Worship Life
Worship in the Episcopal Church is “liturgical,” which means that our services follow an order of worship that doesn’t change much from week to week. The liturgies we use—the words and actions of worship—come from The Book of Common Prayer.
EPISCOPAL WORSHIP
Episcopalians worship in many different styles—ranging from very formal, ancient, and multi-sensory rites with lots of singing, music, fancy clothes (called vestments), and incense, to informal services with contemporary music. Yet, all worship in the Episcopal Church comes from The Book of Common Prayer, which gives worship a familiar feel, no matter where you go. On a typical Sunday morning at St. Mary’s, our worship is not too formal and not too informal. On special occasions, however, we might include more formal elements in worship, such as incense and chanting.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
The central act of worship in the Episcopal Church is The Holy Eucharist (also known as the Mass, Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper). Eucharist is a Greek word, which means, "thanksgiving." We come together each week to experience the love of God in Christ through Word and Sacrament. We believe that Christ is truly present in the bread and wine we receive during Communion and that through our participation in the Eucharist, we are renewed in our commitment to Christ and empowered to be his hands and feet in the world. At St. Mary's, all who love God and want to love God more are invited to fully participate in the Eucharist, including those who have been baptized in other churches.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON SUNDAY MORNING
When you arrive on Sunday morning, an usher will greet you and give you a service bulletin. The bulletin, along with The Book of Common Prayer and the hymnals in the pews, will guide you through the service. The Holy Eucharist has two main parts: The Word of God and The Holy Communion.
In The Word of God, we gather in song and prayer, hear readings from Holy Scripture, listen to a sermon, affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed, and pray for the Church, the world, those in need, and those who have died. We then confess our sins, receive God’s assurance of forgiveness, and greet one another in the Peace.
In The Holy Communion, we offer our gifts of money, bread, and wine, and the Altar is prepared for the Eucharistic meal. The priest leads the Eucharistic Prayer, recalling the story of God’s saving love and Jesus’ gift of himself in the bread and wine. After the Lord’s Prayer and the breaking of the bread, all are invited to come forward to receive Communion at the Altar rail. Those who do not wish to receive Communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing. At the end of the service, we give thanks, sing a closing hymn, and are sent out to love and serve God in the world.