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| We extend a cordial welcome with us, and offer, as a brief introduction, to the Episcopal church and its ways. As you enter, you will notice an atmosphere of worship and reverence. | |
| Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles; but wheather 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. | |
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On or near the Altar the
are candles,to remind us that Christ is the
"light of the world (John 8:12). Often, there are flowers, to beautify
God's house and to recall the ressurection of Jesus. On one side of the front of the church, there is seen the lecturn-pulpit or stand. This used to be used for the proclamation of the word. We now prefer the lecters simply stand and read on the altar itself. |
| 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 small print gives direction to the minister and the people for conduct of the service. You may wonder whether to stand or kneel; practices vary, even among individual Episcopalians. The general rule is to stand to sing the hyms, and to affirm our faith,the Creed, and for the reading of the Gospel. Psalms are sung or said sitting or standing. We sit for the readings of the Old Testament and New Testament, the sermon and the choir anthems. We kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as his children, or as an act of humility before him. |  |
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The Pricipal service is
the Holy
Eucharist(Eucharist means"Thanksgiving")or Holy Communion. In
it is celebrated quite simply, early on Sunday morning. When celebrated
on a later hour on Sunday, or on other great christian holidays, such
as Christmas, music and a serman are customary. some Episcopal services. The Service itself consists of two readings from the Old and New testaments, and a reading from the Gospel. The text of these readings are found in the leaflet, so that you may follow along. |
| It is the custom upon entering the church to kneel in one's pew for prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is also custumary to bow before the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for christ. Episcopalians do not talk in church before a service, but use this time for personal meditations and devotions. At the end of the service you may talk, greet oneanother, or simply sit and listen to the organ play. |  |
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Ministry VestmentsTo add to the beauty and festivity of the service, and to signify their special ministries, the cleargy and other ministers wear vestments.Choir vestments are usually consist of an undergown called a cassock, usually white, and an overgown, called a surplice. Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that cover the body from neck to ankle. Over it( or over the surplice) ordained ministers where a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priest and bishops over both shoulders. At the Holy Eucharist the priest or bishop frequenly wears a chasuble(a circular garment that envelops the body)over the alb and stole. The Deacons corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes wear a special headcover called a mitre. Stoles, chasubles, and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their color changes with the seasons and holy days of the church year. The most frequently used colors are white, red , violet, and green. |
The Church YearThe Episcopal church observes the traditional Christian calendar.The Season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30th. Christmas itself lasts 12 days(hence the song,"The Twelve days of Chistmas") After which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the day the three wiseman come upon the infant Jesus(January 6).Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter Season lasts 50 days, concluding on the feast of Pentacost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts . Duriong these times, the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the year, referred to as "common time", the long season after Pentecost, except for a few special Sundays, the New Testament is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lessons corresponds in theme to the Old testament readings. |
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