Introduction
This page gives a general overview and
was designed to assist newcomers and visitors understand the
Episcopal Church and the service a little better so that you don’t
feel lost. Attending any church for the first time, or revisiting
one after a period of absence can be a little intimidating.
Hopefully this page will make your visit with us a little bit
easier.
You’ll
be welcome
We extend a cordial invitation to you to
worship with us, and offer this page as a brief introduction to
the Episcopal Church and its ways.
The place of
worship
Episcopal Churches are built in many
architectural styles, but all are God-centered. 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 your thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God.
On or near the altar there 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
resurrection of Jesus.
On one side at the front of the church, there may be
a lectern/pulpit, or stand, for the proclamation of the Word.
Here the Scriptures are read and the sermon is preached. In many
churches, however, the lectern is separate from the pulpit and
stands on the opposite side of the church.
The act of
worship
In racks in the pews you will find the Book
of Common Prayer (BCP), the use of which
enables the congregation to participate fully in the service. The
large print is the actual service. The smaller print gives
direction to the celebrant and people for the conduct of the
service. The celebrant of a congregation is usually a priest,
although in some services a deacon may be in charge.
You may wonder when to stand or kneel.
Practices vary - even among individual Episcopalians. Do what
seems best.
The general rule is to stand to sing
hymns (found in the Hymnal in the pew racks) and Psalms from the
Holy Bible 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 Communion service. We sit
during the sermon, readings from the Old or New Testament
Epistles, and choir anthems. We kneel, or stand with bowed head,
for prayer, as an act of reverence and humbleness before God.
Choir and clergy may process into the church at the beginning and
from it at the end of a service, singing hymns as they do so.
The regular
services
The principal service is the Lord’s
Supper, or the Holy Eucharist. In some Episcopal Churches it is
celebrated quite simply, without music, early on Sunday or
weekday mornings. When celebrated at a later hour, or on great
Christian days such as Christmas, music and a sermon are
customary.
Another service is Morning Prayer. The
parallel evening service is Evening Prayer. These services
consist of Bible readings, prayers, and often preaching. They may
be with or without music.
The services may go to other parts of
the Prayer Book to provide variety. In the Holy Eucharist, for
example, two or three Bible selections are read. These change
each Sunday. Likewise in Morning Prayer, different Psalms are
used each day. The service bulletin usually will announce the
pages on which these are found. 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 human nature and needs.
Before and
after services
It is the custom upon entering the
church to kneel in one’s pew for a prayer of personal
preparation for worship. In many churches it is also the custom
to bow the head to the altar and it’s cross before entering
and upon leaving one’s pew as an act of reverence for Christ.
Episcopalians do not talk in church
before a service but use this time for personal meditation and
devotions. At the end of the service one may kneel for a personal
prayer of thanksgiving before leaving the Lord’s house. Others
sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude.
Vestments or
robes
For dignity, our clergy and choirs wear
vestments or robes.
One 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 colored
band, called a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric, draped
about his/her shoulders. This symbolizes the yoke of Christ,
accepted by a priest at ordination. Deacons wear the
stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders.
In many Episcopal Churches, special
vestments of ancient origin are worn by the priest at the Holy
Communion, to mark the importance of this sacrament. At
the Holy Communion 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 headcovering
called a mitre.
You will see altar cloths, book-markers
in the Holy Bible, and a covering on the pulpit, often
embroidered with Christian symbols. These are traditional and for
beauty and dignity. They change in color (white, green, red, and
purple) with the seasons and holy days of the Christian Year.
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.
Christmas itself 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
If there are ushers they will greet you
warmly, and if you desire, escort you to a pew, and answer your
questions about the service. Pews are usually unreserved
in Episcopal churches.
Following the service the pastor greets
the people as they leave.
The Holy
Eucharist (Holy Communion)
The Holy Eucharist is also known as The
Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. Everyone is invited to
come to the Lord’s table. If you have been baptized in a
Christian faith, you are also welcome to receive the bread and
wine.
The ushers will indicate when to proceed
to the altar. Most churches have a railing where you can kneel
but if it is not convenient to do so, it is acceptable to stand.
If you are disabled and unable to come forward, please inform the
usher that you wish to receive communion so that he/she can
inform the celebrant, and they will come to you.
To receive the bread, the right hand is
placed on top of the left, palms facing up. You may then place
the bread in your mouth, or hold it for dipping in the wine.
The wine chalice follows which you may
dip your bread in to and then eat, or you may guide the chalice
to your lips and sip. You do not have to take the wine if there
is a personal reason not to do so.
If you were not baptized, or choose not
to participate in the bread and wine, you may place each hand on
the opposite shoulder (crossing them). The celebrant will then
give you a blessing instead of offering you the bread and wine.
This may also be done for children and adults that have not
indicated any gesture of taking the bread or crossing the arms.
After receiving communion, you return to
your seat.
As with other parts of a service, it may
differ slightly in different parishes.
Different
types of services
While all Episcopal Churches follow a
basic service plan, you will find a wide variety between churches
and often at different times at the same church. Some churches
have a traditional service early in the morning, a contemporary
one next, and maybe even a very modern one (perhaps geared to the
younger crowd) later. You may desire a quiet type of service, or
perhaps you are the type that enjoys lots of singing and music,
or you have little ones that could use more attention. If you are
interested in a specific type of service, feel free to ask.
You will not
be embarrassed
When you visit an Episcopal Church, you
will be our respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled
out in an embarrassing way. Some churches may invite new-comers
and visitors to introduce themselves. You may, if you feel
comfortable doing so. In either case, we invite you to worship
God with us.
Should you wish to know more about the
Episcopal Church or how to become an Episcopalian, the pastor
gladly will answer your questions and suggest the way to
membership.
We hope that you will enjoy your visit
and that you will come again real soon.
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out this page
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Episcopal Church, San Luis Obispo, CA is a member of the "Anglican
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Updated: Saturday, March 25, 2000 03:58 PM
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