What to Expect When You Visit St. John’s
We are happy and thankful that you are interested in visiting St. John’s. Below is some basic information about what to expect when you attend a worship service here. Recognizing that you can never really get a feel for a place until you experience it in person, we hope this will make your first visit a bit more comfortable.
Please note that some details have changed due to the COVID19 Pandemic.
Please note that some details have changed due to the COVID19 Pandemic.
Getting Here
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We are located at 11201 Parkfield Drive Austin, Texas 78758 This is the corner of Braker Lane and Parkfield Drive in north central Austin Click here for an interactive map. |
The entrance to our parking lot is on Parkfield Drive, and you may park anywhere that is convenient. We have a few spaces close to the buildings that are reserved for visitors and for those who are mobility impaired. There are three buildings on our property; the Church is the large high-roofed building that is located closest to Braker Lane. The other, smaller buildings are our Parish Hall and a general-purpose building.
When you enter the front doors at St. John’s, you will be greeted by an Usher who will hand you a paper worship bulletin. Most of the time, this bulletin will consist of four parts: an outline of the worship service, a calendar of events for the upcoming week, a set of announcements covering the life of the church, and a listing of the Bible readings that we will read and learn from during the service. On some occasions (typically Christmas and Easter Services or other special events) the worship bulletin will be a full booklet that includes the entire worship service in addition to the calendar, announcements, and Bible readings.
When you enter the front doors at St. John’s, you will be greeted by an Usher who will hand you a paper worship bulletin. Most of the time, this bulletin will consist of four parts: an outline of the worship service, a calendar of events for the upcoming week, a set of announcements covering the life of the church, and a listing of the Bible readings that we will read and learn from during the service. On some occasions (typically Christmas and Easter Services or other special events) the worship bulletin will be a full booklet that includes the entire worship service in addition to the calendar, announcements, and Bible readings.
Our Sunday Services
On Sundays, we offer two forms of worship in English and one form in Spanish:
9:00 AM – Holy Eucharist, Rite I
This service uses classical language (Elizabethan English, “thee” and “thou”) without music. The service typically lasts about 45 minutes.
This service uses classical language (Elizabethan English, “thee” and “thou”) without music. The service typically lasts about 45 minutes.
10:30 AM – Holy Eucharist, Rite II
This service uses contemporary language with music and typically lasts about one hour. This service is also broadcast online via the Zoom Online Meetings system and is recorded for later viewing on YouTube and on our website. Links for participating in the online service or viewing the service later are posted on our web site and on Facebook.
This service uses contemporary language with music and typically lasts about one hour. This service is also broadcast online via the Zoom Online Meetings system and is recorded for later viewing on YouTube and on our website. Links for participating in the online service or viewing the service later are posted on our web site and on Facebook.
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1:00 PM, La Santa Eucaristía, Rito Dos, en Español
This service is celebrated entirely in Spanish using contemporary language with music. The service typically lasts about one hour. |
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In the Pews
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Once you enter the church itself, you may sit in any pew that you wish. There are no “assigned seats” at St. John’s. We have a hearing assistance system: if you need assistance; please ask an usher for a receiver. For the 10:30 AM service, we also provide a Braille service booklet for the visually impaired.
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The guide for our worship services is The Book of Common Prayer, a red book with a cross on the cover found in the book racks on all pews. For the Spanish language services, the guide is a blue book titled El Libro de Oración Común. The other books are different Hymnals containing the songs that we sing during the services.
Liturgical Worship
Worship in the Episcopal Church is said to be “liturgical,” meaning that the congregation follows service forms and prays from texts that don’t change greatly from week to week during a season of the year. This sameness from week to week gives worship a rhythm that becomes comforting and familiar to the worshipers.
For the first-time visitor, our liturgy may be a bit confusing. Services involve standing, sitting, kneeling, sung or spoken responses, and other participatory elements that may provide a challenge for a first-time visitor. Relax, and don’t worry about trying to do everything right! When you’re worshipping God, you can’t get it wrong.
The general rule is that we stand to sing, sit to listen, and stand or kneel to pray. This is not a hard and fast rule, and it is more important that you participate in worship in the way that is comfortable and meaningful to you. You will often see some persons standing and others kneeling for the same prayer. Similarly, you may see some people bowing as they approach the Altar while others don’t. This is all normal. We want you to feel comfortable worshipping with us. Worship is a time to join with others in giving thanks to God for God’s wonderful blessings in our lives. It is a time to allow yourself to enter into God’s presence and to be touched by God’s love.
For the first-time visitor, our liturgy may be a bit confusing. Services involve standing, sitting, kneeling, sung or spoken responses, and other participatory elements that may provide a challenge for a first-time visitor. Relax, and don’t worry about trying to do everything right! When you’re worshipping God, you can’t get it wrong.
