Worship Service Descriptions

Holy Communion (Eucharist)

• Traditional Holy Communion (Eucharist-Rite I) - A traditional service.
• Holy Communion with Music (Eucharist-Rite II) - A service of the Holy Eucharist with choir, organ and piano. Music includes traditional hymns, choral anthems and a blended selection of contemporary songs and other favorites. Guest soloists, outside choirs and instrumentalists regularly assist in our Sunday services.

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper, is one of the most important Christian sacraments. The early Jewish ritual associated with a common meal included a blessing over the bread and wine. At the Last Supper Christ told his followers that the bread was his body and the wine was his blood. As Episcopalians, we celebrate Christ's body and blood every week. The phrase "the Eucharist" may refer not only to the rite but also to the "bread" and "cup" used in the rite, and, in this sense, those who take communion (communicants) may speak of "receiving the Eucharist," rather than "celebrating the Eucharist."

At St. Matthew’s everyone is welcome to the Communion table. If you are a baptized Christian, you may drink from a common cup of wine or dip the communion wafer in the cup of wine. If you are not a baptized Christian, cross your arms over your chest and you will receive a blessing.

Holy Communion for those concerned about gluten in their diet may partake in a gluten free communion wafer and non-sulfide communion wine. Individuals wishing to receive these elements, please come forward and take Communion with the ushers. Come to the altar rail closest to the organ where you will be served communion from a separate chalice and paten (small plate used to hold the communion wafer or “host”).

The Family Holy Communion Service

The Family Service is held in Huffman Hall and runs concurrently with the 10:30 Holy Communion with Music Service in the Sanctuary.  The Family Eucharist lasts 45 minutes and incorporates many of the wonderful parts of Children’s Chapel with a homily that has a message for children and adults alike.  All ages are welcome; you don’t have to have children to attend.  The option to drop off your children and attend the 10:30 Eucharist in the sanctuary is still available to families.  If you haven’t tried it, come and join us!

We involve children in all aspects of the service so please e-mail Susan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if your child would like to be a reader, a candle lighter, a crucifer, an usher, or help with the offering. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Goodman at 345-8314 x227 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Afternoon Worship

Various Worship formats offered each Sunday in the Wilson Room (B-14) ranging from Contemplative Eucharist (see description below), Youth Led Service, Compline, Taize Music or Healing Service, lasting approximately 45 minutes in the Wilson Room (B-14).

Contemplative Holy Communion

Three out of Four Sundays Each Month at 5:15 PM in the George Wilson Memorial Room (B-14)
(See Weekly Word Calendar)

Why go to a Contemplative Service? For the silence. This is what people say. We need the silence to grow, to heal, to open to God. This service draws people for very different reasons.

Of course you can be silent at home, and we need to identify and protect a time and place for silence and for prayer. Sometimes this can be a struggle. But having a regular liturgical experience of contemplative silence in the context of the Holy Eucharist helps us keep our focus or recover our focus when it gets blurred.

What is meant by the world “contemplative?” The key is the silence - it is silence as prayer. It is the ancient way of prayer that relinquishes all effort at doing anything and simply opening up to being in the presence of God. Part of the opening prayer goes, "Let me be still and know that You are God." It is this kind of silence that is called “contemplative." Many find that it is in silence that one learns to be in prayer, as opposed to praying. It is in this silence as prayer that one deepens and expands - like gently stretching the soul. St. John of the Cross has called silence "The first language of God."

The printed service outline is from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP, the prayer book of the Episcopal Church) and is called "An Order for Holy Eucharist" (sometimes called Rite III). When you come for the service, you will see people gathering in silence at the appointed time. The priest enters in silence. There is an opening prayer, followed by silence. There are usually three readings, each followed by periods of five or six minutes of silence, ended by a bell.

The readings are selected by the priest and are drawn from the Holy Scriptures and the seasonal themes of the lectionary, though not necessarily those readings for a given Sunday. Readings are also drawn from devotional classics on prayer, from hymns read as poetry, or other sources of prayer. There is no homily, but often the selected readings gently point to one or more related themes. One of the readings is always from the Gospel, since this is a service of Holy Communion.

Following the readings and silence, the service moves to the prayers of the people, using a bidding form with silence between petitions to allow people to add their own intercessions. Closing with a collect, the service moves to the table and Holy Communion

Very few liturgical responses are used, just enough to provide minimal structure. An informal Eucharistic Prayer leads to the Words of Institution which leads to the recognition that here "God has shown us His face and His heart in Jesus Christ our Lord, and He meets us here, now in the breaking of the bread."

The Lord's Prayer follows and people come to receive. Then, after silence, the post communion prayer is prayed. It is the prayer of St Francis, followed by a blessing and a simple dismissal. The priest exits and the people leave in silence.

All of the St. Matthew’s priests have conducted the Contemplative Service. Each one leads in a somewhat different way. The service typically lasts 40 to 45 minutes. As for those attending, there could be five to seven one Sunday and 10 to 12 the next, with different people each week. Over several weeks we might see 20 to 25 different people. Newcomers show up fairly often.

Click here to read more about Contemplative Prayer by the Rev. Jim Williams

Evening Prayer

A parish discipline provided as a respite and anchor for the church.  Each evening dedicated lay ministers read scripture and lead intercessions for our nation, our troops, the leaders of all the nations and those on our parish prayer list.  The service lasts approximately 15 minutes.

Wednesday Worship Services

• Holy Communion (Rite II) - A warm and intimate celebration of Holy Communion with a brief homily by the celebrant, the Rev. Jerry Chapman
• Holy Communion and Healing Service - A warm and intimate celebration of the Holy Communion, including a dignified ritual of "laying on of hands" for those who come for healing.