What to expect when you visit an Anglican church

You'll be welcome

We extend a cordial welcome to you to worship with us, and offer the following as a brief introduction to the Anglican Church and its ways.

The Place of Worship

You will notice as you enter our worship space (which we call our Nave [from a naval term suggesting the shape of the keel of the ship that was often reflected in the shape of many classically designed churches). This space lends itself to an atmosphere of worship and reverence.

Anglican churches are built in many architectural styles, with each church designed with the altar, or holy table, and the cross as the focal point. Immediately upon entering the church our thoughts are moved at once to Jesus and to God whose house it is.

An Altar rail often surrounds the altar, which separates it from the Nave. It is inside this altar rail that you will find what we call our ?Sanctuary.? You will see candles on or near the altar. These remind us that Jesus said, ?I am the Light of the world? (John 8:12). You may also see flowers. These remind us of the new life we can have through the resurrection of Jesus. Anglicans believe in the importance of making God?s house as beautiful as possible.

As you face the altar you see a pulpit on the left (called the Gospel side). It is from the pulpit that sermons may be preached. On the other side (the Epistle side) you will see a lectern. It is from this lectern that the lessons are read and the prayers are led. The Gospel of Christ is read from the middle of the Nave or the entrance to the Sanctuary.

The Act of Worship

Anglican church services are like a divine drama. Each person in attendance has a role to play in this drama. Each person in the congregation is encouraged to participate in the worship of Almighty God. Because we worship together we seek a common form of worship that allows each person to participate together. We use a Book of Common Prayer which has its roots in ancient Anglicanism and, indeed, in Early Church worship. To make it easier on newcomers and visitors we print out the entire service in our Sunday Bulletins. At other services we use the Book of Common Prayer commonly used by those in the Anglican tradition.

We stand, kneel and sit at various times during our worship services. This can be a bit confusing. Directions are usually given to help know what posture our worship might be taking at a particular moment. When the congregation kneels, a person may choose to sit.

The general rule is to stand to sing - hymns (the words are found in the bulletin and the music we use is found in the Hymnal in the pews) and other songs (many of them from the Holy Bible) printed as part of the service. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel. We stand for the reading of the Gospel (from the biblical books Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) out of respect for the Words of Christ. Psalms are sung or said sitting or standing. We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We kneel (or sit if one prefers) for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as His children or as an act of humility before God.

The Regular Services

The principal service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion, the Lord?s Supper, the Mass). In some Anglican churches it is celebrated quite simply, without music, at the early service on Sunday morning. When celebrated at the later service on Sundays, or on other great Christian days such as Christmas and Easter, music is customary.

Another service is Morning Prayer. The parallel evening service is Evening Prayer. These services consist of psalms, Bible readings, and prayers; and may include a sermon. They may be with or without music.

While some parts of the services are always the same, others change. At the Holy Eucharist, for example, two or three Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday. So do the psalms. Certain of the prayers also change, in order to provide variety.

Many find the services of the Anglican Church beautiful in their ordered dignity; God-centered, and yet mindful of the nature and needs of human beings.

Before and After Services

Upon entering church many follow the custom to kneel in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. In many churches it is also the custom to bow (or genuflect) to the altar and the presence of Christ in the Ambry ( a special box identified with a lighted candle in the wall which houses bread and wine that have been consecrated at a Eucharistic service as the Body and Blood of Christ) on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.

Anglicans seek to maintain silence in church before a service and use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons kneel for a private prayer before leaving. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude.

Clergy

Our clergy follow the ancient biblical orders of ministry ? Bishops, Priests (Presbyters) and Deacons. While we believe in the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9), we also believe God has established special orders of ministry to assist in the equipping of the saints and to carry on the sacramental ministry established by Jesus.

Vestments

Because we are acting out a divine drama, we use many symbols to draw our attention to a deeper spiritual reality. We believe many of these symbols add to the meaning, beauty and festivity of the services. One type of symbol is seen in the vestments the clergy and other ministers wear. These also signify their special ministries. Many of these vestments are reminiscent of the Jewish roots of the priesthood.

A familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Perhaps this harkens back to the Jewish priesthood, and that the alb in particular represents the Kethonet, a white linen tunic worn by the priests of which we read in Exodus 28:39. It is symbolic of the purity of Christ whom the priest represents at the altar. Over it ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. It is sometimes linked to the Jewish Prayer shawl or the tassels on the clothing of the Children of Israel to remind them to obey the commandments of God (Numbers 15:38-40). It is more likely linked to the napkin used by Christ in washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:4), and is a fitting symbol of the yoke of Christ, the yoke of service. Deacons wear the stole over one shoulder, priests and bishops over both shoulders. The colors of the stole change according to the liturgical church season.

At the Holy Eucharist a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelopes the body) over the alb and stole. It may be that this garment harkens back to the robe of the ephod worn by the Old Testament priest (Exodus 39). Some relate this garment to the one-piece scarlet garment put on Christ by soldiers at his crucifixion or the one-piece garment they took from Christ at his crucifixion. The priest, being a representative of Christ, would thus remind the congregation of Christ and His sacrifice.

Stoles, chasubles, as well as altar coverings, are usually made of rich fabrics. Their color changes with the seasons and holy days of the Church Year. The most frequently used colors are white, red, violet, and green.

The Church Year

The Anglican Church observes the traditional Christian calendar. The season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30. Christmas itself lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (January 6).

Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter (excluding Sundays), begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts fifty days, concluding on the feast of Pentecost.

During these times the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the year - the season after Epiphany and the long season after Pentecost (except for a few special Sundays) - the New Testament is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme with one of the New Testament readings.

Coming and Going

If there are greeter and ushers they will greet you, give you a bulletin and assist you (if needed) to a pew (special benches on which we sit). If you desire, they will answer your questions about the service. Pews are usually unreserved in Anglican churches.

Following the service the pastor/priest (he is often called the Rector) greets the people as they leave.

You Will Not Be Embarrassed

When you visit an Anglican church, you will be a respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way, nor asked to stand before the congregation or to come forward. You will simply be invited to worship God with us.

Should you wish to know more about the Anglican Church or how one becomes an Anglican, the pastor will gladly answer your questions and suggest the way to membership.