Hearts to Love
WORSHIP
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Worship & Liturgy
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Wednesdays at 12noon Holy Eucharist (11am during the season of Lent)
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All our worship services are authentically Anglican and are rooted in the Book of Common Prayer 1979. Eucharist services are typically Rite II (contemporary language), with Rite I (traditional language) used on occasion.
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Our music includes a wide-spectrum of Anglican and Christian tradition from ancient hymns to spirituals. We primarily use the Hymnal 1982 as well as Lift Every Voice and Sing.
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Our worship is formal, yet inclusive of all people. We gather to offer praise to God, hear the Holy Scriptures, confess our sins and receive God's forgiveness, pray for our needs and the needs of the world, and gather around God's table for Holy Communion. All are welcome to receive at St. Margaret's, no questions asked.
Occasional Worship
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Choral Evensong – Full choir, traditional, congregational participation, includes a short recital before and a reception after.
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Blue Christmas Service – For those for whom the holidays can be a difficult time, especially after losing loved ones.
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Seasonal Services
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Holy Week - Maundy Thursday (with washing of the feet and Stripping of the Altar), Stations of the Cross, Good Friday, the Great Vigil of Easter
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Christmas Eve – 5:00pm Family Service, 7:00pm Lessons & Carols, 10:30pm Carol Singing, 11:00pm Midnight Mass
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St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals (October) - All creatures of our God & King welcome!
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St. Margaret's Day (November) - Patronal feast celebration with bagpipes, tartans, and Scottish reception
Choir
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The Chancel Choir is St. Margaret’s primary parish choir, and is open to singers age 13 and above. This ensemble leads the singing and other liturgical aspects of the services each Sunday, plus occasional services such as Ash Wednesday, services through Holy Week, the Christmas Eve Midnight Eucharist, and A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. Music at Sunday services typically includes anthems, a psalm, hymns, and service music. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. A broad repertoire of music coordinated with the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary is presented.
Children/Youth Worship
Nursery:
A nursery is provided every Sunday and at special events for children from 0-36 months. The children are welcomed and cared for by trained nursery workers.
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Kids in Church:
Children are fully welcome in worship at St. Margaret’s! Parents are encouraged to talk to your child about participating in worship. Help them to read along, to notice what’s happening, and to engage in the service. Teach them to stand, kneel, sit, and pray, and model these postures yourself. Kids will often squirm, so let them do that too. If a child gets loud or needs a break, please take them out through the Gallery and re-enter through the red doors of the church. Good times to enter or exit are when the congregation is standing for hymns or prayers. If you need further help in engaging your child in worship, contact Fr. Jeff.
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Youth Sunday:
Every 5th Sunday of the month, our youth lead the worship service. They deliver the sermon, read Scripture, lead the prayers, & assist with communion.
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Youth Worship Leaders:
Youth are encouraged to serve as readers, chalice bearers, ushers, and acolytes throughout the year.
PARISH LIFE
One of the most basic functions of a Christian community is hospitality and table fellowship following Christ’s own practice. Parish life at St. Margaret’s offers the opportunity to experience fellowship and to learn more about God’s love for us through one another. Through our worship and fellowship practices, our diverse parish has developed a very strong feeling of family.
Wednesday Night Suppers
Wednesday Night Suppers give members of our parish family the opportunity to come together to eat and grow together as a community. Food is coordinated by a range of church groups, and dinner is followed each week by a number of further formation and fellowship opportunities, including Youth Group (EYC), Bible studies, programs on Episcopal and liturgical tradition, and presentations by parish and community members. Currently on hold due to Covid-19, we hope to resurrect these suppers as soon as possible.
St. Margaret's Day
The significance of being named for the 11th century Scottish Queen Margaret is not lost on our members today. St. Margaret always fed the poor at her table, serving them first. She also restored the 500 year old monastery on the Scottish Isle of Iona. The church has modeled itself on Queen Margaret’s charity, and mark this link to our Scottish Heritage each year on St. Margaret’s Day. Members of our church don traditional Scottish dress, our worship is accompanied by bagpipes and drums, and members celebrate between services with a glorious reception, complete with Scottish treats.
ECW
St. Margaret’s chapter of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) has as its mission to empower, motivate and nurture the women of St. Margaret’s in utilizing our gifts and talents to serve Christ in the world. ECW has carried out this charge in many ways and on many different levels. Their monthly “Feeding the Flock” food sales between services in the parish hall act as a fundraising opportunity for the organization, and also gives members of our church the opportunity to share in food and traditional family recipes. The St. Margaret’s ECW group meets once monthly for a sack lunch, prayer, and project planning.
Brotherhood of
St. Andrew
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an international ministry of men within the Anglican Communion to support the spiritual lives of men and youth. Our chapter meets monthly for breakfast, Bible study, and discussion, as well as for service projects.
PASTORAL CARE
St. Margaret’s is a parish that cares, and rarely does that deep sense of family and belonging show itself more clearly than in times of need. Pastoral care, by definition, seeks to provide support to individuals and families in their pain, loss and anxiety, and their triumphs, joys and victories.
What We Do
At St. Margaret’s, Pastoral Care occurs formally and informally. Much of who we are and how we care for one another happens because we are part of a community that cares and expresses compassion for one another. When a need is brought to the attention of the pastoral care committee, we are ready with resource teams to address that need. Resource teams include: Meals during illness, transportation, care to families with children, visitation, small repairs/home maintenance, and reception for funeral/weddings. We have a team of lay eucharistic visitors that are willing and available for home communion, companion visits, or hospital visitation. Care notes are sent to remind those members that are absent from our worship during time of illness, surgery or death in the family, that we are holding them in our prayers for healing and strength.
Volunteer
Pastoral Care is an ongoing, evolving ministry that seeks to further our church’s ability to provide in-reach to keep our members healthy in mind, body, and spirit. If you would like to serve in this important St. Margaret's ministry, please contact the church office.
