Before the Services

It is the custom upon entering church to sit or kneel in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. Episcopalians try not to talk in church before a service but use this time for personal meditation and devotions.

The Regular Service

In the worship of the Episcopal Church, everyone takes part. In the pews you will find the red Book of Common Prayer used throughout the Episcopal Church. You can follow the service by using this prayer book.
(sometimes referred to as the BCP).

Hymns are taken from the blue Hymnal 1982, and the green Wonder, Love & Praise hymnal supplement.
(referred to in the leaflet as WLP)

You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary - even among individual participants. That's okay.
The general rule is to stand for the following:

- for the reading of the Gospel during the Holy Eucharist service;

- to say our affirmation of faith, The Creed;

- to sing.

We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament Letters, the sermon and choir anthems.
We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratitude and humility before God.

Receiving Communion

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion. At communion time, the usher will indicate when your row should go up. Walk up the center aisle to the altar rail and kneel or stand. The celebrant will place a wafer or piece of bread into your cupped hands saying words such as, "The body of Christ. The bread of heaven." The chalice bearer will bring the cup of wine with the words, "The blood of Christ. The cup of salvation." You may either drink from the cup or you may dip the bread into the wine.

If you do not wish to receive communion, you may still come to the altar for a blessing. Simply cross your hands over your chest and the celebrant will know that you would like to be blessed.

Our usual practice is for all the baptized to receive, no matter how young.

After receiving communion, leave the altar area by the side openings and proceed down the side aisles to your row. Most people kneel in silent prayer for a while after receiving the Eucharist.

After the Services

At the end of the service at St.Peter's we generally have announcements before dismissal and the organ postlude.

After the 10 o'clock service on Sunday mornings, we congregate for "Fellowship Hour". This is an informal gathering in the auditorium (or outside in the summer) for snacks and conversation. It's a good time to meet people, ask questions, and get involved in the community life of St. Peter's.

What to Wear

Sometime visitors or new neighbors wonder what they and their children should wear when they come to church. At St. Peter's Church there is no dress code to worship God. People dress as they are comfortable, whether Sunday best or jeans and sneakers. The church is God's house. We show our respect by our reverence in God's house and by our love for one another.