I’m new. What should I expect on Sunday?
Worshiping at St. John’s is relaxed and welcoming. You can get to church about 10-15 minutes early and find a place to park in our parking lot next to the church, or on the streets surrounding the church.
Wear what you feel comfortable in – some will be in dresses and suits, most will be more casual, and several will be in jeans, shorts, etc.
When you come in, an usher will greet you and hand you a worship bulletin. You can sit in any pew – we don't have assigned seats here.
When you are in the pew, you’ll see a rack of books in front of you. The red book is our “Book of Common Prayer” we use for the text of the Eucharist (communion). The blue book is the 1982 Hymnal, most of our hymns will be in that book. Occasionally a hymn will come from another hymnal, but that will be indicated in the bulletin.
In the bulletin itself, you’ll see what page the worship will begin on, what hymns will be sung, and the text of the four bible lessons.
In our church we hear nearly the entire bible every three years because we use the Revised Common Lectionary to read a portion of the Old Testament, the Psalter (the psalms), the Epistles (the letters from Paul, James, John, etc.) and the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
The priest chooses from the assigned lessons of the Revised Common Lectionary and offers a sermon that lasts around 10-12 minutes. We do this because we think we need to hear all the bible – not just the parts that we agree with, feel comfortable with or support our own agenda.
When we hear the word of God, we believe that we can be transformed, inspired and strengthened in much the same way that receiving the sacrament transformed, inspires and strengthens us.
The congregations sing throughout both of our services, although there is more music at our 10 AM service where the choir is added.
The 8:30 AM service uses our historic Rite One language, our prayers include the old English pronouns of Thy, Thine, Thou and some of the most beautiful language and prayers ever offered to God. The service is shorter as we sing just two hymns at this service so if you have a busy Sunday, this might be a great fit for you.
Rite I is smaller than our later service and so it offers quiet space to connect with the holy, a chance to be a part of an intimate prayer gathering and to get to know some wonderful, faithful people.
Our 10 AM service uses the language we hear in contemporary society today.
This is our larger service and it is followed by coffee hour in our parish hall across the street. The music is joyful, the people are friendly and helpful and the experience will frame the rest of your week – you'll feel more grounded, hopeful, peaceful.
Everyone may come to the communion rail at both services. If you have been baptized, you are invited to enjoy the bread and the wine. If you’ve not been baptized, we invite you to receive a benediction, a personal blessing from the priest at the altar rail.
To receive communion, come to the rail with your pew when the usher indicates it’s your turn. Put your right hand over your left and hold it out. The priest will put a consecrated wafer in your hand. You can then eat it and drink from the cup of wine (the chalice) as it is passed – or you can hold the wafer in your fingers and dip the wafer in the cup of wine (intiction.) You can also choose to take only the bread.
To receive a blessing, go to the rail with others from your pew. When the priest brings the bread, just cross your arms over your chest. This will tell the priest that you wish to receive a blessing and not the bread.
Simply leave the rail once you’ve received communion and go back to your pew. Communion hymns are sung and then a post-communion prayer is offered. The priest offers a dismissal and stands at the back of the church to greet you in person and hear about your hopes and needs.
Coffee hour is right across the street following the 10 AM service, and you can go straight there or you can walk over with the priest once all have left the church sanctuary.
People try new churches (or first churches) for a lot of very important reasons. Some people are searching for meaning, for hope, for support, for a fresh start. Whatever your reasons, we hope St. John’s is a place that feels right to you and that this is your new church home.
We’re glad you’re here.
Worshiping at St. John’s is relaxed and welcoming. You can get to church about 10-15 minutes early and find a place to park in our parking lot next to the church, or on the streets surrounding the church.
Wear what you feel comfortable in – some will be in dresses and suits, most will be more casual, and several will be in jeans, shorts, etc.
When you come in, an usher will greet you and hand you a worship bulletin. You can sit in any pew – we don't have assigned seats here.
When you are in the pew, you’ll see a rack of books in front of you. The red book is our “Book of Common Prayer” we use for the text of the Eucharist (communion). The blue book is the 1982 Hymnal, most of our hymns will be in that book. Occasionally a hymn will come from another hymnal, but that will be indicated in the bulletin.
In the bulletin itself, you’ll see what page the worship will begin on, what hymns will be sung, and the text of the four bible lessons.
In our church we hear nearly the entire bible every three years because we use the Revised Common Lectionary to read a portion of the Old Testament, the Psalter (the psalms), the Epistles (the letters from Paul, James, John, etc.) and the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
The priest chooses from the assigned lessons of the Revised Common Lectionary and offers a sermon that lasts around 10-12 minutes. We do this because we think we need to hear all the bible – not just the parts that we agree with, feel comfortable with or support our own agenda.
When we hear the word of God, we believe that we can be transformed, inspired and strengthened in much the same way that receiving the sacrament transformed, inspires and strengthens us.
The congregations sing throughout both of our services, although there is more music at our 10 AM service where the choir is added.
The 8:30 AM service uses our historic Rite One language, our prayers include the old English pronouns of Thy, Thine, Thou and some of the most beautiful language and prayers ever offered to God. The service is shorter as we sing just two hymns at this service so if you have a busy Sunday, this might be a great fit for you.
Rite I is smaller than our later service and so it offers quiet space to connect with the holy, a chance to be a part of an intimate prayer gathering and to get to know some wonderful, faithful people.
Our 10 AM service uses the language we hear in contemporary society today.
This is our larger service and it is followed by coffee hour in our parish hall across the street. The music is joyful, the people are friendly and helpful and the experience will frame the rest of your week – you'll feel more grounded, hopeful, peaceful.
Everyone may come to the communion rail at both services. If you have been baptized, you are invited to enjoy the bread and the wine. If you’ve not been baptized, we invite you to receive a benediction, a personal blessing from the priest at the altar rail.
To receive communion, come to the rail with your pew when the usher indicates it’s your turn. Put your right hand over your left and hold it out. The priest will put a consecrated wafer in your hand. You can then eat it and drink from the cup of wine (the chalice) as it is passed – or you can hold the wafer in your fingers and dip the wafer in the cup of wine (intiction.) You can also choose to take only the bread.
To receive a blessing, go to the rail with others from your pew. When the priest brings the bread, just cross your arms over your chest. This will tell the priest that you wish to receive a blessing and not the bread.
Simply leave the rail once you’ve received communion and go back to your pew. Communion hymns are sung and then a post-communion prayer is offered. The priest offers a dismissal and stands at the back of the church to greet you in person and hear about your hopes and needs.
Coffee hour is right across the street following the 10 AM service, and you can go straight there or you can walk over with the priest once all have left the church sanctuary.
People try new churches (or first churches) for a lot of very important reasons. Some people are searching for meaning, for hope, for support, for a fresh start. Whatever your reasons, we hope St. John’s is a place that feels right to you and that this is your new church home.
We’re glad you’re here.
