Welcome to Worship
Welcome to Worship: An 8 Week Formation Course
Sundays October 6 - November 24, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Register for Welcome to Worship here
Some of the earliest baptized believers were those who witnessed the events on the day of Pentecost as described in the 2nd chapter of the book of Acts. There we are told that about 3,000 people were baptized as a result of all they saw and heard on that day. What do you do next after a day such as this? Acts 2:42 tells us, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
Every Sunday in worship, we follow in these earliest believers’ practices. We, too, commit ourselves to hearing, interpreting, and living into the apostles’ teachings, and to fellowship with one another in community. We also break bread (and share wine) in Holy Communion, and make our prayers together in our worship services.
Weeks 1&2 - Apostles’ teaching
Oct. 6 Worship practices
Oct. 13 Scriptural examples
Weeks 3&4 - Fellowship
Oct. 20 Worship practices
Oct. 27 Scriptural examples
Weeks 5&6 - Breaking of Bread
Nov. 3 Worship practices
Nov. 10 Scriptural examples
Weeks 7&8 - Prayers
Nov. 17 Worship practices
Nov. 24 Scriptural examples
The Episcopal Church has a rich history of worship which employs, among other things, sacred space, ceremonial gestures, music, word, and sacrament to create a time of worship that is set apart from everyday life in order for the worshiper to be nourished and equipped to go back into everyday life with faith, hope, and love. Because of this long and rich heritage, not all of what we do is intuitive.
On the Sunday afternoons in October and November (Oct. 6-Nov. 24), this 8-week series will take participants through an introduction to worship in the Episcopal Church framed through the themes of Acts 2:42. We will address how things like sacred space, ceremonial gestures, vestments, word, and sacrament employ ancient practices, both from our scriptures and our tradition, which empower the participant to live more fully into their baptismal covenant as members of Christ’s body in the world. These sessions will be in person with the option for zoom.