Registration for the Spring 2025 Lay Leadership in Worship course will open on December 1, 2024 and will remain open until January 17, 2025. The course will provide the skills and resources for laity to lead worship services, morning and evening prayer, and the liturgy of the word (a church service without the eucharist). To complete the online application form, CLICK HERE.

Course description

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 every one of us, lay or ordained, is called to participate in worship by virtue of our baptism. 

If your parish is often or occasionally without clergy and you are a lay leader who would be able and willing to lead in services, you are invited to apply online to be considered by the bishop for a nomination to attend the upcoming eight-week Lay Leadership in Worship course. Upon successful completion of the course, a conversation will be held about how and when you might help lead services of the word in your parish. 

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
• Reflect on learnings from the practical implementation of course content

Dates and location 

• Via Zoom, on Thursdays from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
• March 6, 13, 20 and 27; April 3, 10 and 24; and June 5
• Three mentored services during a month of mentored practical experience in your parish/region, followed by a final Zoom class on Thursday, June 5 

Cost 

Free; however participants must purchase (or borrow) their own copy of the required reading well in advance of the course. 

Required reading 

The Liturgical Year: the spiraling adventure of the spiritual life by Joan Chittister (2009), from the Ancient Practices Series. 

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) 
2. completed Safe Church training within the last five years
3. read the diocesan policies and signed the policy acknowledgement form
4. approval of your parish incumbent (or, in the absence of an incumbent, your warden or regional archdeacon) to lead the liturgy of the word in your parish 

How to apply 

To complete the online form, CLICK HERE. Applications will be accepted from December 1, 2024 to January 17, 2025.