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St. Philip’s enjoys a relaxed, informal style of worship, without sacrificing the beauty and dignity of Holy Eucharist and traditional liturgy as found in the Book of Common Prayer. Our children are led out by the crucifer for Sunday School after the opening of the service. They return for Eucharist with ensuing hustle and bustle, as they settle down with their parents. The children of this parish are very important and are welcome at all services. |
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Currently there are two services each Sunday. Rite I is celebrated at the 8:00 a.m. service, and Rite II at the 10:00 a.m. service, where there is music. Some of our members have indicated a wish for an additional more contemporary service, with relevant music and preaching. This has been seen as possible impetus for a third service, either Saturday or Sunday late afternoon/early evening. |
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On the fourth Sunday of each month, Healing Ministry is available at the rear of the church, where those who desire special prayers and anointing may kneel and experience laying on of hands. This occurs at both services. |
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During the ritual of “passing the peace,” we leave our seats and greet one another warmly with handshakes and hugs, both from the rows and from the center aisle. |
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The smaller, more intimate, service at 8:00 usually finds each person greeting every other person. We gather in the parish hall following 10:00 service for refreshments and chatting. We are a community of people who genuinely care about one another. |
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Special services occur throughout the church year and are always subject to change and creativity. Following is what has usually occurred in the past. Advent: During Advent there is Holy Eucharist once a week at noon. Christmas: Early in the evening on Christmas Eve there is a family service, followed later by Midnight Mass. There is one service on Christmas morning. The children’s Christmas pageant usually occurs one evening close to Christmas. |
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Lent: the Lenten season begins with noon and evening services on Ash Wednesday, and Holt Eucharist is celebrated once a week a noon. Passion Sunday: The 10:00 a.m. service begins outside the church doors with a parade of palms (and sometimes redwoods, our native tree). Members of the congregation participate in a dramatic reading of the Gospel. Holy Week: There are evening services following the Stations of the Cross and celebrating the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. A community ecumenical Good Friday service at noon welcomes participants from all Christian faiths and has often been held at St.Philip’s. Easter: Easter is a great celebration, beginning with the Great Vigil of Easter, including baptisms, on Saturday evening. We continue to celebrate the risen Christ on Easter Sunday morning with services at 8:00 and 10:00. The children enjoy an Easter egg hunt following the 10:00 service. In September on the Sunday following Labor Day, we celebrate the end of summer travels and the beginning of the school year with Homecoming and Blessing of the Backpacks . The children bring their school backpacks and extra school supplies for needy children and receive a special blessing as they embark on their adventure in a new grade. |