Worship & Music

Worship

Ask most people who come to St. James’ to describe our liturgical style and you are most likely to hear the same words: "middle of the road Episcopalian."  We treasure the beauty and reverence of traditional Anglican worship as a blending of both the Catholic and Protestant traditions. The "broad middle" of Episcopal worship today leans to the catholic side of worship with a full rich liturgy, good music, beautiful ceremonial, and the Holy Eucharist as the center of our worship life. The principle Sunday service of the American Prayer Book is the Holy Eucharist which is also called Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, and the Mass.  We also come together for Feast Day celebrations and other liturgical services like, The Blessing of the Animals, Lessons and Carols, and Special Evensongs.

Episcopal Church worship actively involves the entire congregation. There are two keys to our worship, found in each pew: The Book of Common Prayer (red binding) enables the congregation to follow and participate fully in every service. The Hymnal 1982 (blue binding) contains a broad selection of the great hymns of Christendom as well as the musical settings for some integral parts of our worship. This service music is denoted by the letter S- that precedes the number. The weekly bulletin provides the order of service, readings, and hymns.

You may wonder when to stand, sit, or kneel. Practice varies among individual Episcopalians but the general rule is to stand for hymns and other songs, for the affirmation of our faith in the Creeds, and for the reading of the Gospel passages during the Holy Eucharist. We sit during most readings, the sermon, and choir anthems. We stand for many prayers, yet may kneel for the more solemn and penitential prayers (i.e. Confession) as a symbol of humility before God.

Participation is therefore a key part of good Episcopal/Anglican Liturgy. In addition to the ministries of the Priest and Deacon in the Liturgy opportunity is given for lay people to serve on the altar as Acolytes, Lay Readers, and Lay Eucharistic Ministers.

Acolytes: Young persons who assist in worship by performing such functions as carrying the processional cross or crucifix, lighting and extinguishing candles, holding candles at the reading of the Gospel, and serving the Priest during the Eucharist, while wearing a cassock and surplice.

Lectors: Lay persons who read the Lessons at church and in the absence of a Priest or Deacon to Officiate at Morning and Evening Prayer Services and preach approved Lay Readers’ Sermons.  

Eucharistic Ministers: Lay persons licensed by the Bishop to assist in administering the elements at the Eucharist, especially the cup in the absence of the Deacon, and to directly following the Eucharist on Sunday to take the Sacrament consecrated at the Celebration to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Eucharist. Both Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers wear an alb (a white colored vestment) for the liturgy.

Music
The Reverend Deacon Thomas Liotta, Organist & Choirmaster

Music at St. James' Church exists to embellish the Liturgy.  Music provides a heightened emotional frame for the words of the service and makes the experience of worship even more powerful.

Music is also evangelical in nature.  Good music attracts people to a church because it provides a more fulfilling experience of worship.  It also provides for those interested in music a community of shared purpose, work, and triumph.

The music program at St. James consists of the adult choir and the cherub choir.  The adult choir provides and leads the music at the Sunday 10:15 a.m. service and all other services on principal feasts.  Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with additional times as announced.  The Cherub Choir (ages 4 - 12) sings on occasion at the 9:00am service.

St. James is blessed with a Bartholomay pipe organ, which was originally installed in 1927, and a piano. Additional information is available from the Organist & Choirmaster, The Reverend Deacon Tom Liotta, or through the Parish Office.