Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles, but whether the church be small or large, elaborate or plain, your eye is carried to the altar, or holy table, and to the cross. So our thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God, whose house the church is.

On or near the altar are candles to remind us Christ is the “Light of the world” (John 8:12). Often there are flowers to beautify God's house and to recall the resurrection of Jesus.

On one side at the front of the church is a lectern, or stand, from which the Scriptures are read and prayers are offered. On the other side is the pulpit, where the sermon may be preached.

The Act of Worship

Episcopal church services are congregational. In the pews you will find the Book of Common Prayer, the use of which enables the congregation to share fully in every service. The large print is the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people for conduct of the service.

You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary – even among individual Episcopalians. The bulletin is helpful in following along.

The general rule is to stand to sing – hymns (found in the hymnal in the pews) and other songs (many of them from the Holy Bible) called canticles or chants and printed as part of the service. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed, and for the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Eucharist. Psalms are sung or said standing.

We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament letters and the sermon. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as children or as an act of humility before God.

The Regular Services

The principal service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). In this church, it is celebrated quite simply, without music, early on Sunday morning, and again later in the morning with music.

Holy Communion and unction – a healing rite – are celebrated Wednesday afternoons.

Any baptized Christian is welcome to come to the altar for Holy Communion.

While some parts of the Sunday services are always the same, others change. At the Holy Eucharist, for example, two or three Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday. So do the Psalms.

Certain of the prayers also change, in order to provide variety. Page numbers for parts of the service printed elsewhere in the prayer book usually are announced or given in the bulletin, but do not be embarrassed to ask your neighbor for the page number.

You will find the services of the Episcopal Church beautiful in their ordered dignity, God-centered, and yet mindful of the nature and needs of human beings.

Before and After Services

It is the custom upon entering church to kneel in one’s pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is the custom to bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.

Episcopalians typically do not talk in church before a service but use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service, it is customary in our parish to kneel for a private prayer before leaving.

After Sunday services, we gather in the Parish Hall for coffee and fellowship, and we hope you will join us.

Vestments

The Archbishop of Canterbury

To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other ministers wear vestments.

Choir vestments usually consist of an undergown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered overgown called a surplice. The clergy also may wear cassock and surplice.

Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Over it (or over the surplice) ordained ministers wear stoles, narrow bands of colored fabric.

Lay readers wear albs tied in the middle with a cincture.

Deacons wear stoles over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders. Our parish does not have a deacon at present.

At the Holy Eucharist, a bishop or priest sometimes wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelops the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon’s corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic.

Bishops sometimes wear special triangular head coverings called miters. At left, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is shown wearing a miter.

Stoles, chasubles and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are made of rich fabrics. Their colors change with the seasons and holy days of the church year. The most frequently used colors are white, blue, red, violet and green.

The Church Year

The Episcopal Church observes the traditional Christian calendar. The season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to Nov. 30. Christmas itself lasts 12 days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6).

Lent, the 40 days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts 50 days, concluding on the feast of Pentecost.

During these times, the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the year – the season after Epiphany and the long season after Pentecost (except for a few special Sundays) – the New Testament is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme with one of the New Testament readings.

Coming and Going

Ushers will be here to greet you and may escort you to a pew. If you desire, they will answer your questions about the service. Pews usually are not reserved.

Following the service, the rector greets the people as they leave.

You Will Not Be Embarrassed

When you visit us, you will be our respected and welcomed guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way, nor asked to stand before the congregation nor to come forward. You will worship God with us.

Should you wish to know more about the Episcopal Church or how one becomes an Episcopalian, the priest-in-residence gladly will answer your questions.

Adapted from a document produced by the Office of Communication, The Episcopal Church Center