What are the services like?

St. Stephen’s has two worship services – 8 AM and 10 AM. The 8 AM service is more contemplative with no music. The 10 AM service has music and more families with children attend. We invite you to come a few minutes prior to the service to spend in quite reflection to prepare for worship. In respect of each other, we ask that you keep conversation to a minimal level. But if you need something, please ask!

The Episcopal Church uses The Book of Common Prayer to organize our worship service. There are two movements in the service – the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Table. During the Liturgy of the Word, we prepare ourselves to be aware of God’s presence through several prayers, then we have 4 selections from Holy Scripture. The first is from the Hebrew Scriptures, or the Old Testament. The second is from the book of Psalms, which the congregations participates in reading. The third is from the New Testament, specifically from the letters from St. Paul, St. Peter and other authors. The final reading is from one of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We stand for the proclamation of the Gospel, as these readings contain the story of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry. Following the Gospel reading, the priest or other minister offers a sermon, which is a reflection/teaching on the readings. The sermon is usually 12 to 15 minutes long.

After the sermon, we stand and recite the Nicene Creed, an ancient statement of faith that highlights the tenets of the Christian faith.

We offer prayers for church and for the world, including particular concerns of the congregation.

Then we have a general confession of sin and absolution by the priest. This portion of the service is concluded with the passing of the Peace. This is the time to greet our neighbors, but not a time to socialize (you are invited to do that during Coffee Hour following the service). You may greet one another with a hand shake or hug and the words, “Peace be with you.” However, please do what you are comfortable doing.
Following the Peace, the priest invites the congregation to prepare for the Liturgy of the Table, or the celebration of the Eucharist. At this time, the offertory plates are passed through the congregation to collect the offering. You are welcome to make an offering toward the ministry of St. Stephen’s and you thank you for it.
When the offering is presented to the priest, the congregation stands. We continue with the prayer over the bread and wine to consecrate them into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. You are welcome to stand for the entire prayer. Some members of the congregation will kneel for part of the prayer, which you are welcome to do as well.
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive the Sacrament in the Episcopal Church, including children. (Though we do not follow the Roman Catholic tradition of First Communion, it is up to the parent to decide if the child may receive Communion. Please let the priest know if your child receives and if he/she also takes the wine. If your child does not receive the wine, the child can cross her/his arms over her/his chest as a sign of abstinence. This is also true for adults who do not wish to receive the cup.)

After Communion we offer a Post-Communion prayer, thanking God for all that we have received and reminding ourselves of going out into the world.

Following the Blessing by the priest, there is a time for announcements of important information for the congregation.
The Dismissal is offered by the deacon or priest at the door of the church, so says, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” The response is “THANKS BE TO GOD!”