I'm New To St. Thomas
What to Expect
St. Thomas strives to be a place where all are welcome without exception.
Whether you’re visiting the city for a short while, have moved and are looking for a new church home, have been away from church for a while, or have never set foot inside a worship space before, we look forward to meeting you and having you explore with us our common meaning and purpose as people of faith in this time and place.
Getting Here
If you are driving, there is a parking lot at the church, and parking on the street along Randall and Braeside, should the lot be full.
For those in the neighbourhood who can bike, there is a bicycle rack at the side of the church.
You can also reach St. Thomas by OCTranspo. The number 44 bus stops right in front of the church. https://plan.octranspo.com/plan
Accessibility
There are five accessible parking spots located closest to the entrance to the church. The building is accessible via a ramp that leads into the chapel or a lift located at the “link” doors between the church side of the building and the office side of the building. The sanctuary and the Parish Hall can be accessed via this lift. Wider, accessible pews that can accommodate a walker or wheelchair are mid-way in the nave on either side of the centre aisle.
Come As You Are
We mean this in two senses.
First, come as you are and wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing to church. A few people come all dressed up in suits, a few people come wearing t-shirts and jeans, and most wear something in between those two ends of the spectrum.
Second, come as you are as a child of God. All are welcome at St. Thomas.
Worship Services
Worship is at the heart of what we do at St. Thomas. It gives us the spiritual foundation for all our ministry among parishioners and for the ways in which we engage with the community and the world around us.
On Sunday mornings we have two services at 8 and 10am. Holy Communion (also known as Eucharist) is celebrated at both services. We also read from the bible, say prayers together, and listen to a reflection on the scripture readings and how it may apply to our individual and corporate lives, called a homily or a sermon.
Parishioners contribute financially to the life and work of the church in the community. Visitors are not expected to contribute, but feel free to give if you are able. The offering plate is located at the back of the church and offerings are presented at the altar during the service.
The 8am is a smaller, quieter service without music. We use the service of Holy Eucharist in the “form in the language of the Book of Common Prayer 1962” in the Book of Alternative Services. It is held in the chapel located beside the nave of the main church sanctuary. From the outside of the building, it is located at the top of the ramp that runs along the side of the building.
The 10am service is also from the Book of Alternative Services, but uses the contemporary language service on page 185. This is the service with music, and with Sunday School during the school year.
On the fourth Sunday of the month a traditional Evensong is held at 4pm. This is a Book of Common Prayer service of prayers, scripture readings, and music. Guest choirs and musicians from other churches in the Ottawa area frequently join us to lead the service.
Midweek services are held on Wednesdays at 11am from September to June. These are contemplative services, sometimes with simple music, and the opportunity for anointing for healing, as well as communion.
In addition to our regular Sunday and weekday services, throughout the year we have special services on occasions such as Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. We also mark significant events such as National Indigenous Day of Prayer and National Indigenous Peoples Month in June and Black History Month in February.
Please see our calendar of Services and Events for dates and times.
Please contact the church office or one of the clergy to inquire about baptism, wedding, or funeral services.
Chapel of the Resurrection
Sanctuary around the high altar decorated for Easter services in the church.
Procession into church during Advent.
Evensong service takes place in the chancel and nave of the church.
Children in Worship
We have a Sunday School at our 10am service each week from September to June. Children are welcome to join Sunday School, or may want to stay with their parents during the service. Children who stay in the service are encouraged to join in with the congregation in worship.
We have a “Prayground” which is a small open space at the back of the sanctuary where children and parents can still engage in worship but enjoy some free play space. They are welcome to be kids, so don’t worry if they make a little noise or wander around the church.
At various times during the year, such as our Christmas Eve or Easter services, there will be interactive points in the service specifically designed for children.
The "Prayground" is located at the back of the church, beside the Tower Room.
Fellowship Time
After the services the ministers usually greet people on their way out of the church. Please say hello and introduce yourself to them.
If you are able to stay after the 10am Sunday service, please join us for some refreshments. It’s a chance to get to know one another better. From September to June, Fellowship Time is held in the Trinity Room in the education wing of the building. In July and August we have refreshments on the front lawn of the church, weather permitting.
Getting Involved at St. Thomas
As you become comfortable worshipping at St. Thomas, you will probably want to become more involved with the community. There are all kinds of opportunities for this!
For special events, please see our calendar of Services and Events. Click on the How We Connect tab to find out more about our campus partners and special projects.
To find out about the many, many ways one can serve in the church or in the community, please see our Parish Ministries page.