The general rule is that we stand to sing, sit to listen, and stand or kneel to pray. This is not a hard and fast rule, and it is more important that you participate in worship in the way that is comfortable and meaningful to you. You will often see some persons standing and others kneeling for the same prayer. Similarly, you may see some people bowing as they approach the Altar while others don’t. This is all normal. We want you to feel comfortable worshipping with us. Worship is a time to join with others in giving thanks to God for God’s wonderful blessings in our lives. It is a time to allow yourself to enter into God’s presence and to be touched by God’s love.
Holy Eucharist
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The Holy Eucharist begins with an opening hymn and opening prayers. This is followed by a set of Bible readings interspersed with group reading and singing of hymns or psalms. One of the readings is always from the Gospels, telling the story of Jesus Christ. Next, the priest preaches a sermon inspired by the Bible readings. After the sermon, we recite the Nicene Creed, which was first written in the Fourth Century and remains the Church’s statement of our fundamental beliefs.
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Next, we pray together – for the Church, the world, and those in need. We pray for the sick, thank God for all the good things in our lives, and we remember those who have died. We then formally confess our sins before God and one another. This is a corporate statement of what we have done and what we have left undone, followed by a pronouncement of absolution. In pronouncing absolution, the priest assures us that God is always ready to forgive our sins. This first part of the service finishes as we pass the Peace of the Lord by greeting those in nearby pews. Prior to the COVID19 pandemic, we would pass the peace with a handshake, hug, or other sign of peace. These days, we mostly wave to each other.
After a few announcements about upcoming events at St. John’s, the second half of the service begins. The priest stands at the table, which has been set up with a cup of wine and a plate of bread or wafers, raises his or her hands, and greets the congregation again, saying “The Lord be With You.” Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the priest tells the story of the coming of Jesus Christ, and about the night before his death, on which he instituted the Eucharistic meal (Holy Communion) as a continual remembrance of him.
The priest blesses the bread and wine, and we recite the Lord’s Prayer. Finally, the priest breaks the bread and offers the blessed bread and wine as the “Gifts of God for the People of God.” We then share the blessed bread. Please note that due to the Pandemic, we are currently not sharing the blessed wine.
Many people receive bread first, then sip wine from the chalice. Intinction is another method of receiving communion, whereby the bread is dipped into the chalice, so that one receives the bread and wine together. It is also perfectly acceptable to receive communion in one kind only—the bread without the wine or the wine without the bread. We also have gluten-free communion wafers available at all services.
All baptized Christians, regardless of age or denomination, are welcome to receive communion. Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive communion, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously. Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during Holy Communion to receive a blessing. You can indicate this by crossing your arms across your chest as the priest approaches.
At the end of the Eucharist, we pray once more in thanksgiving, and then we are dismissed to continue our life of service to God and to the World.
After a few announcements about upcoming events at St. John’s, the second half of the service begins. The priest stands at the table, which has been set up with a cup of wine and a plate of bread or wafers, raises his or her hands, and greets the congregation again, saying “The Lord be With You.” Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the priest tells the story of the coming of Jesus Christ, and about the night before his death, on which he instituted the Eucharistic meal (Holy Communion) as a continual remembrance of him.
The priest blesses the bread and wine, and we recite the Lord’s Prayer. Finally, the priest breaks the bread and offers the blessed bread and wine as the “Gifts of God for the People of God.” We then share the blessed bread. Please note that due to the Pandemic, we are currently not sharing the blessed wine.
Many people receive bread first, then sip wine from the chalice. Intinction is another method of receiving communion, whereby the bread is dipped into the chalice, so that one receives the bread and wine together. It is also perfectly acceptable to receive communion in one kind only—the bread without the wine or the wine without the bread. We also have gluten-free communion wafers available at all services.
All baptized Christians, regardless of age or denomination, are welcome to receive communion. Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive communion, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously. Visitors who are not baptized Christians are welcome to come forward during Holy Communion to receive a blessing. You can indicate this by crossing your arms across your chest as the priest approaches.
At the end of the Eucharist, we pray once more in thanksgiving, and then we are dismissed to continue our life of service to God and to the World.
Food, Fellowship, and Learning
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After the 9:00 and 10:30 morning services, we gather in the Parish Hall for coffee and fellowship. A light lunch, prepared by members of the Spanish congregation, is offered after the 1:00 PM service.
Our Adult Sunday School is at 9:30 AM, and our Youth Group meets on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 PM. English speakers and Spanish speakers are welcome at our Sunday School and Youth Group gatherings. Please note that our in-person Sunday School offerings have been temporarily suspended due to the Pandemic. We offer online Christian Formation classes during the week via Zoom. |
We hope this gives you a feel for Worship at St. John’s, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
This page was inspired by and modeled after a similar page on the web site of
The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist, in Highnam Massachusetts. http://www.stjohns-hingham.org/
and by the “Let’s Get Acquainted” pamphlet from St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine, Texas.
The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist, in Highnam Massachusetts. http://www.stjohns-hingham.org/
and by the “Let’s Get Acquainted” pamphlet from St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Palestine, Texas.
