What Sunday Worship Services Are Offered at St. John in the Wilderness?

St. John in the Wilderness Anglican Church in Brights Grove, Ontario holds two Sunday communion services: an 8:30 am service using the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and a 10:30 am service using the Book of Alternative Services (BAS), which includes Sunday School. Both are Holy Eucharist (Communion) services, and both are led by The Reverend Sherry De Jonge. Visitors are explicitly welcomed to "come just as you are."

The Two Sunday Services at a Glance

The parish's published schedule lists both services for Sunday, September 27th, described as the 18th Sunday after Pentecost.

8:30 am — BCP Holy Eucharist

This is the earlier of the two services and uses the Book of Common Prayer. In Anglican practice, a BCP communion service typically follows the traditional language and structure of the prayer book. If you prefer a more traditional liturgy or an earlier start to your Sunday, this is the service to attend.

10:30 am — BAS Holy Eucharist with Sunday School

The later service uses the Book of Alternative Services and includes Sunday School, making it the option for families with children. The BAS is the more contemporary of the two liturgical texts, so expect a somewhat different style of language and presentation than the 8:30 am service.

Who Leads the Services?

Both services are led by The Reverend Sherry De Jonge, named on the parish's welcome page as the officiant for the Sunday schedule shown.

What to Expect as a Visitor

The parish's own invitation is straightforward: "Come just as you are, we'd love to have you join us!" The site also points visitors to a page explaining what to expect on a Sunday morning, and notes the parish can be found on Facebook.

If you are deciding between the two services:

• Choose 8:30 am if you want the traditional BCP liturgy and an earlier, likely quieter service.
• Choose 10:30 am if you want the BAS liturgy, are bringing children to Sunday School, or prefer a later start.

Other Regular Gatherings During the Week

Beyond Sunday worship, the parish calendar lists:

• Prayer Shawl Group — Wednesdays at 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall
• Bible Study — Thursdays at 10:00 am in the Parish Hall

These are separate from the Sunday communion services but may be useful if you want to get involved beyond Sunday morning.

Checking Before You Go

Service times and formats can change with the liturgical season or special occasions. The parish maintains a "What's Happening" section and a Facebook presence for current information, so it is worth confirming the schedule before a first visit—especially around holidays such as Christmas and Easter, when Anglican parishes often adjust their service times.