Worship at St Paul's

ABOUT OUR WORSHIP
At St Paul's Anglican Church our worship combines Christ-centered, Bible-based preaching with the traditional Anglican liturgy in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Services are conducted according to the 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. We make use additional readings and Propers for minor holydays from other authorized traditional liturgical resources. The hymns and service music come mainly from the 1940 Hymnal. The church's sanctuary is arranged in the traditional manner so that the priest faces the altar with the congregation for the Eucharistic Prayer. The parish follows the practice of the Early Church in making the Holy Communion (also called the Eucharist, Mass, or the Lord's Supper) part of the main worship service every Sunday.

SUNDAY SERVICES

8.35am MORNING PRAYER
Sometimes called Matins - Morning Prayer is one of the two daily Prayer services of the Anglican Church. It consists of psalms, canticles, and readings from the Bible, and is based upon the ancient monastic offices of Matins and Lauds. This service lasts about twenty minutes.

9.00am HOLY COMMUNION A said celebration of the Eucharist, with no music, celebrated according to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. The service includes a sermon or homily. The 9.00am Eucharist lasts 35 - 40 minutes.

10.30am SUNG HOLY COMMUNION
The Eucharist is celebrated according to the 1928 Book of Common Prayer using traditional music, chant, and hymns. Our preaching and teaching is orthodox, Christ-centered and Bible-based. The first half of the service, called the Liturgy of the Word, focuses on the Bible - God's Word written, and includes two lessons; one from either the Old Testament or New Testament, followed by a reading from the Gospels, and a sermon explaining their meaning. The second half of the service is the administration of Holy Communion, or Liturgy of the Eucharist, in which we pray for the church and the world, the priest gives thanks over the Bread and Wine asking the Holy Spirit to transform them into the Body and Blood of Christ, and baptized Christians who are communicant members of their own churches receive the Holy Communion. The service ends with a hymn of praise and the blessing. Eucharistic vestments are worn by the celebrant, and parts of the service are chanted. Incense is used on the major feasts of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and All Saints' Sunday. The sung celebration of Holy Communion takes about an hour. On the second Sunday of the month, Morning Prayer replaces the usual "Liturgy of the Word" and the Holy Communion is shortened to begin with the offertory, then proceeds straight to the Eucharistic Prayer.

Holy Unction - the church's ministry of healing is administered after both the 9.00am and 10.30am services on the third Sunday of the month.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School - for ages 6 through 13 - meets at 10.00am in the Classroom Wing adjoining to the parish hall. There is also Child Care is available for children under six. On arrival at church, the children go straight to Sunday School or Nursery, then join the rest of the congregation at the Offertory for the Prayer for the Church, General Confession, Consecration, and Communion. Sunday school takes a vacation during June and July.

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY
9.35am Morning Prayer
10.00am Holy Communion
- a simple celebration of the Lord's Supper with a homily followed by coffee in the parish hall
11.00am Bible Study

MAJOR HOLYDAYS
(As announced on the homepage)

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
In addition to our regular Bible Study at 11.00am on Wednesdays from October to July. We also offer occasional studies on doctrine, spirituality, or church history, usually each Lent, in the summer, and in the fall.

HOSPITAL/SHUT-INS MINISTRY If you know of any member of the parish who is in hospital, a nursing facility, or is no longer able to get to church please phone the Rector at either 928/778-6018 or 928/443-5191, and he will be happy to arrange a visit and/or administer Communion from the reserved sacrament.

PARISH OFFICE The Parish Office is usually open 9.30am to 12noon on Saturdays. Please phone the Parish Office - (928) 778-6018 - for details of additional services, to make appointments, and arrange for pastoral offices. If no-one answers please listen to recorded message which will give details of our regular services.

Inquiries concerning arrangements for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Confession, and Marriage should be made with the Rector. To make an appointment phone the parish office on (928) 778-6018. If no-one is there, leave your number and we will get back to you, or email us at rector@prescott-anglican.org

This page last updated 1st December 2009