Our Worship

“Worship is not something we gather to observe, but something we gather to do.”

The focus of our community life is Sunday morning worship.

Holy Eucharist Rite One is celebrated at 8 am. Choral Holy Eucharist Rite Two is celebrated at 10 am.

The Church School meets at 9:45 and the children join the congregation during the peace and announcements.

During summer months (July 3-Sept. 4), we have one service at 9 am. This summer, 2005, the Holy Eucharist Service will be held in the air-conditioned Parish Hall.

There is also a healing service with the laying on of hands and Holy Eucharist Rite Two every Wednesday morning at 9:00 am.

Special days of commemoration include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.

Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist at the 10:00 am service on Sunday morning or other feast, namely, the First Sunday after Epiphany, the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, and all Saint’s Day or the Sunday after All Saint’s Day.

The Lenten season provides the opportunity to participate in the Stations of the Cross each Friday evening at 7:00 pm, and educational and devotional meetings.

We participate in the Ecumenical services sponsored by the Cranford Clergy Council that include the observation of Thanksgiving, Martin Luther Day, Good Friday, and the Holocaust.

It is evident that we are a people celebrating together. From the ushers at the door, the ringing of the bell choir, the adult and children's choir, the crucifer and the acolytes, the lectors, the cantor chanting the psalm with the congregation refrain. We are a singing congregation. Our gifts are offered in procession with the ushers, the child bringing the Sunday school offering, the presentation of the basket of foodstuffs for the needy and the ultimate oblation bearers. The Prayers of the People is read from the congregation and has at times been written by them. At the altar, licensed chalice bearers and Lay Eucharistic ministers assist the priest. A Lay person with a seminary degree preaches periodically. Some Lay Eucharistic Ministers visit shut-ins and take the consecrated elements to them. The dedicated ladies of the Altar Guild ensure that everything is ready and in order for regular and festive occasions.

At the conclusion of the 10 o'clock service, children are invited to help an usher ring the tower bell. Seeing them pulling on the rope, with honorable responsibility, awe and just plain fun, we "Go in peace", on our way rejoicing.