Worship and Jesus Christ

We worship in response to divine grace.

Worship depends first and foremost on God's desire to be in relationship with us. We do not worship in order to gain God's favor. We already have it. We do not worship to invite God to be with us. God has already dwells in our midst. We do not worship to see God's power at work. God works among us whether we see it or not.

In worship we proclaim Jesus' self-giving love as the definitive expression of the heart of God. It is our "Thank You."

Worship and the Book of Common Prayer

The Episcopal Church uses the Book of Common Prayer as our worship guide. The first prayer book reformed worship in England following the insight of the 16th century reformers. But they did this in a way that preserved what was good and wholesome in the worship of the old Roman Catholic Church.

People often describe worship in the Episcopal Church as "both Catholic and Protestant." People from Methodist, Presbyterians, and even Baptist and Pentecostal traditions appreciate our proclamation of the Word and our emphasis on faith in God's grace. People from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions value our emphasis on the community gathered around the Eucharistic meal (communion). This middle way between the protestant and catholic traditions is our heritage preserved in the Book of Common Prayer.

Worship and Diversity

Another tradition in the Episcopal Church that has come down to us from the reformation period is our commitment to worship "in the language of the people."

Keeping with this tradition, we recognize that many people today do not worship "in the language of" traditional church music. We also believe that children have a language all their own that the church has neglected for too long.

We currently offer three worship services on Sunday, each using a musical language that reflects the diversity of our parish. Although the music and style of each of their liturgies are unique, the purpose for which we gather is the same as it has always been for as long as people responded to the invitation to live in faithful covenant relationship with God.