It can be a little intimidating walking into a church for the first time. Or maybe it’s just been a long time and a lot has changed. With us you will find that the songs are sing-able, the sermons are understandable (and not too long), and you don’t need to come in a suit. The people are friendly and the coffee hour following the service is a lot of fun and usually has delicious treats!

This information may help shed some light on aspects of the Episcopal Church and New Life specifically so that you are comfortable from the moment you arrive.

What do Episcopalians Believe?

Book of Common Prayer

The Book of Common Prayer: (BCP) is the primary prayer book used throughout the Anglican Communion. (Churches following the Anglican tradition.) Rich with language and heritage, the BCP is something that unifies Anglicans around the world. You can read the BCP online here.

The Creeds: The ecumenical creeds, both Nicene (BCP page 358) and Apostles’ (BCP page 120), are used by the Episcopal Church in its worship day by day and week by week. They are the ancient and universal statements of the Christian faith.

The Episcopal Church also has a Catechism (BCP page 845), which summarizes our faith in a question and answer format.

What to Expect

First and foremost, remember this: You will always be welcome. New Life is often called the friendliest church around by visitors. We all are very glad that you are worshiping with us, and want to make every effort to make it a positive experience for you. The person sitting next to you (unless they too are a visitor!) would be honored to assist you with the worship service and answer your questions. We have many new members, so we wear nametags to get to know each other by name. Our greeters will help you get a nametag (if desired) and get visitor materials for you. Our ushers will give you today’s bulletin, which outlines the order of the service.

This Place of Worship and Fellowship

As you enter New Life, you will notice an atmosphere of both worship and casual homeyness in our growing church. Our rockers and sofas in the parlor are used for meetings and bible studies and just plain chats, while our center of worship (sanctuary) is simple yet lofty, light and uplifting. It may remind you of the simple rural churches of old, where close-knit communities came to love God and care about each other. Exactly as it’s still done today at New Life!

In the sanctuary of all Episcopal churches, your eye is always drawn to the altar, or holy table, and to the cross. This is so that our thoughts are taken at once to Christ, and to God, whose house the church is. On or near the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the “Light of the World” (John 8:2). On most Sundays there are flowers to beautify God’s house, help us recall the resurrection of Jesus, and express love in memoriam or thanksgiving.

As you look toward the altar, you will notice a set of pews on the left side, near the organ and piano, where our choir sits to assist in the leading of our worship. You will also notice on the right of the altar a lectern/pulpit, where lay people read bible lessons and the sermon is preached.

As in any home, our kitchen/social hall downstairs is the center of many family meals and fellowship. Youth education and other rooms downstairs are other places in our spiritual home where lots of learning, serving and sharing occurs.

Before the Service

Before the service it is our custom upon entering the church to kneel or sit in the pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. If the service has already started, we simply join in.

The Act of Worship

Book of Common Prayer

Hymnal 1982

The Regular Services

Our regular services are Sunday at 10:00 am and Wednesday at both 10:30 am and 5:30 pm. The Wednesday services are celebrated quite simply, without music, and the Holy Eucharist accompanies all the services.

Some parts of the service are always the same and others can change. We sometimes use Rite I, sometimes Rite II (BCP) and at some times use the service of Morning Prayer. Some of the prayers also change in order to provide variety and to suit the season. Page numbers in the BCP for various parts of the service are usually printed in your bulletin in the order of service.

The “three piece shuffle” between the bulletin, the BCP and the Hymnal is a common challenge! Please don’t hesitate to ask your neighbor for assistance. You will find the service at New Life to be beautiful, God-centered, and yet mindful of the needs of visitors and new members.

Should You Partake of Communion?

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, you are welcome at this table for Holy Eucharist. Welcome Home.

After the Service

After the final notes of the closing hymn, you will be asked to sit back down to hear announcements. We try to keep them short, and they certainly will give you a flavor of the church! We hope that you will sign our guest book so we can send you more information about New Life. It is located in the narthex, or foyer at the top of the steps as you entered the church.

Please join us for Coffee Hour!

Following the service, you are invited to join us for “Coffee Hour” as we call it, downstairs in our social hall. New Life almost specializes in feeding the body as well as the soul! Our Vestry members or guest clergy will be available there to talk with you if you desire, and you can meet some of the wonderful people enjoying New Life.

What Clergy Wear

To add to the beauty and festivities of the services, and to signify their special ministries, the clergy and other ministers wear vestments.

One familiar vestment is the alb, a white tunic with sleeves that covers the body from neck to ankles. Over it, ordained ministers wear a stole, a narrow band of colored fabric. At the Eucharist, a bishop or priest frequently wears a chasuble (a circular garment that envelops the body) over the alb and stole.

Stoles and 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, purple and green.

The Church Year

The Episcopal 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 Epiphany (January 6).

Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter, 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 for 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.

You Will Not Be Embarrassed

When you visit us at New Life, you will be our respected and welcomed guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way.

Should you wish to know more about the Episcopal Church or how one becomes a member of New Life, the priest will gladly answer your questions and suggest the way to membership.

We welcome you to a very special spiritual home!