How We Worship
worship the lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble in awe.
Psalm 96:9
Skip ahead to: Holy Communion | Music | Advent | Christmas | Lessons & Carols | Lent, Holy Week & Easter | Pentecost
A central part of our life together at St. Andrew's, we take worship seriously and have a lot of fun with it at the same time. There is no wrong way to worship at St. Andrew's. You will see some people stand, sit, or kneel at different times, and cross themselves and bow down at other times. You'll see people dressed in their "Sunday-best" dresses sitting right next to someone in a t-shirt and jeans. Do what feels comfortable to you: what is truly important is that you are here!
Our Sunday morning service usually takes the form of Holy Eucharist, Rite II, which is found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (BCP). We feast on God's word: we hear readings from the Old and New Testaments, pray for neighbors near and far, and we sing, chant, or say psalms together. We are intentionally eclectic in how we worship. You'll find that our prayers are drawn from the BCP, Enriching our Worship, and other Anglican and ecumenical sources from around the globe.
On most Sunday mornings, we feast at God's table. Unless we are holding a service of Morning Prayer (which only do a few times per year), we gather around God's table for Holy Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion, or the Great Thanksgiving. "...(T)he Eucharist, the Church's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself. " (BCP, p. 859) We remember all that God has done for us throughout human history and we share this meal to commemorate the last meal that Jesus shared with his disciples. We offer communion in both kinds (both bread, including a gluten-free option if you ask, and wine), but you can just take the bread only, or just the wine only. You may also come to the altar rail, cross your arms across your chest, and receive a blessing instead of receiving bread and wine. This table belongs to God, not the church, and it unites us. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome at it.
Our music, most of which you'll be both invited to sing along with throughout the service, is drawn from a broad range of sources, Anglican chant to spirituals, Taizé chants to traditional hymns. Our choir may also sing an anthem, or we may be treated to the talents of a soloist or a duet. Both our circa 1926 Hall Pipe organ and our piano are used every week.
Finally, having shared in the stories of our faith and been nourished at God's table, we are sent forth with a blessing to share God's love with the world. Our shared worship is what empowers us to do God's work in our daily lives.
Special Services
Throughout the year our worship changes to reflect the different seasons of the church year, including a number of special services. You are invited to join us in-person or on our Facebook & YouTube pages.
Advent
On the four Sundays that precede Christmas - December 1, 8, 15, & 22 in 2024 - we provide space for quiet contemplation as well as the joyous anticipation of Christmas.
Christmas
All are welcome at our joyous Christmas Eve service of Holy Eucharist on the evening of the 24th. We'll gather in the chapel at 10:00 a.m. on Christmas morning for a service of Holy Eucharist. We celebrate the whole of the Christmas story with our service of Lessons & Carols at 10:00 a.m. on the first Sunday after Christmas. Keep watch for news on the exact time of this year's Christmas Eve service and when we'll be holding our annual Christmas Pageant!
Epiphany Lessons & Carols
We're known for this joyous service that wraps up the Christmas season in scripture and song, and for the festive reception that always follows the service! It's usually held in early January, on the Sunday evening just after the Epiphany.
Candlemas Evensong
We added a new service 2024: Candlemas Evensong! This beautiful, contemplative service commemorates the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple with a lovely, music-filled service.
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter
We mark our Lenten journey with Ash Wednesday (March 5, 2025) services of Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes, and are well-known for our beautifully moving Holy Week (April 13-19, 2025) services, which happen both inside and outside of the church itself! Our Palm Sunday (April 13) our service begins in the courtyard of St. Andrew's School and includes a procession to the church. We continue the journey of Holy Week with services on Maundy Thursday (April 17 and Good Friday (April 18). The Easter Vigil service (April 19) begins across from the church as we kindle the new fire and bring it into the church. On Easter Sunday (April 20), we rejoice with a special music, a joyful service, lilies galore, and a large wooden cross that we flower on the portico and then bring inside.
The Season of Pentecost
Be sure to wear the color of the day - Red! - and join us as we celebrate the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church on the Feast of Pentecost (Sunday, June 8, 2025) with a joyous service. In early October, we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with a Blessing of the Animals, and remember our loved ones who have gone on before us by celebrating the feast of All Saints' on the first Sunday of November. We also commemorate and celebrate St. Andrew, our patron saint, on or near his feast day of November 30.