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Many of the parishes in the diocese are “in transition” and do not necessarily have a priest to celebrate the Eucharist each Sunday. Additionally, parishes are rediscovering the daily office and considering ways to have lay-led weekday services. Lay-led services are an opportunity for renewal: to encourage lay people to live into the vows they made in their baptismal covenant, which reminds us that each and every one of us, lay or ordained, is called to participate in worship by virtue of our baptism.  

Registration for the Spring 2024 Course session will be open until January 13, 2024.

Course description: The eight sessions will equip lay leaders to:  

  • Understand the purpose of liturgy.
  • Follow the liturgical year and the lectionary and examine their purpose in worship/liturgical formation.
  • Understand our Anglican, geographical, social, and historical context.
  • Become familiar with the broad principles and structure of the Offices in the BCP and the BAS, as well as the Liturgy of the Word.
  • Learn to plan worship collaboratively in your parish.
  • Access the available liturgical, lectionary, prayer and sermon resources needed to plan and lead a worship service.
  • Refect on learnings from the practical implementation of course content.      

Dates and location:  

  1. Via Zoom, on Thursdays from 7pm - 9pm on March 7, 14, 21 April 4, 11, 18, 25
  2. Three mentored services during a month of mentored practical experience in your parish/region, followed by a final Zoom class on Thursday, May 30, 2024.  

Cost: Free; however participants must purchase their own copy of the required reading well in advance of the course.  

Required readingThe Liturgical Year: the spiraling adventure of the spiritual life by Joan Chittister (2009), from the Ancient Practices Series. It is strongly recommended that you purchase this book well ahead of time. Find this book at Christian Book & Music, Amazon, Thrift Books or a local book store.    

Qualifications: All those wishing to lead the Liturgy of the Word must provide proof of the following BEFORE applying for the course:  

1.       a valid Police Information Check with Vulnerable Persons Sector check. Applicants must have a valid (less than 5 years old) Police Information Check with Vulnerable Persons Sector Check (PIC) completed BEFORE being accepted to the course. This must be on file with the Synod Office. Licensed Lay Ministers are required to renew their PIC every five years in order to maintain their license. For more information contact Anna van der Hooft at safechurch@bc.anglican.ca 

2.       completed Safe Church training within the last five years. Applicants must have valid (less than 5 years old) Safe Church Training completed BEFORE being accepted to the course. This important piece must be on file with the Synod Office. Licensed Lay Ministers are required to renew their Safe Church every five years in order to maintain their license. For more information contact Anna van der Hooft at safechurch@bc.anglican.ca 

3.       read the diocesan policies and signed the policy acknowledgement form. Applicants must also read the Diocesan Policies and sign the Policy Acknowledgement Form BEFORE being accepted to the course. This signed document must be on file with the Synod office. Click here to read the policies and find the form. Email your signed form to Anna van der Hooft at safechurch@bc.anglican.ca 

4.      approval of your parish incumbent (or in the absense of an incumbent - your warden or regional archdeacon) to lead the Liturgy of the Word in your parish

For more information on how to apply, please CLICK HERE.