Our worship is relaxed and casual, yet it is filled with rich liturgy. We have one weekly eucharist, with approximately 45 parishioners routinely attending. Although our worship is strongly liturgical, it is also quiet and contemplative and would not likely be considered "high church." The wealth of diversity and strength can be defined in the liturgy at St. Peter's. We appreciate the many forms of worship offered in the Book of Common Prayer and Enriching Our Worship.

One unique characteristic of St. Peter's liturgy is that each person exchanges peace with every other person present, further enhancing our community and fellowship, especially with visitors who may be worshiping with us for the first time. We seek to provide a worship service that makes visitors feel welcome, especially those who may not be familiar with our style of worship. Lay parishioners lead intercessory prayers, read the appointed scriptures, and serve as lay eucharistic ministers and as altar guild members. Our heritage is reflected in the simple, but elegant, Japanese flower arrangements that frequently adorn the altar.

St. Peter's is blessed with the services of an organist and cantor, who provide music primarily from the hymnal, with some music from the multicultural Lift Every Voice and Sing, Wonder, Love, and Praise, Voices Found, and Hymns for the Gospels. We purchased a new organ nearly three years ago, further enhancing our music. Our church school is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers, with approximately seven children enrolled. We also have a lay eucharistic visitor for our parishioners who may not be able to attend our weekly eucharist. During the week, there is a bible study and a men's breakfast, which provide further education and fellowship.

What can I expect at Worship Service?

Sunday is traditionally when Episcopalians gather for worship. In worship, we are united, acknowledging the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer and to celebrate God's presence among us. All are welcome to participate in our worship because it is in worship that we live out our life as a Christian family together. Scripture is the foundation of our worship. The principal weekly worship service is the Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass. Worship is accompanied by the singing of hymns.

Episcopalians worship in many different styles, ranging from very formal, ancient, and multi-sensory rites with lots of singing, music, fancy clothes (called vestments), and incense, to informal services with contemporary music. We at St. Peter's is somewhat informal. All worship in the Episcopal Church is based in the Book of Common Prayer, which gives worship a familiar feel, no matter where you go.

Worship in the Episcopal Church is said to be "liturgical," meaning that the congregation follows service forms and prays from texts that don't change greatly from week to week during a season of the year. This sameness from week to week gives worship a rhythm that becomes comforting and familiar to the worshipers. For the first-time visitor, liturgy may be exhilarating… or confusing. Services may involve standing, sitting, kneeling, sung or spoken responses, and other participatory elements that may provide a challenge for the first-time visitor. 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.

In spite of the diversity of worship styles in the Episcopal Church, Holy Eucharist always has the same components and the same shape.

We begin by praising God through song and prayer, and then listen to as many as four readings from the Bible. Usually one from the Old Testament, a Psalm, something from the Epistles, and always a reading from the Gospels. The psalm is usually recited by the congregation.

Next, a sermon interpreting the readings appointed for the day is preached.

The congregation then recites the Nicene Creed, written in the Fourth Century and the Church's statement of what we believe ever since.

Next, the congregation prays together-for the Church, the World, and those in need. We pray for the sick, thank God for all the good things in our lives, and finally, we pray for the dead. The presider (e.g. priest, bishop, lay minister) concludes with a prayer that gathers the petitions into a communal offering of intercession.

In certain seasons of the Church year, the congregation formally confesses their sins before God and one another. This is a corporate statement of what we have done and what we have left undone, followed by a pronouncement of absolution. In pronouncing absolution, the presider assures the congregation that God is always ready to forgive our sins.
The congregation then greets one another with a sign of "peace." And, announcements are made.

Next, an offertory hymn is sung while ushers bring a cup of wine and a plate of bread to the table. The priest receives and blesses the wine and bread. The ushers pass offertory plates among the congregation, brings them to the priest who blesses the offerings. The priest then raises his or her hands, and greets the congregation again, saying "The Lord be With You." Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the presider tells the story of our faith, from the beginning of Creation, through the choosing of Israel to be God's people, through our continual turning away from God, and God's calling us to return. Finally, the presider tells the story of the coming of Jesus Christ, and about the night before his death, on which he instituted the Eucharistic meal (communion) as a continual remembrance of him.

The presider and the congregation recites the Lord's Prayer. Finally, the presider breaks the bread and offers it to the congregation, as the "gifts of God for the People of God." The ushers instructs the congregation to go forward to the altar to share the consecrated bread and the wine. Sometimes the wine and bread are shared around in other ways. If persons are unable to go to the altar, ministers will bring the wine and bread to them.

All baptized Christians-no matter age or denomination-are welcome to "receive communion." Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously.

Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive a blessing from the presider. Persons not baptized cross their arms across their chest to indicate their desire to receive a blessing.

At the end of the Eucharist, the congregation prays once more in thanksgiving, and then is dismissed to continue the life of service to God and to the World.

What do I wear to Sunday Service?

Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Some wear casual wear, shirt and slacks, while others wear sports coats.

What else happens on Sundays?

Enjoy fellowship with each other with coffee, pasteries, and sometimes breakfast or lunch, immediately following Sunday worship service in the lower parish hall.