Visitor Information
Just a little information to get acquainted here at Christ the King Episcopal Church:
First things First
We’re delighted your’ here, and want you to come back.
We suspect you may have some questions. Everybody you see was a newcomer at one time or another, and we’ve all had questions – probably the very same ones.
So, don’t hesitate to ask questions!!
We want you to be comfortable so you can worship God and enjoy your visit today. You can’t do that if you are wondering which book to pick up next or trying “to do everything right,” which usually means doing the same things everybody else is doing.
So…. Sit Back and Relax.
First things First
We’re delighted your’ here, and want you to come back.
We suspect you may have some questions. Everybody you see was a newcomer at one time or another, and we’ve all had questions – probably the very same ones.
So, don’t hesitate to ask questions!!
We want you to be comfortable so you can worship God and enjoy your visit today. You can’t do that if you are wondering which book to pick up next or trying “to do everything right,” which usually means doing the same things everybody else is doing.
So…. Sit Back and Relax.
- The first rule is: When you are worshiping God, you can’t get it wrong!
- The second rule is: If you need help, ask someone near you.
- The last rule is: Regardless of what anybody else is doing, don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Am I allowed to take Communion here?
THE ANSWER IS NOT ONLY “YES”, BUT ALSO “WE HOPE YOU WILL.”
What are these books in the chair in front of me?
The red one is the Book of Common Prayer. The entire services as well as a lot of other stuff is contained in it. Here at Christ the King all you need will be posted on the screens/wall in the front on either side of the altar.
The larger blue book is the Hymnal 1982. The songs we sing are indicated in the bulletin the usher gave you, and you will find the words posted on the screens/wall in the front on either side of the altar.
We take the time before the service to say hello to God, to prepare for communion (and, by the way, everybody is invited to come to the altar rail) and perhaps to go over the readings or other information printed on the insert in the bulletin.
The larger blue book is the Hymnal 1982. The songs we sing are indicated in the bulletin the usher gave you, and you will find the words posted on the screens/wall in the front on either side of the altar.
We take the time before the service to say hello to God, to prepare for communion (and, by the way, everybody is invited to come to the altar rail) and perhaps to go over the readings or other information printed on the insert in the bulletin.
Speaking of which, what is all this stuff?
The bulletin is a guide for today’s service. The major parts of the service are all here it includes the page numbers in the Book of Common Prayer and the hymnal. Also included in the “Stuff” are announcements of upcoming events, a schedule of additional services during the week, a list of the members of the ministry teams (people who serve in specific ways in today’s service).
The insert with the day’s lessons has a title at the top for this particular day in the church calendar. The first prayer, the Collect, is shown in two versions, Traditional and Contemporary. It also includes the first and second lessons (readings from the Old and New Testaments, respectively) a Psalm, and the Gospel reading.
If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please use the listing found in the foyer soon after you entered our church building.
The insert with the day’s lessons has a title at the top for this particular day in the church calendar. The first prayer, the Collect, is shown in two versions, Traditional and Contemporary. It also includes the first and second lessons (readings from the Old and New Testaments, respectively) a Psalm, and the Gospel reading.
If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please use the listing found in the foyer soon after you entered our church building.
There’s an awful lot of stuff in this church.
That’s very true. The Episcopal way of worshiping exercises all the senses – sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. We like to think of it as worshipping God with our whole being.
Why are some people bowing and some kneeling before entering the pews, and others don’t do anything at all?
What you are noticing is called “reverencing” and people have different ways of doing it. Some bow in the direction of the altar, some “genuflect” (touching their knee to floor), others reverence silently or without gesture. We do not reference The Altar but the presence of consecrated Communion Wafer and Wine. It’s like we said, do whatever helps you to worship; don’t do whatever hinders that.
Why do some people touch themselves on the forehead and shoulders?
Again, this is a personal worship style. This is called “making the sign of the cross.” Some people do it out of habit, others because it reminds them of the price Jesus paid to enable us to respond to God’s love; still others because it’s their way of “taking up their own cross” and following him. You will see them doing this at different times during the service, too. But you don’t have to cross yourself because others do.
This looks very Roman Catholic to me. Is this a Roman Catholic church?
Well … that’s a hard one to answer in a booklet like this. Although the ancient Church from which the Episcopal Church sprang was Roman Catholic, the present-day Episcopal Church has practices and beliefs that are distinctly different from those of the Roman Catholic Church. The important thing, however, is our worship of God.
So, what’s going to happen next?
As you wait for the service to start, the first thing you’ll probably hear will be the Prelude music. Sometimes acolytes will light candles on the altar. One thing you can do before the actual service starts is familiarize yourself with the bulletin. However, everything we sing and say during the service will be projected on the screens on either side of the altar. Whatever we will be singing first is listed in the bulletin as the Call to Worship and then the Processional Hymn. If you don’t know the hymn or don’t want to sing, you can just pray the words. Singing is praising God twice.
Is there a time to collect money as an offering?
An Offering is collected every Sunday after the “Sharing of the Peace”. The congregation is expected to return to their individual seats, the ushers will collect plates from an acolyte and they will then distribute the plates throughout the congregation. Once the offering is collected, the ushers will bring the plates forward and our Priest will bless it to the Glory of God.
