Sundays 10:15am
Episcopal Worship
Quiet, please...Conversation in church before the service should respect others' need for a few moments of
recollection before worship begins.
The Episcopal Church Welcomes Everyone
Everyone present in worship is fully a part of our expression of faith and thanksgiving.
The bulletin guides participation.
To worship, we use the Bible,
Book of Common Prayer, and a Hymnal.
​Newcomers, do not hesitate to seek guidance during the the worship service from a nearby member of the congregation.
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Our Holy Communion service consists two parts.
I. The Liturgy of the Word (prayers , responses, and Scripture).
II. The Lord's Supper (known to Episcopalians as the Eucharist (Greek for Thanksgiving).
Worship Responses
​+Traditionally, Episcopalians stand to sing, sit to listen, kneel or stand to pray. if you are unsure of how to respond in worship, follow the priest's example.
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+We respectfully bow their heads as the processional cross passes by and at the mention of Jesus' name, (Romans 14.11).
+Some members cross themselves, raise their hands in prayer as expressions of personal piety -- If you want to use gestures, take your cue from the priest.
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The Word of God
We believe the Bible contains all
things necessary for salvation. Our service is rooted in the scriptures and finds expression in weekly readings from the Hebrew Bible (including the Psalms) and the New Testament.
We call our service Liturgy, an ancient Greek term meaning service -- worship is not only our delight but also our service to God. Liturgy refers to the practices and texts that order the church's worship
Liturgy is an outward and visible sign of God's inward and spiritual grace. The service is a celebration of God's presence in our lives.
By the Spirit through liturgy, the church shows forth the love of God and the unity we share in Christ.
This loving unity is shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and all who seek God in Christ.
The Bible
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (From the Book of Common Prayer, p. 236)
Holy Scripture is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end. The Episcopal Church takes reading the Bible very seriously. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible, and Episcopalians read more Holy Scripture in Sunday worship than almost any other denomination in Christianity.
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The Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.
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Based originally on the Thomas' Cranmer's First Book of Common Prayer in 1549, Anglican Christians around the globe still use some variation of the corporate prayers written for the newly formed Church of England. In The Episcopal Church, our most recent revision is the 1979 Book of Common Prayer which you can download in either English or Espanol.
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Holy Communion
The Lord's Supper
At the Last Supper Jesus shared the bread and cup of wine at a sacred meal with his disciples.
He identified the bread with his body and the wine with his blood of the new covenant--identifying hislife and ministry as nourishment to our souls and bodies. Jesus invited his disciples to take communion in remembrance of him as having totally identified with us as a human being even unto death. (see 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mk 14:22-25; Mt 26:26-29; Lk 22:14-20).
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In Holy Communion we take, bless, break bread, and share. Ours is a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in which the real presence of Christ's body and blood is received by faith with thanksgiving.
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