WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT EPIPHANY EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME?
We are all one body in Christ, but with many faces. We come from diverse social locations, and we seek to grow together into a powerful expression of the richness that is the “kin-dom” of heaven. While our ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, socio-economic status’, sexual orientations, abilities, gender identities, and political perspectives are varied, we celebrate that diversity as we grow together as sisters, brothers, and siblings in Christ. Some are lifelong Episcopalians, but many have found a home in the Episcopal Church after years of seeking. Epiphany is a place where you can feel welcomed and known. God loves you, no exceptions. You are welcome at Christ’s table. Here is a page with basic information about Epiphany’s services and service times.
If you have any special needs or questions about attending worship or any other event at Epiphany, please contact us.
An usher will greet you just inside the door and hand you a service bulletin, which includes a printed guide to that days worship and a hard copy of the Epiphany Community News. There are no assigned seats, so come on in and sit where you like. At the opening hymn, the congregation stands, and the liturgy begins.
Your children ages three (3) through 5th grade are welcome in the Sunday School program. An usher can direct you to the Godly Play and Explorers programs, which both begin downstairs under the sanctuary. Children in those classes join the rest of the congregation to worship all together at the passing of the Peace.
Of course, your babies and toddlers are welcome to stay for our worship! We’ve stocked a spacious seating area with toys, books, and a kid-friendly surface, so you and your little ones can spread out and worship comfortably. If you do feel the need to leave for a few minutes, the adjacent room is equipped with benches, chairs, and audio and video—so you’ll always be able to hear and see the service. A clergy or another Christian formation leader offers children’s word during the sermon in the meditation room for any little ones who need a change of pace for that!
You will notice that people sit, stand, or kneel at different times during the service. Feel free to follow along or not, whatever you prefer. The service leaflet offers clear instruction, but you may disregard it and allow the congregation to carry you as you become comfortable with the flow of the worship experience. There are blue and green hymnals in every pew, as well as red copies of the Book of Common Prayer. We invite you to complete one of the informational cards also in the pews and in the entryway and return it to a staff member so that we can be in touch with you!
Many of us have come to the Episcopal church from other denominations, or from no church background at all. The service may feel totally new to you, or maybe it will seem familiar. However you experience the worship here, know that we are glad to have you here, and we look forward to getting to know you.
Holy Communion, sometimes called Eucharist, or the Great Thanksgiving, the Divine Liturgy, or the Mass, is central to our worship. Unlike some Christian churches, we celebrate Holy Communion every week. It is a time when we are fed by Christ, given bread for our journey, when He gives Himself completely to us in the sacramental form of bread and wine. This is the banquet that God has prepared for all of us. The altar is God’s table, and if you are hungry, if you are seeking that something more, we invite you to receive communion. All are welcome at God’s table.
The congregation files forward, pew by pew, to the altar to receive the bread and wine. Both the bulletin and the ushers will invite you at the appointed time to come forward to receive communion. If you prefer, you and your children may receive a blessing instead of the bread and wine by simply crossing your arms across your chest. There are two main ways to receive bread and wine. One is by drinking from the common cup. The other is called “intinction”, which means that you dip the bread or wafer into the wine and eat it, rather than drinking directly from the cup. Either way is acceptable.
Gluten-free bread and grape juice are available. Simply request it when you come forward. If, for any reason, you would rather not have wine (or bread), know that by receiving the bread (or wine), you have received communion. We call this receiving in “one kind”. If you would rather not participate in communion, simply remain seated in your pew. We understand that our faith journeys are individual and unique, and no one will pressure you to participate beyond your comfort level. If you are physically unable to come forward to the altar but would like to receive communion, please tell the usher when they get to your pew and the usher will be sure that a clergy member knows to come to you.
Epiphany is a place of healing for many. Personal prayers for healing (for yourself or others) through the laying-on-of-hands are available on either side of the altar during communion. You may also submit a prayer request by contacting the church office.
In the Book of Common Prayer, our entire worship service is entitled The Holy Eucharist. The first part of the service is called The Word of God. It usually includes an opening hymn, readings from the Bible, the sermon, the Nicene Creed, the Prayers of the People, the Confession of Sin and Absolution, and Passing the Peace.
The second portion of the service is entitled The Holy Communion. It includes the offertory, the consecration of bread and wine, the partaking of bread and wine by the people, and the concluding prayers of Thanksgiving and Dismissal. At Epiphany, we often use prayers from the authorized supplemental text Enriching Our Worship, which offers more inclusive and expansive language when referring to God and God’s people. If you’d like to learn more about worship or anything else about The Episcopal Church, we offer classes through out the year, and you are welcome to contact our clergy directly.
If you need any assistance during the worship service, our ushers are more than happy to help you.
Whether you are coming from Timonium, Cockeysville, Towson, Baltimore, or from out-of-town, we hope you’ll stay and be our guest for coffee hour after the 10 o’clock service. We’d love to meet you!
