Worship in the Episcopal Church is participatory. Instead of a seated performance, the congregation is active in worship sharing with joy in the words and music. The bulletin you receive from an usher will guide you through the service, and you will use the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal that are found in the rack on the back of the seat in front of you.

The central moment of our worship is the celebration of Holy Eucharist (also called “Communion,” “The Lord’s Supper” or “Mass” by some Episcopalians). Eucharist is a Greek word meaning “thanksgiving”. The first part of the liturgy consists of hymns, prayers, scripture readings and sermon. This is followed by Affirmation of Faith (The Nicene Creed), the prayers of the people, confession of sin, absolution, and the exchange of peace. The second part of the liturgy begins with the offerings of the congregation, then proceeds with the Eucharistic prayer, consecration of the bread and wine, Communion, the post-Communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary—even among individual Episcopalians. The general rule is to stand to sing for the Affirmation of Faith and for the reading of the Gospel. We sit during readings from the Old Testament and New Testament letters, the sermon and the choir anthems. Some stand while others kneel for prayer.

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion in the Episcopal Church. A baptized child may receive Communion at any age; that decision is left up to the child and his/her parents.