Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be an Anglican to come to St. Bede’s?
Everyone is welcome at St. Bede’s – whether you are in your first steps toward seeking God, or if you are confirmed in your faith, are a long-time member of another denomination, a tentative believer with no denominational affiliation, a person of another faith or of no faith at all. This is a house of prayer for all people.
How can I get involved?
Almost everything we do here depends on the active participation of people like you to volunteer and there are lots of ways to get involved. For example:
- Serve in the Sanctuary as an Eucharistic Assistant
- Help with food and hospitality at Sunday morning tea and other social events
- Welcome people to church
- Volunteer to plant, weed, and water the gardens
- Pray more frequently and intentionally
Who may receive communion?
Everyone is welcome at the Lord’s Table. Following ancient custom, communion is normally received by those who have been baptized into the Body of Christ (in any denomination). Others who come forward to the Altar Rail may receive a blessing in Christ’s name.
Do I have to ‘join’ St. Bede’s?
Everyone who regularly worships with us becomes, in a real sense, a member of this community: someone whose prayers, gifts, and hopes are joined to the life of this parish church in a meaningful way. Those who come to us from other denominations or religious traditions and would like to consider becoming part of St. Bede’s should speak to the parish priest about preparation for Confirmation or Reception into the church. This preparation usually consists of participation in a group that meets for several weeks.
Can I make my confession here? Should I?
The practice of telling one’s sins to a priest is meant to help in two ways: first, by helping to accept responsibility for the things we’ve done wrong or failed to do at all; and second, by reassuring the penitent person of God’s over-flowing mercy and the limitlessness of God’s forgiveness. Confession, or reconciliation as it is often called, is meant to be a path to freedom and hope, not punishment and shame.