stjohninthewilderness.com

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.

If you are planning a first visit to St. John in the Wilderness Anglican Church in Brights Grove, Ontario, the short answer is: expect a warm, traditional Anglican Sunday with two service times to choose from. The 8:30 am service uses the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) for Holy Eucharist (Communion), while the 10:30 am service uses the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) for Holy Eucharist and includes Sunday School. The parish's own invitation is simple — "Come just as you are, we'd love to have you join us!"

The Two Sunday Services

The clearest practical decision a first-time visitor faces is which service to attend. Both are Holy Eucharist (Communion) services, so the central shape of the worship is the same. The difference is the prayer book used.

What BCP and BAS mean in practice

• BCP (Book of Common Prayer) is the older, more traditional Anglican liturgy. Its language is often more formal and its structure more fixed. The 8:30 am service is typically quieter and smaller.
• BAS (Book of Alternative Services) is the more contemporary Anglican liturgy, written in modern language. The 10:30 am service is the busier of the two and is the one that includes Sunday School.

If you have children, the 10:30 am service is the one to plan for, since Sunday School runs alongside it. If you prefer a quieter, more traditional service, the 8:30 am is the natural fit.

What Happens During the Service

Both services are celebrations of Holy Eucharist, which means Communion is part of the worship. The service is led by The Reverend Sherry De Jonge.

A typical Anglican Eucharist includes:

1. Gathering — opening prayers and hymns as the congregation assembles.
2. Readings and sermon — passages from Scripture followed by a reflection.
3. Prayers — intercessions for the church, the world, and those in need.
4. Communion — the sharing of bread and wine.
5. Dismissal — a closing blessing and sending out.

If you are not sure whether you should take Communion, you do not need to decide in advance. It is entirely acceptable to stay seated, come forward for a blessing, or simply observe. No one will single you out.

Practical Notes for a First Visit

• Arrive a few minutes early. It gives you time to find a seat and settle before the service begins.
• Dress is casual to smart-casual. The parish's own words — "come just as you are" — set the tone.
• You will not be asked to stand up or introduce yourself. Visitors are welcome to participate as much or as little as they wish.
• The 10:30 am service is the better choice if you are bringing children, because Sunday School is offered at that time.

Checking Ahead Before You Go

The parish website notes that more information about what to expect on a Sunday morning is available through a dedicated link on the site. If you have a specific question — about accessibility, parking, or the children's programme — it is worth checking that page or the parish's Facebook page before your visit.

Service times and details can change, particularly around special seasons of the church year. The site's "What's Happening" section lists upcoming events such as the Prayer Shawl Group and Bible Study, which can give you a fuller picture of parish life beyond Sunday.

The Bottom Line

For a first visit, choose the 8:30 am BCP service if you want a quieter, more traditional experience, or the 10:30 am BAS service if you want the fuller congregation and Sunday School for children. Either way, the expectation set by the parish itself is that you can come exactly as you are.

St. John in the Wilderness is an Anglican church in Brights Grove, Ontario. Its website serves as the parish's public notice board: it lists Sunday worship times, upcoming parish events, and an open invitation to visit. If you are looking for a local Anglican congregation, checking service times before you go, or trying to confirm whether a group or event belongs to this parish, the site is the place to start.

What the site is for

The homepage is organized around two things: Sunday worship and what is happening at the parish during the week.

• Sunday worship — the main weekly gathering, with two service times.
• Parish events — meetings and groups listed under "What's Happening."
• A welcome message — visitors are told to "come just as you are," with a link to more information about what to expect on a Sunday morning.
• A Facebook presence — the parish notes that it can also be found on Facebook, which is where day-to-day updates may appear between website updates.

Sunday worship times

The site lists two Sunday services, distinguished by the prayer book used:

The 8:30 am service follows the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). The 10:30 am service follows the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and includes Sunday School, making it the option for families with children. Both are communion services.

The listed preacher for the Sunday shown on the homepage is The Reverend Sherry De Jonge.

What's happening during the week

The events section shows recurring parish activities with times and locations:

• Prayer Shawl Group — 1:00 PM in the Parish Hall
• Bible Study — 10:00 AM in the Parish Hall
• 8:30 Sunday Worship — 8:30 AM at St. John in the Wilderness

Because these listings carry specific dates, they reflect the week the page was last updated. Treat them as a snapshot rather than a permanent schedule.

Before you visit

A few practical points follow from what the site says:

1. Check the current week's listing. Service times and event dates on the homepage are tied to a particular Sunday, so confirm the date shown matches the week you plan to attend.
2. Pick your service by prayer book and format. If you prefer traditional BCP liturgy, the 8:30 am service fits. If you want the BAS service and Sunday School, choose 10:30 am.
3. Use the "what to expect" link. The homepage points to a page describing a Sunday morning for newcomers — useful if you have not attended an Anglican service before.
4. Check Facebook for changes. The parish directs visitors to Facebook as an additional channel, which is often where last-minute updates appear.

The site does not publish contact details, clergy office hours, or giving information on the homepage excerpt available here, so those questions are better directed to the parish through its Facebook page or in person on a Sunday.

St. John in the Wilderness Anglican Church in Brights Grove, Ontario lists its upcoming gatherings in the "What's Happening" section of its website. Based on the schedule shown there, the current listings include a Prayer Shawl Group, a Bible Study, and the 8:30 am Sunday worship service. The site also points visitors to a "View All" link for the complete schedule, so the entries below reflect what was posted at the time of writing rather than a permanent calendar.

Current Listings in "What's Happening"

Prayer Shawl Group

Meets in the Parish Hall. This is a recurring group gathering rather than a worship service, so if you are looking for the prayer shawl ministry specifically, the Parish Hall is the place to go at the listed time.

Bible Study

Also held in the Parish Hall, on a separate morning from the Prayer Shawl Group. Both midweek gatherings use the same venue, which makes the Parish Hall the main hub for weekday activities.

8:30 Sunday Worship

The 8:30 AM service is listed as taking place at St. John in the Wilderness itself. Note that this is only the early service — the same Sunday also includes a 10:30 AM service, so the full Sunday morning schedule is broader than the single 8:30 entry shown in the events list.

Checking the Full Schedule

The "What's Happening" section includes a "View All" link. Because the listings above are dated entries rather than a standing weekly calendar, use that link (or the parish's Facebook page, which the site also references) to confirm times before you plan to attend. Dates and rooms can change, and new gatherings may be added after the ones shown here.

Related Information

If your main interest is Sunday worship rather than weekday groups, the site's Sunday listing covers both the 8:30 AM BCP Holy Eucharist and the 10:30 AM BAS Holy Eucharist with Sunday School. The homepage also notes that visitors are welcome to "come just as you are," and offers a separate page describing what to expect on a Sunday morning.