Our 5pm liturgy is combination of Evensong and Eucharist. Many enjoy it as the quiet, beautiful, and prayerful center of their week. It is intended to be a full Sunday liturgy, followed by fellowship and catechesis.
What You Can Expect
Arrival
When you arrive, there will be greeters and signs showing you where to go. Please park in the main lot on the corner of Joyner and Barber. People arrive between 4:30pm and 4:45am to greet each other and prepare for the 5pm Liturgy. We ask that everyone make their way into the sanctuary at least 5 minutes before it begins. Attire is flexible, and most people dress business casual.
The Liturgy
The Liturgy is a combination of sung Evening Prayer (called Evensong) and Holy Communion from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, and lasts about 70 minutes. For ease of use, the Liturgy is entirely contained in a printed booklet. We encourage people to kneel when they pray, and to stand if they are unable to kneel. The sermon typically lasts about 20 minutes. Our hymns are selected from the 2017 REC Hymnal, and would be considered traditional. Our music team accompanies our singing with an organ and choir. The language and Liturgy is traditional, too, and keenly focused on the Triune God. Nevertheless, we regularly receive feedback that our Liturgy is both reverent, beautiful, and accessible to newcomers.
Holy Communion
We invite all baptized Christians to partake of the Eucharist. We offer Holy Communion in both kinds by intinction (meaning we dip the consecrated bread in the consecrated wine and place on the communicant’s tongue). A person can also take in one kind (meaning just the consecrated bread, received in the communicant’s palm). People who are refraining from receiving Holy Communion, either because they are not yet baptized or for conscience’s sake, can still come forward and receive a blessing.
Children
Children are a blessing, and we welcome them in the Liturgy as Christ welcomed them into His arms. Our 10AM morning liturgy is more accommodating of child noise, has nursery provided, and also children's catechesis after the Liturgy. The 5pm evening service doesn't have nursery available or children's catechesis to follow. Thus, most families choose to bring their children to the 10AM service. Baptized children are invited to take Communion if that is the practice and desire of their parents.
Music
The liturgy of Evensong and Choral Eucharist involves quite of bit of singing, all of which is congregational. We do have a "Cantor Choir" that will be amplified to assist the congregation in lending their voices to the hymns and canticles. In order to help us learn the music with ease, the hymns and canticles stay the same from Sunday to Sunday. You can see which hymns and canticles (always Nunc Dimittis and Magnificat) we've chosen for Evensong in the bulletin booklet.
After the Liturgy
Following the Liturgy, there is a time of hospitality. Heavy hors d'oeuvres, dessert, sherry, and decaf coffee will be enjoyed. Around 6:30pm, we will regather for a time of teaching and group discussion on the passage of Scripture covered in the sermon. Currently, we are working through the Book of Revelation, chapter by chapter. Catechesis will end a little after 7pm.
You are free to stay and linger after catechesis, or leave directly after the Liturgy. We look forward to meeting you!
