Altar Guild

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9

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The members of St. Paul’s Altar Guild work to ensure that all things necessary for the proper conduct of worship are in place.

Worship at St. Paul’s centres upon the celebration of the Sacraments and so the work focuses primarily on preparing for Baptisms and renewal of baptismal vows, the provision of bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist, and the care of the vessels and linens used on the altar.

The altar vessels assembled ready for the Eucharist. The paten with pall and corporal stands on the chalice with its purificator.

We mostly use unleavened bread in the form of wafers, but from time to time, we use ordinary bread baked specially for us. We use sacramental wine mixed with a little water.

The Altar Guild is also responsible for candles and flowers. We use candles at the altar, in the votive candle stand, and in other places in the church. We burn them to represent the light of Christ illuminating the darkness.

We place flowers in the church to add natural beauty and harmony to our worship. By providing flowers, individual worshippers can recognize and commemorate persons and events that have been significant in their lives.

Arranging flowers given to the Glory of God and in memory of a departed mother.

We see the contribution made by the Altar Guild every Sunday throughout the year, but above all at the high liturgical seasons. At Christmas, and on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Eve, and Easter Sunday, members of the Guild put special effort into making the setting of our worship beautiful and fitting.

Membership of the Altar Guild is open to every parishioner. New members are welcome. If you are interested in participating in this ministry, please contact the Rector or the Guild leaders.

Many of the altar vessels, linens and candle holders have been donated to the parish as gifts and memorials, as, from week to week, have flowers. Donations for these purposes are tax-deductible.

If you wish to provide flowers for a special commemoration please contact the parish office by telephone at 604-685-6832 or by email at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Office.