The Place of Worship

As you enter our church, you will notice an atmosphere of worship and reverence. 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 the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the Light of the World. Often there are flowers, to beautify God's house and to recall the resurrection of Jesus.

On the right side at the front of the church, there is a pulpit where the sermon is preached. On the opposite side is a lectern from where the Scriptures are read.

The Act of Worship

In the pews you will find the Book of Common Prayer that the congregation uses to share fully in every aspect of the worship service. The larger print is the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people who conduct the service.

You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary---even among individual Episcopalians. 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 Nicene Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Eucharist. Psalms may be sung or said sitting or standing. We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. 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

Our principal service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). It is celebrated without music at 8 am on Sunday morning and with music at 10:30am. The Wednesday worship service at 12:15 is also without music. When celebrated at a later hour on Sundays, or on other great Christian days such as Christmas and Easter, music and a sermon are customary.

While some parts of the 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 prayers also change, in order to provide variety. Page numbers for parts of the service printed elsewhere in the Book of Common Prayer are usually announced or given in the service leaflet. But do not be embarrassed to ask your neighbor for the page number. They are eager to help.

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. Some people bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.

Episcopalians use a few moments prior to the beginning of the worship service as a time of quiet personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons kneel for a private prayer before leaving.

Receiving Holy Eucharist

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive the Holy Eucharist at St. Anne's. To do so, go to the altar rail when directed by an usher.  You may kneel or stand at the rail. Cup your hands and hold them out to receive the bread. You may place the bread in your mouth at once or wait and dip it in the cup of wine when it is offered to you. Should you want to receive the bread but not the wine, simply fold your arms across your chest after receiving the bread.

If you do not want to receive either the bread or wine at the Eucharist, simply fold your arms across your chest and the clergy will offer a blessing for you.

Vestments

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 under gown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered over gown called a surplice. The clergy may also wear a 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 a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders.

At the Holy Eucharist, a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon's corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes wear a special head covering called a miter.

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, green, and blue.

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 November 30. The Christmas season lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (January 6).

Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts fifty 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

There are ushers who will greet you, and may escort you to a pew. St. Anne's also has a group of dedicated individuals who serve as Parish Greeters.  They are available to answer questions about the service, the location of nurseries, etc. As they meet visitors, a "Welcome to St. Anne's" brochure is given to individuals or families who may be visiting. An information sheet is included in the brochure to be filled out and given to the church.

Pews are usually unreserved in Episcopal churches except for special occasions such as a wedding, baptism or funeral.

Following the service our clergy greet the people as they leave.

You Will Not Be Embarrassed

When you visit at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, you will be our respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled out in any way. You are invited to share in the worship of God with us.

Should you wish to know more about St. Anne's Episcopal Church or how you may become a member, our clergy will gladly answer your questions and suggest the way to membership. You may also contact our New Member Coordinator, Anne Stroud.