What to expect when you worship here

Something for everyone
We have two services, both different, reflecting the diversity of those who come to worship with us.  The 8:30 a.m. service is Contemplative, with no music.  The 10:30 a.m. service is Traditional, and includes a small but faithful adult choir and sung portions of the liturgy. See Worship Services for our schedule.

We read a lot of scripture at services in the Episcopal Church, anywhere from two to four lessons (Old Testament, New Testament, Gospels, and Psalms).

We participate in the worship
The Episcopal Church is a liturgical church.  Liturgy means “work of the people.”  The worshipers are active participants in the service.  All worship is based the Book of Common Prayer. "Common prayer” is that prayer and worship which we share together, in common, or in community.  Common prayer provides an opportunity for a gathered community to worship in unison, despite its diversity.  It acts out our oneness in Christ. We pray together, sing together, respond back and forth between the leader of worship and the congregation.  We are a gathered community of prayer by our actions in worship.  Common worship provides opportunities where we do not have to invent the words to pray, but instead allow the words we all pray together to move in and through our souls.

Every Sunday service is the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist or the Holy Communion since we believe this is the principle act of Christian worship

Outline of the Worship Service
The Outline of the service is as follows:

Opening procession, in which the robed clergy, choir and other leaders of worship enter the sanctuary.

Opening prayers and songs to set the tone of the day

Scripture readings

The sermon, which based on the scripture reading

The Creed—our response to the opening of scripture is to reaffirm our belief and faith

Prayers of the People—A response to our belief is to share our concern for others and so we pray for the world, the church and those in need.

Communion—We bless the bread and wine and distribute them as reminders of the presence of God in our lives. Communion is the Episcopal Church’s altar call. Every Sunday we are called to the altar to take Jesus into our hearts.

Dismissal—we are sent forth, empowered by God, to live our Christian lives.

Additional Notes:

Lord’s Prayer—Like all other Christians we pray the Lord’s Prayer, also called the “Our Father.” It is so important to Anglicans that every worship service we do in public includes the Lord’s Prayer.

Music is very important to our worship, and we have a great variety:
- Most common is traditional European church music played on an organ or piano.
- In some cases we use Gospel music from the African-American tradition. Our music comes from sources as old as the 4th century or as new as the 21st.

Our worship is Christ-centered, and biblically based. The vast majority of our prayers are given in the name of Jesus and the Trinity, and many of our prayers and pieces of liturgy are direct quotes from scripture turned into prayer

Eucharistic Visitation Ministry
When requested, a lay Eucharistic Minister takes the Eucharist to members of the parish who are ill at home or in care facilities, or who are unable to attend one of our Sunday services. These lay ministers are available to visit all our members who wish to receive such visits. If you or a member of your family would like to receive the Eucharist via this ministry, please contact the Parish Office.

Opportunities for Service
The Altar Guild and Flower Guild take care of many of the "behind the scenes" aspects of preparing our worship services. Click here to read more about them.