Our Worship.
We have two main services each week at St. Michael’s:
- Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. – Rite I service.
- Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. – Rite II service with music.
What are Sunday Services Like?
Our forms of worship are found in ‘The Book of Common Prayer’ and in its supplement Enriching Our Worship. The early service (8AM) is a spoken service using traditional language. The later service (10:30AM) includes music and uses contemporary English. We vary the services by the seasons of the Church Year. The structure is known as ‘liturgy,’ which can be translated as ‘the work of the people.’ and the liturgies are outlined in ‘The Book of Common Prayer.’
The first half of the service is a response to the Word of God (scripture.) We open with prayer and then typically hear scripture from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm, and a final reading from one of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.) The Episcopal Church uses an agreed upon set of lessons for each Sunday, we call this the Lectionary Readings (see below.) This means that no matter what Episcopal Church you attend each Sunday, you will typically hear the same three readings After the readings, a sermon is offered in response. Then we recite the Nicene Creed (a statement of faith,) offer prayers, and confess those things that separate us from God (sin.) The confession is corporate, which means it is a general statement offered together by the entire congregation. Then the priest offers the absolution (announcing the reconciling nature of God,) and we share that peace which only God can give. The Sharing of the Peace is an ancient tradition, and it involves a simple response (The priest says, ‘The Peace of the Lord be always with you.’ and the people respond, ‘And also with you.’)
The second half of the service is the Eucharist (meaning thanksgiving) AKA The Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. The Eucharist has many names, and there are many traditions surrounding it, but it remains that connective act where we commune with God through our great teacher, redeemer, and friend: Jesus. The Eucharist is a prayer – a little longer than most – but one the priest prays and the people respond. After this prayer, we pray together the Lord’s Prayer and then the priest invites people to receive the Holy Sacrament of bread and wine. At this point, you can watch if you prefer, or come forward to either receive a blessing or partake in the Communion. If you want to receive a blessing, simply come forward and cross your arms. If you would like to receive the Communion, hold out your hands in a cupped fashion, and you will receive the bread and wine. After everyone who desires to partake of the Communion is served, we close the service with a final prayer, then the priest blesses and dismisses the congregation.
Written out, the service may sound like an all day event, but worshipping together typically takes between forty-five minutes to an hour; all according to whether or not there is music and the size of the congregation present.
Currently, our 8:00 am congregation uses a form of worship called “Rite One”. This means the language is closer to Elizabethan than modern English, American style. We do not sing at this service. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday unless there is no priest available, which is a rare occurrence.
Our 10:30 am congregation does sing. The service is called “Rite Two” and is in modern English. In addition to the four possible prayers for the second half of the service, called the Great Thanksgiving, there are also three prayers that have been approved for use. These three expand our language for God to include images that are not just masculine.
Whether you are familiar with the Episcopal Church or a first-time visitor, all are warmly invited to worship!
Lectionary Readings
The readings for each Sunday are best viewed on The Lectionary Page, which contains links to all the readings and collects for each Sunday as well as for major feasts. There is also a link to the readings contained in Lesser Feasts and Fasts, a reverse lectionary lookup link as well as several other helpful tools when planning all sorts of Episcopal liturgies.