What to expect if you come to a worship service:
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Worship at Grace might feel a little different.
There are many different Christian churches and traditions. 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, unless you come from a similar tradition. This page should help set you at ease about what to expect 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] In the Communion prayers we hear the words that Jesus used at the Last Supper, "Do this is remembrance of me." The Greek word that we translate into the English "remembrance" means more than the mental recollection that the English implies. It actually means a "bringing back together the members"... RE - MEMBERING. Therefore, whenever we celebrate Holy Communion, we are bringing together all the members of the body of Christ. We have 2 services each week. |
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The Sunday 9:00AM Liturgy
This is our main worship service of the week. We have music--organ or piano, vocal 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 Blood . When you arrive, you can come in through the double doors off Millington Street, closest to 8th Ave. This is a no-step entrance ideal for those in wheelchairs, and others who wish to avoid climbing steps. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a member of our church serving as an usher (unless you arrive so early, they have not taken their post yet). You should receive or pick up two booklets. The larger (7"x8.5") one is our Seasonal Worship Booklet and contains the entire order of service for the liturgy, and should be returned at the conclusion of the service to be reused. The smaller booklet is our weekly bulletin, and is referred to in the worship booklet as the "Insert." This bulletin has the hymns for the day listed on the front. Inside the front cover you will find the Collect of the day, which "collects" the silent prayers of the people and sets the theme for the day. Following the Collect in the weekly bulletin you will find the Biblical scripture lessons assigned for the day. The bulletin also contains a few announcements and a list of people for whom prayers of intercession or thanksgiving are requested. The back page of the bulletin lists the members of the congregation who are on the schedule to serve in the liturgy. You may sit wherever you like. Once you are seated, take an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the order of service found in the Worship Booklet. When hymns are sung, they are usually found in the blue Hymnal 1982 found in the pew book rack in front of you. Any music not found in the Hymnal will be printed after the scripture in the bulletin insert. 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 will soon notice that we worship God with a lot of movement and gesture, all of which is optional. You are welcome to participate as you feel comfortable. You are welcome in this space. You are in God's House, and you are a beloved child of God. |
The Thursday 5:30PM Liturgy
This is our mid-week worship service, and that just suits some people, especially those who often travel on the weekends. This service is also well suited for those who prefer a small, informal worship service. The Thursday service is held in the Chancel, which is what we call the area of the sanctuary behind the pulpit, where the choir normally sits at the Sunday morning service. When you arrive, you can come in through the double doors off Millington Street, closest to 8th Ave. These doors are usually unlocked between 5:20 and 5:25. Come into the chancel, and you'll join anywhere from four to twelve other people. You can sit wherever you like. You may follow the service of Holy Eucharist, Rite II, in the Book of Common Prayer, a blue or red book with a cross on the cover, found in the pew rack. The priest will announce the pages as we move through the service, to help you read along. A volunteer from those gathered will be sought out to read a scripture lesson appointed for the day. We will pray a Psalm appointed for the day, then the priest will read the Gospel aloud. Following this the reflection time is opened with a short biography of someone from church history. During this interactive discussion, we reflect on the scripture, the historical person, the evolution of tradition since the time of the person, and what all of this can mean for us in the hear and now. 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 50-65 minutes, depending on how much discussion gets going in the reflection time. You are most welcome to worship with us. Visitors have described this time together as spiritually and intellectually enriching, within a casual atmosphere and welcoming community. |
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.
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.
