What to expect if you come on a Sunday
Sundays at St. Andrew's might feel a little different.
There are many different Christian churches, and each has a different feel in the worship service. Our worship is based on ancient and modern patterns of prayer, and might feel unfamiliar at first. This page should help set you at ease when you visit us.
Sunday is traditionally when Christians gather for worship. Our principal weekly worship service is the Holy Eucharist, also known as: the Lord’s Supper, the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, or Mass. Eucharist is simply the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'. [Learn more about Holy Eucharist]
We have 2 services on Sundays.
There are many different Christian churches, and each has a different feel in the worship service. Our worship is based on ancient and modern patterns of prayer, and might feel unfamiliar at first. This page should help set you at ease when you visit us.
Sunday is traditionally when Christians gather for worship. Our principal weekly worship service is the Holy Eucharist, also known as: the Lord’s Supper, the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, or Mass. Eucharist is simply the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'. [Learn more about Holy Eucharist]
We have 2 services on Sundays.
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The 8:30 Liturgy
It's early in the morning, and that just suits some people, especially if you're an early riser, if you prefer a small, quiet service, or if perhaps you're hitting the road later in the day. The 8:30 service is held in St. Mary's Chapel, which is a beautiful, intimate chapel on the North side of the church (that's the side along 9th Avenue). You can come in through the door on the north side of the church, or the double red doors facing Commercial Street. Come into the chapel, and you'll join anywhere from eight to fifteen other people. You can sit wherever you like. You can follow the service of Holy Eucharist, Rite II, in the small red Book of Common Prayer, in the pew rack. (Large Print editions are available on the small table at the rear of the chapel.) The priest will announce the pages as we move through the service, to help you read along. You will find a sheet containing the Scripture readings for the morning on the small table at the back of the chapel. The Lector for the day will have prepared to read these lessons aloud for us to hear and think over together. The priest will read the Gospel aloud and then preach, further explaining one of the lessons we have just heard. You are always welcome to join in, praying aloud at times with the congregation, or you can sit quietly and let the service of prayer and Scripture surround you with peace. The service lasts about 45-50 minutes. This service is a very much like the service at 10:45, except without the music of the later service. You are most welcome to worship with us. Visitors have described this time together as peaceful, quietly joyful and with an atmosphere which imparts a feeling of being closer to God. Learn more about the structure of the Holy Eucharist. |
The 10:45 Liturgy
This is our main worship service of the week. We have music--organ or piano, voices and sometimes other instruments. The congregation takes part in the service: singing, listening to the lessons and the sermon, praying and responding to prayers. This liturgy, Holy Eucharist, is done in two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Table, brought together into one service of prayer and praise, Scripture lessons, music and devout Communion of the Body and the Bread. During the Liturgy of the Word, we sing, listen to Scripture lessons from the Bible, and pray. A preacher, usually the priest, 'opens' or explains more fully, a Scripture lesson we have just heard. The Liturgy of the Table is known as Holy Communion. We pray our thanksgiving for Jesus Christ's work of salvation, which leads to eternal life for humanity. We receive the bread and wine which are Christ's body and blood. We pray as we send a Eucharistic Visitor out with Communion to people who are not able to come to church. The ministers process to the back of the church, singing God's praises. We are dismissed to go into the world, rejoicing and doing God's work, as we have prepared to do. When you arrive, you can come in through the double red doors off Commercial Street. There is a no-steps entrance under the square tower to the right of the main church, ideal for those in wheelchairs, and others who wish to avoid climbing steps. You may sit wherever you like. You are welcome to participate as you feel comfortable. Once you are seated, the service bulletin will direct you to the books you will use for parts of the service. There is a small red Book of Common Prayer and a large blue Hymnal. You have everything you need to participate in the service if you like. Or you may decide to sit, watch, listen and let the liturgy surround you with peace. You are welcome in this space. You are in God's House. |
Worship Styles
Episcopalians worship in many different styles. You may find very structured, ancient, and multi-sensory rites with lots of singing, music, even incense on occasion, Other times, the liturgy is quite informal. Yet all worship in the Episcopal Church is based in the Book of Common Prayer, which gives our time together in worship a familiar feel, once you've tried it out a few times.
Liturgy and Ritual
Our worship style is said to be liturgical, meaning that the structure of our worship and the prayers that we pray doesn’t change greatly from week to week. This sameness from week to week gives worship a rhythm that can become comforting and familiar to the worshipers. Our liturgy often follows patterns that have been used in Christian worship for centuries, and in countless places. This gives rise to the understanding that we are one with Christians around the world and throughout the ages.
The first time you join us, you may find church with us to be a blessing, but at times a bit confusing. We sit, we stand, we kneel, we sing, we listen and we pray together. We go forward to the altar to receive Communion or a blessing. It can take a little while to "settle in" to these rhythms and patterns of worship, so give yourself permission simply to be present. God is with you.
If you have any questions at all, please contact us and ask!
Episcopalians worship in many different styles. You may find very structured, ancient, and multi-sensory rites with lots of singing, music, even incense on occasion, Other times, the liturgy is quite informal. Yet all worship in the Episcopal Church is based in the Book of Common Prayer, which gives our time together in worship a familiar feel, once you've tried it out a few times.
Liturgy and Ritual
Our worship style is said to be liturgical, meaning that the structure of our worship and the prayers that we pray doesn’t change greatly from week to week. This sameness from week to week gives worship a rhythm that can become comforting and familiar to the worshipers. Our liturgy often follows patterns that have been used in Christian worship for centuries, and in countless places. This gives rise to the understanding that we are one with Christians around the world and throughout the ages.
The first time you join us, you may find church with us to be a blessing, but at times a bit confusing. We sit, we stand, we kneel, we sing, we listen and we pray together. We go forward to the altar to receive Communion or a blessing. It can take a little while to "settle in" to these rhythms and patterns of worship, so give yourself permission simply to be present. God is with you.
If you have any questions at all, please contact us and ask!
