible facilities
- Overflow seating with audio in the lower level
- Worship Leadership for the Service
- Hospitality for a light lunch following the Service (currently suspended)
- Pastoral Support during subsequent months
Though we are pleased to assist as much as possible, the following items are not normally arranged by St. John's Church:
- Obituary Announcements
- Preparing Photo Displays;
- Placement of Floral Arrangements;
- Ushering;
- Gravesite arrangements with the Town;
- Video display on the lower level;
- Distribution of donations and honoraria;
- Collection of Memorial Cards and Donations;
- Guest Book
When a Funeral Home is involved, you may ask the Funeral Director to arrange for these items. Otherwise, they are the responsibility of family and friends.
Costs:
Funeral and Memorial Ceremonies are free and part of the ministry of our faith community. We thankfully receive any offering you are able to make. The following may help to determine an appropriate amount for you.
Services of the Church
The annual budget of St. John’s is more than $90,000 per year, or about $270 per day. Memorial/Funeral Services take about two days to plan, prepare and provide. So our costs are about $540. Please also consider whether you already support the ongoing ministry of the church and your own financial circumstances.
Lunch
The cost of providing the lunch is about $75 (most items are donated by members). So a separate donation exceeding $75 is appreciated. A typical amount is $200. Again, please consider your particular circumstances.
Musicians
Honoraria should be given directly to the musician. When a member of our congregation is available to play the piano a typical honorarium is $75
When a musician is required from outside our congregation they generally have a set fee and you will need to talk to them about that.
Memorial Fund:
St. John’s also has a “Memorial Fund”. Should you wish to direct Memorial Donations to the church contact the church office (807-229-1031 )or stjohnsuc229@gmail.ca ) for more information.
The members of St. John’s Church Community extend our sincere sympathies. Please speak with our minister or leave a message at the church (807-229-1031) if you have further questions or if there are other ways we may support you in your time of mourning.
Questions to Consider when Planning the Memorial/Funeral Service
- Are there particular readings you would like to hear during the ceremony?
- Are there particular songs you would like to sing or to hear sung?
- Are there special symbols, rituals or symbolic actions that you would like included in the service?
- Who will be the contact person with our Minister?
- Who might offer some “Words of Remembrance” (Eulogy)?
- Would a family member or friend like to read during the ceremony?
- Would you like a light lunch provided at St. John’s following the service?
- Will you supply a photo for the bulletin cover?
- Will there be an interment at the cemetery following the service?
- Songs and reading selections should respect the values of the faith community.