Inspiring, wonderful, heartfelt and deeply moving.
That’s how Bishop Andrew Asbil described the first two Lift Up Our Hearts services, held at St. James Cathedral and Trinity, Streetsville in March. Hundreds of Anglicans attended in person and watched online.
The services, the first of five that will be held around the diocese this year, featured stirring music, inspiring preaching and lay testimonies, the opportunity to receive prayers and anointing with oil at Communion, and refreshments afterwards.
“It was wonderful to see Anglicans come from across the diocese, compelled to be there just to worship, to be present, to praise God,” said Bishop Asbil. “I think there is a spiritual awakening among us. We understand how important our faith journey is and that we need each other as communities.”
The services are part of the diocese’s Season of Spiritual Renewal, an effort to refresh the spiritual lives of Anglicans after the pandemic years.
For more photos and stories from the services at the cathedral and Trinity, see the other stories in the May issue:
- Service feeds hearts, minds, souls
- Weather no match for God
- Homilist looks forward to sharing on TikTok
The highs and lows of chaplaincy during COVID-19