Our worship at St. Paul's is based on the Book of Common Prayer, which gives worship a familiar feel for those from liturgical churches. We celebrate the Eucharist weekly. Episcopalians may worship in many different styles, ranging from very formal, ancient rites with lots of singing and incense, to informal services with contemporary music. At St Paul's we use a range of liturgical styles and music from ancient to modern.
Worship at St Paul's is not stiff. It has a hint of formality with generous amounts of informality. We take our worship of God seriously but we don't take ourselves too seriously in worship. We are known to make mistakes, We encourage children to participate in worship. Our children frequently change the direction of the Children's Chat by making comments or asking questions.
Liturgy & Ritual
Worship in the Episcopal Church is said to be “liturgical,” meaning that the congregation prays from specific texts that don’t change greatly from week to week but change from season to season. This continuity gives the service a rhythm that becomes familiar to the worshipers. And the seasonal variations add to the understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus.
For the first-time visitor, liturgy may be exhilarating…or confusing. We try to minimize confusion by having the service contained in our service leaflet. And we normally announce pages and hymn numbers. Services may involve standing, sitting, kneeling, sung or spoken responses, and other participatory elements. However, liturgical worship can be compared with a dance: once you learn the steps, you come to appreciate the rhythm, and it becomes satisfying to dance, again and again, as the music changes. No posture is dictated so the individual may choose whatever postures are right and meanigful to you.
Worship Styles |
