| ... ... |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
| VISITORS - What to expect when visiting our Church! |
| 667 Mount Road, Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 |
| Our Mission: To worship the Lord To serve the community To grow the church |
| WELCOME ! We are glad that you are visiting our website - and we hope you will visit our church! All are welcome! |
Many people are concerned, when visiting their first Episcopal Church, that they
won’t know what to do. Don’t worry. Once you get to know us you’ll see that
Episcopalians don’t often agree on anything – including the “right” way to do
things! But the following should help you to feel more comfortable.
Our worship follows the Book of Common Prayer. The pages for each part of the
service are frequently mentioned by Fr. Messer and are also listed in the church
bulletin. (The exceptions are those items found in the insert of the church bulletin:
Collect, lessons, Psalm, and Gospel.)
SERVICES
• Rite I - 8:00 AM Service – This service has no music , uses "traditional"
Elizabethan English and is modeled after the church's first Book of
Common Prayer.
• Rite II - 10:00 AM Service – This service has music and uses contemporary English
and is generally less formal. (There is a nursery available during this
service.)
To kneel or not to kneel – that is your choice.
The first thing we would impress on visitors to the Episcopal Church is that they
need not do anything that is uncomfortable for them. That is, if kneeling is painful or
uncomfortable, don’t kneel! If you have difficulty standing for more than a short
time: don’t stand! There are certain church seasons when we do kneel for some
prayers. Discomfort interferes with prayer and worship. Do what is comfortable!
That said, the old formula in the Episcopal Church was: stand for praise, sit for
instruction (or any time we are “just listening), kneel for prayer, but the traditional
approach is changing. Visitors might feel most at ease just doing what they see
other worshippers doing. (Hint: don’t sit in the front pew on your first visit. You
won’t be able to see what they’re doing!)
You’ll quickly see that, as in all the world these days, “things they are a-changin’,”
and there is no one, right way to do anything at all in the Episcopal Church. So
relax, enjoy, and just “Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness!”
The Holy Eucharist ( Holy Communion)
The Holy Eucharist, also known as The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is the
main Service of Worship in the Episcopal Church. Everyone is invited to come to the
Lord’s Table to receive the consecrated bread (called the Host) and wine – the Body
and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
As the climax of the service Communion comes near the end. At the proper time, the
ushers will indicate to the people, row by row, when to proceed to the altar. To
receive, you may either stand (preferred) or kneel at the Altar rail. But if you are
disabled, or for any reason unable to come forward, please inform the usher, and the
Sacrament will be brought to you in your pew. (Hint: in such circumstances, try to
sit in an aisle seat.)
To receive the bread: typically, the right hand is placed on top of the left, palms
facing up to receive the host. You may then raise it to your mouth. Those who prefer
are welcome to receive the Host directly on their tongue.
The wine chalice follows, and we suggest you help guide the chalice to your lips and
sip. If you prefer not to drink from the Common Cup, you may hold the Host until
you can dip it in the Chalice. Note: some people prefer not to take the wine, at all – a
matter of personal choice. After receiving the Sacrament, please wait until the
person next to you has finished before returning to your seat.
If you do not want to receive Communion, at all, you may wish to come forward for a
Blessing. Simply proceed to the Communion Rail with the others, and when the
Priest arrives with the host, simply cross your arms across your chest (hands to
each shoulder), with your head slightly down. The celebrant will then give you the
priestly blessing.
After the Service - Good Fellowship
After the 10 AM service, we always have a coffee hour or informal gathering in the
undercroft. The undercroft is the lower room of the church. You will see the door to
it as you walk up the hill to the main door of the church. Please join us for good
fellowship and good food!
won’t know what to do. Don’t worry. Once you get to know us you’ll see that
Episcopalians don’t often agree on anything – including the “right” way to do
things! But the following should help you to feel more comfortable.
Our worship follows the Book of Common Prayer. The pages for each part of the
service are frequently mentioned by Fr. Messer and are also listed in the church
bulletin. (The exceptions are those items found in the insert of the church bulletin:
Collect, lessons, Psalm, and Gospel.)
SERVICES
• Rite I - 8:00 AM Service – This service has no music , uses "traditional"
Elizabethan English and is modeled after the church's first Book of
Common Prayer.
• Rite II - 10:00 AM Service – This service has music and uses contemporary English
and is generally less formal. (There is a nursery available during this
service.)
To kneel or not to kneel – that is your choice.
The first thing we would impress on visitors to the Episcopal Church is that they
need not do anything that is uncomfortable for them. That is, if kneeling is painful or
uncomfortable, don’t kneel! If you have difficulty standing for more than a short
time: don’t stand! There are certain church seasons when we do kneel for some
prayers. Discomfort interferes with prayer and worship. Do what is comfortable!
That said, the old formula in the Episcopal Church was: stand for praise, sit for
instruction (or any time we are “just listening), kneel for prayer, but the traditional
approach is changing. Visitors might feel most at ease just doing what they see
other worshippers doing. (Hint: don’t sit in the front pew on your first visit. You
won’t be able to see what they’re doing!)
You’ll quickly see that, as in all the world these days, “things they are a-changin’,”
and there is no one, right way to do anything at all in the Episcopal Church. So
relax, enjoy, and just “Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness!”
The Holy Eucharist ( Holy Communion)
The Holy Eucharist, also known as The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is the
main Service of Worship in the Episcopal Church. Everyone is invited to come to the
Lord’s Table to receive the consecrated bread (called the Host) and wine – the Body
and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
As the climax of the service Communion comes near the end. At the proper time, the
ushers will indicate to the people, row by row, when to proceed to the altar. To
receive, you may either stand (preferred) or kneel at the Altar rail. But if you are
disabled, or for any reason unable to come forward, please inform the usher, and the
Sacrament will be brought to you in your pew. (Hint: in such circumstances, try to
sit in an aisle seat.)
To receive the bread: typically, the right hand is placed on top of the left, palms
facing up to receive the host. You may then raise it to your mouth. Those who prefer
are welcome to receive the Host directly on their tongue.
The wine chalice follows, and we suggest you help guide the chalice to your lips and
sip. If you prefer not to drink from the Common Cup, you may hold the Host until
you can dip it in the Chalice. Note: some people prefer not to take the wine, at all – a
matter of personal choice. After receiving the Sacrament, please wait until the
person next to you has finished before returning to your seat.
If you do not want to receive Communion, at all, you may wish to come forward for a
Blessing. Simply proceed to the Communion Rail with the others, and when the
Priest arrives with the host, simply cross your arms across your chest (hands to
each shoulder), with your head slightly down. The celebrant will then give you the
priestly blessing.
After the Service - Good Fellowship
After the 10 AM service, we always have a coffee hour or informal gathering in the
undercroft. The undercroft is the lower room of the church. You will see the door to
it as you walk up the hill to the main door of the church. Please join us for good
fellowship and good food!
| QUESTIONS??? If you have any questions - please call the church office 610-459-2013 or send an email to the website. mail@calvaryepiscopalrockdale.org |
| Small Parish - Big Heart - Inclusive The little church you've been looking for! All are welcome! |
To contact us: Calvary Episcopal Church 667 Mount Road Aston, PA 19014 610-459-2013 OFFICE The Rev. Charles Messer, Rector Fr. Chuck: frbigman@gmail.com Website: mail@calvaryepiscopalrockdale.org Office: calvaryoffice1@verizon.net |
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