Images from Worship 2025

From March 26 to April 1, CCS students from various parts of Canada gathered in Winnipeg to explore worship and liturgical ministry. Along with CCS staff members Scott Douglas, Alcris Limongi, and Janet Ross, students examined their own personal preferences within the diversity of worship expressions, and teased out the meaning behind the various components of a church service.

After digging into the meaning of sacraments, Michelle Owens (via Zoom from London, ON) and Rob Apgar-Taylor, our chaplain for the circle, offered practical tips for baptism. (“Thou shalt useth hot water; by the time you get to baptism in the service it will be warm. If it’s cold, the baby will scream.”) Later in the circle, CCS Principal Marcie Gibson and Development Coordinator Gwen McAllister led students in an exploration of communion, noting especially the ecumenical challenges of navigating UCC and Anglican communion practices.

During the circle, each student had the opportunity to preach a sermon and receive feedback from their peers. A student-planned and -led session lifted up the gifts of art, music, and prayer to mark special times in the Church Year.

This circle provided many opportunities for students to connect with the larger community. On the first day, local diaconal ministers brought potluck and encorporated students into their monthly DUCC lunch. On the second day, a joint session between the Worship learning circle, the Integrating Year circle, and the face-to-face meeting of the CCS Central Council gave students the chance to learn more about diakonia from the IY students and to be in conversation with this year’s Companion of the Centre, Ann Naylor about, among other things, whether there is a specifically diaconal approach to worship. Worship students attended the Annual Service of Celebration and CCS Banquet on the Saturday of the circle, and on the Sunday they attended worship with different denominations to enrich a discussion of ecumenical and intercultural worship.

Our chaplain for the circle was Rob Apgar-Taylor, who brought a pastoral presence, a supportive spirit, and deep knowledge of liturgical practice. (He did not bring his full closet of vestments, stoles, robes, etc., but he told us about them!)

We ended the circle with a collaboratively created service encouraging us to take the leap into daring worship leadership.