FAQ

I am new, where do I begin?

Right here! If you like to read, then here is a simple flyer that gives a quick overview. It is designed to be printed and folded in three, but you will soon work it out …

You could also start a conversation with one of the Vestry or Clergy team members.

Where do all the service words come from?

90% of the words we use in worship come straight out of A New Zealand Prayer Book. All of those words are derived from the Bible and 2000 years of Christian worship. The service we participate in together has a liturgy that describes the kind of people we are called to be as followers of Christ. If you look at the headings you will see what we are supposed to do and be: praise God, welcome others, confess our mistakes, forgive others and be forgiven, make peace, share food and so on.

How do you decide which parts of the Bible to read?

The Church year is divided up into seasons that help us re-tell God’s extraordinary story. The church year begins in December with Advent (getting ready for Christ’s birth) and concludes with a celebration of Christ the King (at the end of November). In between times you will discover Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and so much more. You will hear most of one Gospel read, a huge chunk of Acts, plenty of Psalms, as well as portions of the Old (First) Testament and New (Second) Testament. This reading plan is called the Revised Common Lectionary. That means that we try to keep it up to date, we share it with our Christian sisters and brothers around the world, and it is comprised of ‘lections’ (readings).

How am I supposed to pray? Actually, what is prayer?

St Augustine once said “True, whole prayer is nothing but love.” Contemporary writers (like Richard Foster) might say that prayer is about “finding the heart’s true home.” Ultimately, prayer is a relationship that binds us to God in love. Sometimes it is full of words; sometimes it is soaked in silence. There are no real rules, just encouragement to keep doing it until it becomes second nature.

Here are a couple of absolutely superb books about prayer that you may find useful. (The Foster book is longer and the Cottrell book is shorter.)

Each week you put food at the altar?

We do. We would love you to bring something too! This food is collected and distributed to those in need across our community. Dried and tinned goods are best, along with nappies, toilet paper, breakfast cereals and the like. As you come into the church there is a basket on the ground by the IT desk. Please just drop your donation in there and know you are making a difference.

What do Anglicans believe?

We believe in the God that we share with – but understand differently to – Judaism and Islam. We believe that God the Father, God the Son (Jesus the Christ), and God the Holy Spirit are co-equal and One. This is what we call the Trinity. Our Prayer Book has a whole section dedicated to what we believe – you might like to check it out. It is called the Catechism.

I’ve got more questions!

Good. Please contact the Vicar (vicar@standrewcambridge.org.nz) and let him know so that he can add something here …