Summer Schedule of Services 

     
A Note about Morning Prayer
  
The Service of Morning Prayer has been an important part of worship in the Episcopal Church for over 200 years. Designed after the daily office known as Matins from worship in monasteries, it is a service of psalms, scripture readings, canticles and prayers. Communion is not a part of this service.
  
Though used most often in the Episcopal Church today as a daily prayer service, there was a time not so long ago when Morning Prayer was considered to be the primary Sunday morning worship service in many parishes – in keeping with the Protestant spirit of the Episcopal Church. 
  
With the renewed emphasis on the sacraments over the last thirty years (in conjunction with the new prayer book in 1979), the celebration of Holy Eucharist replaced Morning Prayer as the primary mode of worship on Sundays in the Episcopal Church. As a result, many who are new Episcopalians are unfamiliar with our Morning Prayer tradition.
  
Since Morning Prayer may be led by non-ordained persons, we have chosen to use this form of worship on Sundays when Father Perry is on vacation. This allows people who grew up in the “Morning Prayer Tradition” of the Episcopal Church to reconnect with their roots, while allowing people new to the church to experience this part of our heritage as Episcopalians. 
  
Morning Prayer will be held on the following Sundays at both 8 & 10 a.m.: July 23, August 1 & August 8. The Rite I version (traditional language) will be used at 8 a.m. and Rite II (contemporary language) at the 10 a.m. service. There will be music at each 10 a.m. worship service, including the singing of a traditional Morning Prayer psalm.
  
  
Thursday Evening Eucharist and Healing Service
  
A service of Holy Eucharist with Healing Liturgy is held each Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Informal yet meditative, this service combines the celebrative nature of Holy Communion with the pastoral concern of the healing service. 
  
So, if you are…
• seeking peace in the midst of a busy week
• in need of healing – physical, emotional, or spiritual
• traveling over the weekend but wish to receive communion
• enticed by worship in the cool of a summer evening

…then we invite you to join us! 
  
Please note that Thursday evening services will not be held on July 29 and August 5.
  
  
New! Weekday Morning Communion Service for Families & Young Children
  
Summers can be a very busy time for all of us, but especially for families with young children. In an effort to continue our support of our preschool and Church School children during the summer months we are providing a new Communion Service designed especially for our young children and their families.
• The Communion Service will be held in the Parish Hall (for A/C comfort).
• It will be informal, brief, and include fellowship and snack time after the service.
• The service will be an abbreviated form of the Eucharist.
o Emphasis on simple prayers
o Bible story told by Father Perry replaces readings and the sermon
o Communion
• Come as you are! It will be worship in a relaxing, accepting and joyful atmosphere where kids can be kids.
  
Although the service is designed with children in mind, it is open to people of all ages. We especially encourage parents with infants and toddlers to join us for this celebration.
  
Our first two services have been scheduled for Wednesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. on July 14 and 21.  The service will last 20 - 30 minutes with the remaining time set aside for fellowship, discussion and snacks. There will be no services during Father Perry’s vacation; they will resume the week of August 8. 
     
Note: We will see how things go for the first two weeks. If we need to adjust the time or dates, we can consider doing so when we resume the service in August. Father Perry would love to hear from you about this new venture. If you have suggestions, comments or need more information please contact him through the church office or via email at fatherperry1986@hotmail.com.