One of the endearing qualities of The Episcopal Church, is the breadth of its possibilities. When we say "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You", it conveys the sense that the sweep of humanity might find a home with us and with God. Necessarily, this sense is expressed in a wide variety of practices. While the Episcopal Church as a whole is often regarded a a middle way between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant Church, some parishes tend to be anglo-catholic, others give emphasis to a more protestant character. St James finds its balance generally in the middle.
The 8:00 Rite I Holy Eucharist is said in traditional language. For many, this is the form of prayer they grew up with. It is beautiful and evocative.... the prayers roll off the tongue in a way that is familiar, rhythmic, comforting, and inspiring. It is the
language of prayer. Set apart from our normal speech, it
seems special, and it is:
"And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine...." -BCP p335
This is a "said" service, without organ or choir. Thus, it tends to be quiet and more contemplative perhaps. The Rite I service by its nature, is more penitential than Rite II. And while you might expect the "eight 'oclocker's" to be a serious lot, you will find a genuine warmth among them... the peace is exchanged enthusiastically, as with old friends.
The Rite II Eucharist at 10:00 is our main service; the one most people attend. There is a choir, the organ, and those great hymns. The music makes this an inspiring and moving service. Rite II is a more joyful service perhaps, and more varied. There are six forms of the "prayers for the people" and four versions of the Eucharistic Prayers. In a year, we will use all of them. The language is ours, and so are the prayers... they are common after all. And while some of the prayers are just a little removed from the traditional forms, the variations in many of them express a richness of sentiment and ideas:
"Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you." ..."At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, and planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home."
The Eucharist at 5:00pm is small, intimate, and though "contemporary", conveys a sense of our ancient monastic roots. We sit in the choir stalls of the nave. Sitting beside one another on the long bench and facing your partners across the aisle, you have a direct connection with everyone and with God. You see peace on the face of one in contemplation... the flicker of expression as an "aha" moment occurs during the homily...delivered from the pew beside you. This is both a sung and a participatory service... there are moments of holy silence. We sing a few simple, but moving Taize songs (though it is not a
Taize service exactly). One of us leads the prayers for the people from the bench... there is no need for a microphone. For Communion, we gather in a circle around the alter... each "communicates" the bread and wine to the neighbor on his left. One has a sense that this was the way of the early church... it is really "contemporary" in name only.
And so, while we are in the middle, there is "maneuver room" at St James. The temptation is to think that "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way"... but, it is really the theoretical breadth of our church made real in liturgy. We are well within the Anglican tradition. The Episcopal Church welcomes you... let us help you to find the service that strikes a chord in your heart, that you may love and serve the Lord.