Who are the people in the funny clothes?
Not much of a fashion statement, is it? You will see acolytes wearing a red and or white robe and they carry the cross in procession (watch people bow when it passes them) and light the candles; sometimes acolytes also carry banners. Then comes the clergy. Their vestments are the most festive and sometimes very elaborate – the colors of their stoles reflect the colors of the season in the church calendar. The Priest wears a Chasuble during The Holy Communion. If the Bishop is present, he’ll be last in the procession. You will know it’s the Bishop because he wears a pointed hat, called a mitre and carries a fancy staff (similar to one a shepherd would carry).
What about communion? How does that work here?
ALL Baptized persons are welcome to participate in communion. Communion is received at the altar railing.
You may kneel or stand to receive communion. Just put your right hand, palm side up, in your left hand and a priest will put a wafer or piece of bread in your hand, saying either, “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life”, or “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven”. You can either place the wafer in your mouth, or wait for the wine to be given – and the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister will dip it into the chalice and then place it into your mouth.
Next comes the wine. We use real wine, not grape juice, and a common cup. When the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister come to you, guide the cup to to your lips and take a sip. If you do not wish to consume wine, just cross your arms over your chest as the Deacon/ Lay Eucharistic minister approaches you. If you want wine, but do not want to drink from the cup, leave the bread in your palm. And the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister will dip it into the chalice and then place it into your mouth. As the Deacon/ Lay Eucharistic minister gives you the wine, he or she will say, “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life”, or “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation”.
As we said earlier ALL Baptized Christians are invited to receive communion even infants. However, if you have a child who you do not wish to take communion, just have your child cross his or her arms across his or her chest. The priest will say a blessing for them. This final option is also true for adults. Remember that the Eucharist is complete in one kind, in other words if you only wish to receive the Bread or the Wine it is considered a complete Eucharist.
You may kneel or stand to receive communion. Just put your right hand, palm side up, in your left hand and a priest will put a wafer or piece of bread in your hand, saying either, “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life”, or “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven”. You can either place the wafer in your mouth, or wait for the wine to be given – and the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister will dip it into the chalice and then place it into your mouth.
Next comes the wine. We use real wine, not grape juice, and a common cup. When the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister come to you, guide the cup to to your lips and take a sip. If you do not wish to consume wine, just cross your arms over your chest as the Deacon/ Lay Eucharistic minister approaches you. If you want wine, but do not want to drink from the cup, leave the bread in your palm. And the Deacon/Lay Eucharistic minister will dip it into the chalice and then place it into your mouth. As the Deacon/ Lay Eucharistic minister gives you the wine, he or she will say, “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life”, or “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation”.
As we said earlier ALL Baptized Christians are invited to receive communion even infants. However, if you have a child who you do not wish to take communion, just have your child cross his or her arms across his or her chest. The priest will say a blessing for them. This final option is also true for adults. Remember that the Eucharist is complete in one kind, in other words if you only wish to receive the Bread or the Wine it is considered a complete Eucharist.
A word about symbolism…
In the very earliest of churches, most people could neither read nor write. So it became necessary to invent ways to teach people about religious matters and let them know what was going on, especially since all services and prayers were in Latin!! Many of these traditions still exist – like different vestments colors to denote various seasons of the church year, stained glass windows to tell Biblical stories, Sanctus Bells to indicate the most solemn moments of Holy Communion. These subtle reminders enhance the beauty of our tradition and enrich our worship services today.
Look, tell you what...
Now that the service has started, let’s hold the rest of the questions until afterwards when you can join us for a cup of coffee. Until then, though, just use your service bulletin and take note of the screens up front to follow the service. Remember, do what makes you feel comfortable.
The Point is God’s glad you are here, and so are we.
You might ask yourself is anyone going to make me stand and give my name or anything like that?
No. Not because we don’t care; in fact, you will find we care very much. We just don’t want to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. We hope you have been asked to enter your name in our guest register.
Okay, here we go….
Remember, if you get lost, ask the person next to you for help.
You might ask yourself is anyone going to make me stand and give my name or anything like that?
No. Not because we don’t care; in fact, you will find we care very much. We just don’t want to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. We hope you have been asked to enter your name in our guest register.
Okay, here we go….
- The service bulletin will help you navigate your way through the service.
- If you prefer, you can use the Book of Common Prayer, remember the service is projected on the front screens.
- Our Hymns will be projected on the front walls.
- The Lessons will be found in your bulletin insert, Old Testament, Psalm, New Testament and the Gospel.
Remember, if you get lost, ask the person next to you for help.
Please join us for Coffee following the service.
We are glad you have shared your morning with us and hope you have enjoyed our service. We would love to have you join us again at Christ the King.
If you haven’t already done so, please remember to sign the guest book before you leave today.
God Bless You.
We are glad you have shared your morning with us and hope you have enjoyed our service. We would love to have you join us again at Christ the King.
If you haven’t already done so, please remember to sign the guest book before you leave today.
God Bless You.