Worship and Sacraments

The Altar Guild helps prepare for worship every week.  Guild members are divided into teams, who then further assign responsibilities.  They also help prepare the Historic Church for Holy Days.

Ushers are often the first point of contact a visitor to a Sunday morning worship service will have.  In addition to passing out bulletins and seating service attendees, ushers help facilitate distribution of the Eucharist.

Lay Readers participate in the public proclamation of scripture.  This is a trained and licensed lay ministry.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers support the distribution of the Eucharist by serving the chalice on Sunday mornings.  They also can be commissioned to take the Eucharist to shut-ins or those who for whatever reason are unable to be present for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

The Adult Choir leads the congregation in singing and offers a weekly anthem during the setting of the Table.  They also sing at special services throughout the year.  The Choir meets weekly for rehearsal.

During the season of COVID-19, the choir is unable to meet due to diocesan guidelines.

The Handbell Choir periodically presents music for worship.  They rehearse Sundays after the worship service.  

Baptism is the rite of initiation for all Christians.  Individuals are either baptized as infants (when parents and godparents make vows on behalf of the child), or as a mature expression of faith later in life.  The sacrament of Baptism  is traditionally celebrated on major feast days (Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, and All Saint's Day), before the entire congregation.  

Confirmation is the public profession of faith, made as an adult, before the Bishop.  The profession includes a statement of faith and vows of holy living.  If you have been confirmed in another Christian denomination, it might be appropriate for you to be received into the Episcopal Church.  Some may choose in life to reaffirm their baptismal vows.  A confirmation service is held usually once every other year, in conjunction with the Bishop's visitation.

Sometimes life happens, and talking through an experience with a priest can be helpful tool in reflection and in deriving understanding.  Likewise, there are moments in life when we recognize the need to make a confession and receive absolution -- above and beyond the general confession on Sundays.  All of this can be arrange with the Priest, and will always be held in the strictest confidence.

The family is the primary icon of God, and marriage is the sacrament where God's grace is conveyed to a couple as they pledge a lifetime of mutual love to one another.  If you are interested in getting married, it is appropriate to notify the Priest and schedule an appointment.  To be married in the Episcopal Church, couples are required to undergo premarital counseling, which can be facilitated at the Church.  

As parishioners near the end of life,  the Priest may be called upon to complete the last rites (a series of prayers, confessions, and administration of the Holy Eucharist) before death occurs.  After death, the Priest is available to assist in planning the funeral and Celebration of Life. It is also possible to discuss your own funeral, and plan arrangements prior to death, this can relieve an enormous burden off your family. These records will be kept at the parish for when they are needed.