Welcome to our Q & A page
What will it look like when I come to your church?
When you come to St. Peter’s, we hope you will see the beauty of the space and feel the sacredness of this place. We have some beautiful stained glass, and our space has been recently refreshed, including some new AC units, to keep us free from the tropical heat! Our church is set up with pews, facing an altar. Those who are leading the service will be dressed in white robes, called vestments. In the pew rack in front of you, you will find three different books – a Bible, a Book of Common Prayer, and a Hymnal. These are the standard worship resources used in the Episcopal Church.
What can I expect in the service?
In our denomination, the service is separated into two main parts, which are marked in your bulletin – the service of the Word, and the Service of the Table. The service of the Word will include readings from the Bible as part of the lectionary (a schedule of Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel readings) assigned that week, and a sermon given by either Pastor Diane. After the sermon there will be a confession, and a passing of the peace (a time to shake hands with your neighbor and say, “peace be with you”), followed by announcements. The passing of the peace begins the transition to the service of the Table, when we celebrate the Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion. An explanation is provided in your bulletin, but if you are uncertain about what to do, please ask someone! The people of the parish are friendly and happy to help!
Can I take communion?
In the Episcopal Church, all who are baptized are welcome to receive communion. If you are not baptized, you are still welcome to come forward and receive a blessing. This is God’s table, and not our own. If you are hungry to meet Christ in the bread and wine, please come forward. If it is your first time, or your first time in a long time, please talk to Pastor Diane about how you can make this spiritual nourishment part of your regular practice.
What accommodations can be made for me?
We offer large-print bulletins for those who might have a hard time reading the smaller print. We also offer hearing devices which fit just over the ear and boosts our sound system which makes hearing things in the service easier. If there are other accommodations that would enhance your worshiping experience, please let us know! We are happy to talk with you about any suggestions you may have.
What if I have kids?
Kids of all ages are welcome in our services! There are soft activity bags for ages 0-4 and some older kids activity clipboards geared towards ages 5-10 or so. Your keiki are welcome to either or both depending on their interest. There is also a room at the back of the church (Bell Tower area), where there are toys. You are welcome to use the space if your keiki are more active and need to move around.
What if I’m late?
Don’t worry about it! We’ll just be happy to see you, whenever you arrive.
How do I get involved?
There are so many different ministries at St.. Peters, and we would be blessed to have you join any of them. There is a “Ministry Map” in the back of the church which will introduce you to ongoing ministries of the church, with a little information about the different groups. You can talk to Pastor Diane, Reverend Jazzy, or the Coordinator of the ministries, and we can get you started!
Thank you for visiting St. Peters Episcopal Church!
