Worship Life

Photo: Gwyneth Zakaib

The Holy Eucharist, also called the Mass, is central to the rhythm of worship at St. Paul’s. Mass is celebrated fourteen times every week: three times on Sundays, twice on weekdays, and once on Saturday. At the Mass we hear God’s Word proclaimed in Holy Scripture, and participate in the sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood, present in bread and wine.

For Infants and Toddlers, we staff a nursery where you may leave your child during any Sunday morning Mass or Sunday Christian formation class.

The Daily Offices are also offered at St. Paul’s.

• Morning and Evening Prayer are recited daily and include prayers, readings from Holy Scripture, one or more canticles (Biblical hymns), and the Lord’s Prayer. These two offices are rooted in the monastic cycle of daily prayer that developed in the 4th century, and received their modern form from Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556). Cranmer reduced the eight monastic offices to the two services of Morning and Evening Prayer, which were printed in vernacular English and intended for use by all members of the church
• Compline is sung Monday evenings at 8:30 p.m. This is the last of the eight monastic offices, which begins the Great Silence that lasts until Morning Prayer the next day.
• Solemn Evensong and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Sunday. During the academic year, this service is sung by the Choir of Boys, Girls, and Men. One of the great treasures of the Anglican tradition, Evensong features psalms, hymns, choral music, and lessons. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic devotion in which we offer praise, adoration, and thanksgiving to God as revealed in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. This devotion proclaims His wonderful work in history and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Shrine Prayers are offered weekdays at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at 5:30 p.m. immediately before Evening Prayer. We pray intercessions that have been requested from far and near. Many of these requests are for healing of mind, body, and spirit, and thanksgivings for prayers answered.