Think of
this page as your 'First-Time Guide to Visiting an Episcopal Church'. Most important, remember this: You'll be
welcome. We extend a cordial welcome to you to worship with us, and offer this document as a brief introduction to
the Episcopal Church and its ways. Click on the topic that interests you:
The Place of Worship
As you enter, you will notice an atmosphere of worship and reverence. Episcopal churches are built
in many architectural styles; but whether the church be small or large, elaborate or plain, your eye is carried to the altar,
or holy table, and to the cross. So our thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God whose house the church is.
On or near
the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the "Light of the world'' (John 8:12). Often there are flowers, to beautify God's house and to recall
the resurrection of Jesus.
On one side at the front of the church, there may be a lectern-pulpit, or stand, for the proclamation of the Word;
here the Scriptures are read and the sermon is preached. In many churches, however, the lectern is separate from the pulpit
and stands on the opposite side of the church.
The Act of Worship
Episcopal church services are congregational. In the pews you will likely find the Book of Common
Prayer, though some countries use supplementary prayer books (Canada, for instance, uses the Book of Alternative Services
regularly.) This enables the congregation to share fully in every service. In the Book of Common Prayer, the large print is
the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people for conduct of the service.
You may
wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary---even among individual Episcopals. The general rule is to stand to sing---hymns
(found in the Hymnal in the pews) and other songs (many of them from the Holy Bible) called canticles or chants and printed
as part of the service. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel in the
Holy Eucharist. Psalms are sung or said sitting or standing. We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament
Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us
as children or as an act of humility before God.
The Regular Services
The principal service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion). In some Episcopal churches it is
celebrated quite simply, without music, early on Sunday morning. Weekday celebrations also are frequently without music, and
without sermon. When celebrated at a later hour on Sundays, or on other great Christian days such as Christmas, music and
a sermon are customary.
Another service is Morning Prayer. The parallel evening service is Evening
Prayer. These services consist of psalms, Bible readings, and prayers; and may include a sermon. They may be with or without
music.
While some parts of the services are always the same, others change. At the Holy Eucharist, for example, two or three
Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday. So do the psalms. Certain of the prayers also change, in order to provide
variety. Page numbers for parts of the service printed elsewhere in the Book are usually announced or given in the service
leaflet. But do not be embarrassed to ask your neighbour for the page number.
You will find the services
of the Episcopal Church beautiful in their ordered dignity, God-centred, and yet mindful of the nature
and needs of human beings.
Before and After
It is the custom upon entering church to kneel in
one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is also the custom to bow to the altar
on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.
Most Episcopals s do not talk
in church before a service but use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons
kneel for a private prayer before leaving. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude.
Coming and Going
If there are ushers they will greet you, and may escort you to a pew.
If you desire, they will answer your questions about the service. Pews are usually unreserved in Episcopal churches. Following
the service the pastor greets the people as they leave.
What Clergy Wear
To add to the beauty and festivity of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other
ministers customarily wear vestments. Choir vestments usually consist of an undergown called a cassock (usually black) and a white, gathered overgown called a surplice. The clergy may also wear cassock and surplice.
Another familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers
the body from neck to ankles. Over it (or over the surplice) ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of coloured fabric.
Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders.
At the Holy Eucharist a bishop
or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. The deacon's
corresponding vestment has sleeves and is called a dalmatic. Bishops sometimes wear a special headcovering called a mitre.
Stoles, chasubles, and dalmatics, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their colour changes
with the seasons and holy days of the Church Year. The most frequently used colours are white, red, violet, and green.
The Church Year
The Episcopal Church observes the traditional Christian calendar. The season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30.
Christmas itself lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (January 6).
Lent, the
forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts fifty days, concluding on the feast of
Pentecost.
During these times the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the
year--the season after Epiphany and the long season after Pentecost (except for a few special Sundays)--the New Testament
is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme with one of the New Testament readings.
You Will Not be Embarrassed
When you visit an Episcopal church, you will be
our respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way, nor asked to stand before the congregation
nor to come forward. You will worship God with us.
Should you wish to know more about the Anglican Church or
how one becomes an Anglican, the priest will gladly answer your questions and suggest the way to membership.
