What to Expect

Attending A Worship Service

Episcopal church services are considered by many to be formal, but that’s not really the case. What they are is “liturgical,” which means that they follow a format that has been used in Episcopal services for hundreds of years. Those leading the services wear “vestments,” which means a special type of clothing. Colors used in some vestments are changed during the year to indicate the seasons of the church year. Vestments are usually styled by cut and color to indicate whether a person is a deacon, presbyter, or bishop.

Everything in the service, our prayers, our confession to God, and our celebration of communion follows a form laid out in what we refer to as The Book of Common Prayer. It, along with scripture passages from the Bible, and songs from our Hymn Book make up the typical service. (It should be noted that the 8am service does not include hymns but the 10:30 service does.)

Our 8am service is what’s called Holy Eucharist Rite I. It uses older English language (thee, thy, thou, etc.) and includes a participatory discussion of the scripture passages led by the priest. You won’t be called on to speak, but may participate if you want to. These brief discussions are often in lieu of a homily or sermon.

Our 10:30am service is Holy Eucharist Rite II. It contains more modern English (you, your, etc.). This is our larger service in terms of attendance and, as such, does not contain a discussion after each scripture reading, but does typically have a homily or sermon. And as mentioned, this service has hymns.

As we believe in Christian fellowship, there is also a point in each service where we “pass the peace.” This is a time when we great one another — briefly — so if you’re new to St. Gabe’s, this might be an opportunity to put a name to a face.

Between The Services: Christian Education

For those interested, we have a weekly study series in the Christian Education Room on the main hall of the church at 9:15am.  The class is comprised of a video series which we watch together and then discuss.  At the moment, we’re studying a series called The Apocryphal Jesus taught by David Brakke, Ph.D., M.Div. from The Ohio State University.

The New Testament gives us 27 canonical texts—gospels, letters, and more—but these works are only a tiny fraction of the many volumes written about the life of Jesus, his family, and the apostles. This alternative body of literature falls under the category of “apocrypha,” which means “hidden” or “secret,” and it offers fascinating insights into the early Christian world and how different groups understood the teachings of Jesus and the first apostles.

Much of what we know about Jesus today actually comes from apocryphal sources rather than the Bible. The Apocryphal Jesus is your chance to learn about the breadth and depth of the early Christian world from a variety of sources—many of which were considered heretical at various times in history. Over the course of 24 revealing lectures, Professor Brakke takes us on a tour of this world and surveys the major apocryphal works that have survived. From forged letters to recently discovered gospels, The Apocryphal Jesus explores the stories and ideas that shaped the foundations of early Christian thought—and continue to influence Christianity today.

After Each Service

Getting to visit and spend time with one another is important. Even if it’s just a brief moment to say “hi” or to catch up, those moments make a difference. St. Gabe’s is a loving and welcoming community and we really do care about you and how you’re doing. After each service, we provide coffee, some light refreshments, and a chance to introduce yourself to others and to chat. This isn’t the only time we get to do this, but we love it and invite you to stick around afterward and take part!