GOING DEEPER

Wednesdays from 10am until 11am

Come to reflect on the readings for the coming Sunday in a small group and learn more together. Each week is a standalone conversation, so you can come anytime.

MORNING PRAYER

Wednesdays from 11am until 12pm

In many times and places, daybreak has been a time of prayer. Jews prayed in their synagogues at sunrise as well as at other times each day. This Jewish pattern of prayer formed the basis of the Christian monastic Daily Office, with its prayers or “hours” at seven times in each day. Thomas Cranmer’s revision of the Daily Office for the first English Prayer Book (1549) reduced the number of services to two-one for morning (Matins) and one for evening (Evensong or vespers). In the Second English Prayer Book (1552), the morning service was given its present name, Morning Prayer.

Many elements of Morning Prayer come from the monastic hours of matins (e.g., Venite and Te Deum), lauds (e.g., Benedicte, omnia opera Domini, a “chapter” of scripture, Benedictus Dominus Deus, collect of the day), and Prime (e.g., a second “chapter” of scripture and the Apostles’ Creed). Psalms were recited at every one of the offices, with the whole Psalter recited once a week. In the 1549 BCP, psalms were read at both Morning and Evening Prayer, with the whole Psalter read “in course” once each month.

Morning Prayer once was the chief Sunday service in most Anglican churches on three out of four Sundays, the First Sunday usually being a celebration of Holy Communion. This practice has not continued because the eucharist has been recognized as the “principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day” in most parishes, However, Morning Prayer is a much loved service of worship and is still designated as a daily service for the worship of the church.

LENTEN STUDY

Each winter, we follow a guided course of study and prayer on some aspect of our relationship to God and Jesus Christ. All are welcome to participate.

BAPTISM

Typically, for baptism of infants, there are three baptismal preparation classes to attend for parents and sponsors (Godparents).
Sponsors for baptism need to be baptized themselves and families need to be participating in the life of St Hilary’s.
For adults, baptismal preparation is taken seriously and is tailor-made for each person’s needs. If you are interested in Baptism, please speak to the clergy on Sunday. Click here to learn more.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH

From September to June during the 10:30 service of worship there is often a program provided for younger children and a youth group. Click here to learn more.

CONFIRMATION

If you are interested in confirming the vows that were taken on your behalf when you were baptised as an infant, we offer classes to prepare you to confirm your faith in the new year. Typically a service of Confirmation is held at the Cathedral Church of St James in Toronto in the spring after Easter with the Bishop. Let us know if you are interested to participate.