Worship Ministry at Christ Church
At Christ Church, we commit to be in relationship with God by weekly worship and daily personal prayer. In worship, we gather to bring the Word of God to bear on our daily lives, to pray together, and to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Eucharist.
OUR WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Saturdays, 5:30 pm Informal Worship and Holy Communion
Sundays, 8:00 am - Worship and Holy Communion, Rite I , 9:15 am – Education Hour,
10:30 am, Worship and Holy Communion with music, Rite II
Morning Prayer, 7:30 am, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Which worship should I attend?
Try them all. The 8 am worship is quieter and smaller with with language from the previous prayerbook; the 10:30 worship has music and contemporary language, chapel for children, and coffee hour afterwards. Saturday evening uses a international prayers from the Anglican Communion and is very informal. During the school year, every 2nd Saturday evening worship is followed by a pot-luck.
What should I wear?
Whatever is comfortable. At Christ Church, people wear every different style. What matters is that you are here, not what you wear.
What is worship like?
You will be given a bulletin which outlines the order of the service. Hymns are found in the blue hymnals in the pew racks at your seat. We will pray, listen to lessons, hear a sermon, pray some more, and celebrate Holy Eucharist, which is the Lord's Supper. We worship in a variety of ways--you'll see some people kneeling, others standing, some making the sign of the cross and some not. Do what seems comfortable for you and try different things from week to week. You can learn more about the details of our worship by skimming the Book of Common Prayer found in the pew racks with the hymnals. You are welcome to participate in as much or as little as you like. Members of the congregation and the clergy will be glad to assist you with your questions.
Will I have to stand up and say my name?
No! But do introduce yourself to those sitting near you. At the sharing of The Peace you will likely be greeted by many new friends. A handshake and the words "Peace be with you" are appropriate. Please be sure to fill out a yellow card found in the pew (then put it in the offertory plate) and sign our guest book before you leave.
Should I bring my bible?
You certainly may, but the preacher will not ask you to open up to a particular passage. This leads some to ask if Episcopalians believe in the bible. Of course we do, but at worship our primary texts are the Book of Common Prayer, which you will find in your pew, along with our scripture lessons provided in the bulletin.
What about the offering plate?
As a newcomer, please let the offering plate go by and be our guest. Once you settle in you'll do as members do, give joyfully in gratitude to God to support the ongoing work and ministries of the church. Members of Christ Church make a regular contribution, filling out a pledge card, and receive a tax statement of their financial support.
Should I receive Holy Communion?
It's entirely up to you, but understand that all are welcome. Simply come forward with everyone else, kneel or stand at the altar rail, and you will be given the bread and the wine. And yes, it is real wine, but if you do not want to receive it just say or nod ‘no, thank you’ and the minister will just say the words to you. We are happy to bring communion to your seat if need be. More questions? Call our priest.
What if my children are noisy?
Everyone is welcome at Christ Church, young and old alike. If you have active young children, please know you have the option to let them play in the nursery with the attendant there. Children’s chapel is available at the 10:30 worship and the children rejoin us for communion. There are ‘quiet’ activity bags hanging in the narthex (the main hall) for use. Our rector was heard to say that there is no better sound in God’s world than the sound of a child! At the 10:30 am Sunday worship, the children are invited to recess down the aisle with Martha, our Rector, as they joyfully leave worship together, setting a good example for all of us to go out to the world to love and serve our Lord.
The sermon, how long is it?
The sermon is usually offered by clergy and it usually consists of a teaching and commentary on the lessons of the day. It lasts approximately 10 minutes and the congregation is always welcome to respond by phone or e-mail during the following week. Often, a printed copy of the sermon is available upon request.
What do Episcopalians believe?
It is said that if you want to know what Episcopalians believe, watch and listen to how we worship. You'll discover that we love Jesus, we cherish the Word of God, and we believe in the mystery of the sacraments - that they sustain us and help us to love God and each other ever more deeply. The Book of Common Prayer is our primary text - it contains what we believe as well as the prayers we use in worship from week to week. Holy Eucharist, or Communion, is celebrated at most every worship service. This is the sacrament in which we receive the mystical body and blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. It strengthens us in our faith and in our commitment to justice, peace and the dignity of every human being.
What about prayers?
One of the most important things we do is pray for each other. There is a daily prayer chain available to pray for you. On Sundays at worship this is typically for those who are in any kind of need, for those serving in the military overseas, and for those who have died. If there is anyone you would like us to pray for, please call or send an e-mail to the church office. You can also add names to the monthly prayer list in the same way. This list is "refreshed" on the first of every month