We celebrate the story of God’s work of redemption with many special services that mark our church calendar and the liturgical year. The Christian year begins in Advent with the story of Jesus’ coming as well as the anticipation of his second coming! We mark Advent with special music, the lighting of the Advent wreath and a Service of Lessons and Carols on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This service weaves together a progression of scripture readings from Old and New Testaments which, together with carols and songs sung by the choir and congregation, carry worshipers from Old Testament prophecy to fulfillment in the Christ child.
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While there are many events throughout the Christmas season, the highlight is our worship together. On Christmas Eve we have a 4:00pm Family Service with a Christmas pageant type of feel. After singing ‘Silent Night’ by candlelight many go home to enjoy the rest of the evening together. At 10:00pm we have a special Festival Eucharist that includes a procession, incense, candles and the great music of the season in celebration of the birth of the Christ child. We have a Rite 1 Eucharist on Christmas Day at 10:30am. The lessons are different from Christmas Eve so that those who wish to make this their second service of Christmas may join those who prefer this quiet service to the festival celebrations on the Christmas Eve.
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Epiphany is upon us each January. While there are no special services we often have a particular focus on missions during this season where we remember Christ as Light of the World.
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Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. We mark Ash Wednesday with three services for the Imposition of Ashes (7:00am, noon and 7:00pm). The evening prior to Ash Wednesday the youth group often treats the parish to a Fat Tuesday celebration. Pancakes and sausages are consumed by all and money raised goes toward a summer mission trip. The Wednesdays following Ash Wednesday we host a 4-week Lenten Dinner and Teaching Series for the entire parish.
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Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. We typically celebrate with a Festival Procession, the Liturgy of the Palms as well as a dramatic reading of the Passion Narrative which is designed to lead worshippers into an observance of Holy Week. The worship of Maundy Thursday is rich in symbolism and includes the washing of feet and the dramatic stripping of the altar in preparation for Good Friday. The service concludes in total darkness. On Good Friday worshippers are encouraged to keep vigil from Noon to 3:00pm, the hours that Jesus hung on the cross. The service, however, is designed for worshippers to spend any one hour without loss of continuity.
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On Easter Sunday we celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead! The Great Vigil of Easter begins at 6:00am, in darkness. It includes special singing, the lighting of the Easter Candle, scripture, silence and Holy Baptism. The service concludes with the ringing of bells! Our regular 9am and 11am services celebrate the Resurrection of Christ with preaching, singing and much joy! We welcome all to join us.
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Our name day, Ascension Day, is held on a Thursday evening in May or June. The Bishop joins us to celebrate with a Service of Confirmation. Following Ascension Day we mark the Feast of Pentecost in our worship and encourage people to wear “Holy Spirit colors” – red, orange and yellow. The children particularly enjoy this Sunday as they dance with colored scarves at the conclusion of the service.
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We conclude the liturgical year with a celebration of the great saints of the Church during All Saints Sunday in early November. We pull out all of the ‘liturgical stops’ celebrating through music, prayers and incense on this Festival Day. The final Sunday of the church calendar is Christ the King Sunday where, appropriately, we pay homage to Jesus as Savior, Lord and triumphant King of Kings.
