What to expect

Episcopal worship services are congregational, meaning we all participate in the worship. In some denominations it seems as if the minister is the actor, the director is God, and the people are the audience. In the Episcopal Church, the people are the actors, the minister is the director and God is the audience. Our worship is a service of praise and thanksgiving to God, for God, and with God.

At the door the greeters and ushers will offer you a church bulletin with an important insert. The entire worship service in printed as an insert, including scripture readings and the words to our hymns. The entire worship insert is from several books available in the congregation’s seating. The books are The red Book of Common Prayer (BCP), the blue Episcopal Hymnal, and the red and black “Lift every voice and sing” (LEVAS) hymnal.

When we hear the sound of bells at the time for worship, the congregation is asked to move into a more reverential mode, realizing that we are embarking on a period of sacred time in an environment of sacred space.

You may wonder when to stand, sit or kneel. The general rule is to stand to sing. We stand, also, to say our affirmation of the faith (the Creed) and for the proclamation of the Gospel. We sit during readings from the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), New Testament letters, and the sermon (also called a homily), the announcements and the choir anthems. We generally kneel or stand during prayers to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as his children, or as an act of humility before God. The music during our worship is usually a combination of traditional hymns, southern harmony, and contemporary. If the hymn is written in a joyous mode where rhythm is important, expect our priest to lead with feeling and to encourage the congregation to put body and soul into their singing. Our accompaniment in piano, organ and violin is superb.

At Holy Cross, we accept, and try to implement, the ancient Christian understanding that our worship (called “liturgy”) is intended to be “sacred drama.” That is a dramatic reenactment of the mysteries of our faith. Music, costume, liturgical colors, bells, candles, art, gestures, bread, wine, water, oil — even fire or incense sometimes — helps us realize sacramentally that there is a very important theatrical element to all liturgy. We are immensely blessed at Holy Cross with a number of persons highly skilled in the theatrical arts. We call upon them sometimes to help communicate the scripture readings or sermon.

The children help gather our offering. They pass both the offertory baskets and a colorful canister. The canister is for loose change. The children themselves periodically decide what outreach ministry will receive that offering. Envelopes are available for the asking.

Most liturgical churches, following an ancient custom, include a time in the service when the congregation exchanges greetings of peace with one another in preparation for the offering of our gifts. The custom is based on Matthew 5:23-24. Because we are a relatively small congregation, and fellowship is very important to us, many of us extend the “greeting of peace” beyond just the persons next to us in the seats.

Following Episcopal Church tradition, all persons who have been baptized in their home denominations are invited to the Communion table. Most of us kneel at the communion rail to receive Holy Communion, but standing is equally acceptable. Holy Communion is a deeply profound mystery of unity between God and ourselves. We believe that Jesus is truly, and not just symbolically, present in both the wafer of bread and the communion wine. The wine may be received by sipping from the chalice or dipping the communion bread in the wine and then consuming it. If one wishes to receive the bread but not the wine, they may simply cross their arms over their chest when the chalice bearer reaches them. Children of any age are welcome to the communion rail. If a parent wishes, the ministers will offer the sacrament to baptized children of any age. If the child is not to receive Communion, the minister will bless them instead. When a child receives Communion, it is the practice of our priest to move to one knee, in order to be at eye level with the child, and to say words similar to these: “this special bread is a gift Jesus wants you to have this morning to remind you that God loves you very much. This is the Body of Christ.” At Holy Cross, we believe that the reception of Jesus in Communion is to be reverently celebrated as a moment of intimacy with our Lord and Savior in the context of Christian community.

Fellowship with food (like chicken, pizza, or homemade dishes) is always offered at the fellowship house across the driveway. All visitors and regular congregants are warmly invited to participate in the good food and fellowship.

The congregation of Holy Cross looks forward to worshiping and fellowshipping with you!