Public Worship Suspended
(November 13, 2020) At the direction of The Anglican Diocese of Calgary, due to current concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person services and events have been suspended, effective immediately. This decision will be reviewed in mid-December. Please check this website for updates, and follow the links below to view St. Augustine's many livestream worship and prayer events.
To learn more about this decision, go to the website of The Anglican Diocese of Calgary: https://www.calgary.anglican.ca/news/suspension-of-services
Livestream Prayer and Worship
Facebook users can watch on Facebook Live on our St. Augustine's page #here or for those of you who are not on Facebook, you can click the link below which will take you directly to the livestream. Livestream links for home worship will be posted here approximately 15 minutes prior to the service.
November 29 Worship Service (will go live at 9:45 am)
Click here for this Sunday's Livestream
Click here for this Sunday's Bulletin
November 29 Advent Carol Service (will go live at 3:45 pm)
Click here for the Livestream
Click here for the Bulletin
The Daily Office
Links for these services will become active right at scheduled time
Morning Prayer, 9:00 AM, November 25 http://www.facebook.com/staugustinesanglican/videos/858688944891843
Evening Prayer, 6:00PM, November 26 http://www.facebook.com/staugustinesanglican/videos/1270392310003171
Compline, 8:45 PM, Nov. 25 http://www.facebook.com/staugustinesanglican/videos/3016934731885989
Schedule for the Daily Office
A note about ‘Spiritual Eucharist’ services
What is spiritual communion?
Spiritual communion is an ancient practice of the church which takes place during exceptional circumstances when individuals or communities desire to receive the Holy Eucharist but are unable to do so through no fault of their own. This would include the persecuted, prisoners, the gravely sick, and all who are denied access to the sacrament.
The book of common prayer on p, 584 states: "But if a man, either by reason of extremity of sickness, or for want of warning in due time to the Curate, or by any other just impediment, do not receive the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood: he shall be instructed that if he do truly repent him of his sins, and stedfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed his Blood for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he hath thereby, and giving him hearty thanks therefor; he doth eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ profitably to his soul’s health, although he do not receive the Sacrament with his mouth."
Is it allowed in these circumstances?
Recently, clergy from the Anglican Diocese of Calgary received a letter from our Archbishop, Greg Kerr-Wilson, in which he discusses the use of Spiritual Communion in online services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other important things, he says “I am, therefore, writing to say that those priests who wish to offer this form of ministry certainly have permission to do so.”
What do I need to do?
Simply be present for our services (either the livestream or the video recorded version, later), prayerfully participate, and when we come to that part of the service where you would normally come to the altar and physically receive communion, instead, simply join the celebrant in the short prayer which is printed in your service bulletin. It is that simple.