"O worship Lord in the beauty of holiness: let the whole earth stand in awe of God."

~ Psalm 96:9

WORSHIP

From one of the earliest writings about Christianity, we know that it was characteristic of Christians from their first days to come together to worship. As a people we recognize that in God we "live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Worship is the natural response of those who acknowledge that God is the source of all that we have and all that we are.

The liturgy of the Episcopal Church is a vital aspect of who we are as God's people and how we are called to live our lives as such in the world. To the extent that we incorporate the liturgy into our lives, we live into what we are called as the Church to be – the living Body of Christ at work in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The word "liturgy" is derived from two Greek words meaning "work of the people." All people are meant to be active participants in the liturgy.

Lay readers read the lessons at services of Holy Eucharist and Morning Prayer. Lay Chalicists and Lay Eucharistic Ministers share in the distribution of the Eucharistic Feast to members of the congregation in church or at home. Other members serve as acolytes, crucifers, torch bearers, banner bearers, and a host of other functions. Opportunity is available for people to sing with the choir, offering a musical gift to God and the congregation.

The Altar Stripped Bare

HOLY EUCHARIST

The celebration of Holy Eucharist is the central act of corporate Christian worship – the sharing of bread and wine (transformed into the Real Presence of Christ in our midst) as we commune with God and each other. It is here that the church remembers who we are. The church remembers the past: God's saving acts throughout history culminating in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. It also looks to the future, the day of the great Messianic feast, when all people will come together as one even as they become one with God. All of this occurs in the context of the present with its joys and sorrow, tears and laughter, good times and bad. The Eucharist is a potent reminder that God is forever with us, beckoning us to come closer, to God and to each other, by sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ who came to offer us everlasting life and nourishment.

The Holy Eucharist is celebrated each Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. except for the last Sunday of the month when Morning Prayer is at 11:00. On that Sunday communion is administered in The Chapel of the Carpenter immediately following Morning Prayer. The 9:00 Holy Eucharist is especially child-friendly. Children are encouraged to explore the church space at will, providing all of us with the joyful sounds of young people. A vocal quartet leads the congregation in singing familiar hymns. Music at this service is meant to envoke joy and teach our youngest members basic statements of our faith. The Holy Communion is celebrated with the congregation forming circles around a free-standing altar. The 11:00 Holy Eucharist service is more traditional and is enhanced with outstanding choral music. Holy Eucharist with Centering Prayer is on Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in The Chapel. This service is held from September through June.

Morning Prayer

The service of Morning Prayer is a cherished part of the Anglican tradition with its roots in the monastic prayers at different hours of the day. This itself is a tradition that stems back to the Jewish faith with prescribed prayers and offerings for different times of the day. The hymns, canticles, and anthems that are intimately associated with Morning Prayer make this service one whose music lifts our hearts and souls to contemplate the wonders of God. Morning Prayer is offered the last Sunday of each month at 11:00 a.m.

Contemplative Holy Eucharist and Centering Prayer

On Wednesday afternoons at 5:30 from September through June, Contemplative Eucharist followed by Centering Prayer is held in the Chapel of the Carpenter. The Contemplative Eucharist follows the basic format as outlined in the Prayer Book, but allows time and space for quiet and meditation.

As we inhabit a world that has become more and more filled with sounds, things, and busyness, this service affords participants a place where one can experience that "still small voice" where we can hear and commune with God. While many of us grew up with the concept that prayer consists of many words and frequent requests, Contemplative Eucharist and Centering Prayer remind us that prayer and encounter with the divine can be appreciated in an openness to God in silent awe.

Holy Baptism

This is how all Christians are initiated into the life of the Church and into the Body of Christ. Through Baptism we share in Christís death and in his resurrection from the dead. Holy Baptism informs us about our Covenant with God. Baptism is meant to be a public act in which the congregation welcomes the newly baptized into the community as all present make or re-affirm the vows of the Baptismal Covenant. Normally, Baptism is administered Sunday morning during the Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. The clergy will meet with the parents and godparents in advance to discuss both the ceremony and the great significance of Baptism.

The church sets aside certain days as especially appropriate for Holy Baptism: Easter, Pentecost, All Saints' Day, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Baptism, however, is not limited to those days. Should anyone desire additional information about Baptism, please contact the Parish office or the clergy.

Feasts of the Church

the Church Year is filled with feasts and observances on days other than Sundays. Special services are held on Ash Wednesday as Lent begins. Holy Week, the week preceding Easter, begins with the Liturgy of the Palms on Palm Sunday. During Holy Week itself, in addition to daily Eucharist, there are liturgies on Maundy Thursday: a Lamb Feast, Holy Eucharist, stripping of the altar, and a procession to the Chapel. There the Blessed Sacrament will be in repose in a beautiful garden-like setting where parishioners will keep vigil into the night. On Good Friday an ecumenical service (sponsored by the Georgetown Clergy Association) is held in one of the Georgetown churches at noon. The traditional liturgy from The Book of Common Prayer provides the basis for a service at 6:30 p.m. held in our own Chapel of the Carpenter.