Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve never been to an Episcopal church before. What is your service like? We use the Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Common Lectionary for our worship services. This means that we’re reading the same passages of Scripture and praying the same prayers as Christians all over the world. We sing hymns, chant the Psalm, recite the Nicene Creed, pray the Lord’s Prayer, and respond to the readings and prayers out loud. It’s a very interactive, participatory kind of worship. And don’t worry about getting it all “right”. You’ll notice some people kneel, genuflect, and make the sign of the cross, and others simply sit or stand. That’s one of the great things about the Episcopal Church—all people are welcome and all people are free to worship however they’re most comfortable.
Where should I park when I come? And how do I get to the church from the parking lot? Our parking lot is actually behind the church building and is accessed from Jackson Street. From the parking lot, walk toward the building, go in any door, turn right toward the library, then go out the door to your left into the Labyrinth courtyard. You’ll see a red door ahead of you that will bring you into the Narthex (lobby area) of the church. We also have signs posted and lots of kind people who can show you the way. Alternatively, parking along Church Street is free on Sundays if you’d rather just come in the front door, but spaces are limited.
Will my children stay with me, or do you offer classes and care for them? For your youngest children (Birth-Preschool), we have a Nursery where they’ll be cared for really well by trained and screened staff. If you’re nursing, we have an area set up in the office off the Nursery where you can feed your child in privacy if you’d like. The Nursery also has a changing table and an attached rest room. Kindergarten to 5th Grade has age-divided Sunday School classes at 9:30 during the school year. 6th to 12th Grades sometimes meet in their own class and sometimes meet with the Adults for some intergenerational conversation also during the school year. For Kindergarten to 5th Grade during the 10:30 service, our Children’s Chapel is a great option. There they’ll learn the day’s Gospel story and a bit about how we worship and pray. You can drop them off at Martin Chapel before you go into the service and we’ll bring them back to you about halfway through the service so that they can receive Communion with you. If your child would prefer to stay with you, they are more than welcome to do so. We have activity bags available, and we don’t mind their wiggles and voices. Children in church are a sign that the church is alive and growing!
Speaking of Communion, am I allowed to receive it if I’m not Episcopalian? The Table of the Lord is open to all baptized Christians, so even our youngest children receive Communion. The Eucharist (a word meaning “Thanksgiving”) is the main focus of our worship services—the climax, if you will. When the invitation is given, an usher will invite you to go up to the altar to receive the Bread and the Wine. (If walking up to the Altar would be difficult for you, just let the usher know, and we’ll bring Communion to you!) When it’s your turn, you have some options: · Kneel or stand at the altar rail. · Extend your cupped hands so the priest can place the Bread or wafer in your hands. · Eat the Bread immediately, or hold onto it for a moment. · Take a sip of wine from the shared Cup, dip your Bread into the smaller Cup, or cross your arms over your chest to skip the Cup all together—Episcopalians practice “in one kind” Communion meaning that we believe the Bread and the Wine can be received on their own and still be considered the full Eucharist. · If you’d rather not receive Communion at all, you’re still invited to come to the altar. When you come, cross your arms over your chest and the priest will give you a blessing instead. Or, just remain in your seat. It’s completely up to you. · If you need a Gluten Free wafer, just let the priest know. We always have that available. Oh, and if you accidentally drop your wafer, don’t panic. Just signal to the priest or the Eucharistic Minister (a layperson who offers the Cup) and we’ll get you another one.
Can my child receive Communion? If your child has been baptized, they are welcome to receive Communion too. If your child is old enough to be shown how to cross their arms over their chest, they can do that instead and receive a blessing. And bring your baby with you when you come up—we love blessing babies! (If you or your child are ready to be baptized, let us know and we’ll set up a time for that special service!)
What do you believe “happens” at the Eucharist? Episcopalians believe in what we call “the real presence of Christ”. This means that we believe Christ is fully present in the Bread and the Wine, but we do not believe the elements are changed or transformed in any way (Transubstantiation). Neither do we believe that the Bread and Wine are merely symbols, so we only use consecrated (blessed) elements for Communion, and we treat them with reverence at all times.
What happens after the worship service? If you come to the 8:30 service, we’d love for you to stay for Sunday School. We have classes for all ages. If you come to the 10:30 service, we’d love for you to stay and have a cup of coffee and a snack with us. Either is a great way to meet some people here!
What’s the difference between the two services? At our 8:30 service, we sing hymns, but instead of chanting the Psalm and singing things like the Gloria, we speak them instead. At 10:30, our choir helps to lead us in worship and we sing a lot more. The sermon and the hymns are the same and the Eucharist is celebrated at both services. We alternate using the Rite I and Rite II liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. Rite I is the older of the two, using more poetic language from the Elizabethan era. Rite II uses modern language. Both are beautiful expressions of our faith, and both are clearly spelled out in the Book of Common Prayer, so regardless of which liturgy we’re celebrating, you’ll be able to follow along just fine.
What kinds of things do you do the rest of the week? On Tuesdays at noon, we offer Bible Study with the Rector. Feel free to drop in; no preparation is required. Come as you are and bring lunch if you'd like. Wednesday evenings from September to May begin with Evening Prayer at 6:00, and then 3rd-5th Graders have Club 345, 6th-12th Graders have Youth Group, Canterbury Fellowship for college students meets, and Adults gather for conversation and study.
How accessible is your building? Our church was constructed in the 1870s and our Education building was constructed 100 years later. All spaces for Adults can be accessed with relative ease as they are all on the first floor. We have one rest room designated as handicapped, but it does not fully meet ADA standards. Our children and youth meet on the 2nd floor for Sunday School, but we will happily move to a different space if your child cannot climb stairs. We want to be a church that is open to everyone and will do what is needed to make sure that’s true. We recognize that the limitations of our building can cause undue difficulties for some people, and we are in the early stages of addressing many of these areas including creating new, fully-compliant ADA restrooms.