Worship With Us
Come encounter God with us at St. Thomas, where we offer multiple opportunities each week to worship in the beauty of holiness. At the Mass, all baptized Christians who have examined their conscience and seek the Body and Blood of Christ are welcome to receive Holy Communion.
How & When We Worship
We’re always glad to welcome guests and understand that first-time visitors often have questions about what to expect. Please explore the information below.
Holy Mass
9:30 AM | Sunday Mass & Fellowship
We currently gather Sunday morning at 9:30 AM, followed by a fellowship time in the Parish Hall. The Sunday Mass is family friendly, and children are welcome.
The organist provides music, and September to June (Holy Cross Day through Trinity Sunday) the choir helps to lead our singing. The Mass runs just over an hour. On special occasions, the Sunday Mass may begin later, often if there is a luncheon to follow. Please check the notices for adjusted times!
The principal form of worship in the Church is the celebration of the Holy Mass.
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As early as 150 AD, the Mass was described in a similar form to what we practice today as the normative practice for the gathering of the Church on Sunday, with readings from the Scriptures, preaching, and the celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. At St. Thomas, we follow in that tradition holding up the Mass as our principal form of worship, participating in Christ’s sacrifice and offering of himself to the Father.
Worship at St. Thomas seeks to be joyful, authentic, and fulsome. We worship God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To do so, we use beautiful and historic language, singing, ceremonial actions such as bowing, kneeling, or making the sign of the cross, and incense. This seeks to engage the senses to draw us more deeply, body and soul, into offering ourselves to the Father in the beauty of holiness.
Healing Mass
10 AM | Wednesdays
In addition, Mass is offered every Wednesday at 10:00 AM in the Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels, with special intercessory prayers for the needs of the church and the world, as well as the laying on of hands and anointing of the sick.
While formally called our Mass of Intercessions for Healing, this service is often referred to as a Healing Mass for short. It is not just a wonderful time to pray for people’s needs, but it is a part of our commitment to pray for all those who are ill, whether or not they are members of our parish.
Holy Days & Acts of Devotion
Mass is also offered as announced on Holy Days of the Church year. Holy Days are days that seek to commemorate the lives of saints as well as events in the life of Christ. They draw us more deeply into Christ’s incarnate ministry, as well as more deeply into the life of the Church and the Communion of Saints of which all Christians are a part.
Throughout the year, additional times of worship and special acts of devotion are available, especially during Lent and Holy Week.
Daily Office
8:30 AM | Monday - Thursday
Morning Prayer is offered Monday through Thursday at 8:30 AM in the Chapel of St. Michael and All Angels. This simple said service of the word, which focuses on the recitation of Psalms and the reading of Scripture alongside prayers to offer meaningful worship to God at the beginning of the day. It generally lasts between 20 – 30 minutes.
Stemming from the monastic offices, the Daily Office is a treasure of the Anglican Prayer Book heritage. It comprises principally a service of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, rooted in the proclamation and recitation of Holy Scripture. The majority of the prayers and texts used in these services are direct quotations from Scripture as well. There is also a tradition of singing the evening office. When it is sung, it is often called Choral Evensong and is a noted distinctive of Anglican worship practice.
Personal Devotion
Personal and corporate devotion is done as an offering of worship to God. At St. Thomas, we take seriously St. Paul’s exhortation to do all that you do to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31)
This includes prayer, singing in the car, reading Scripture, gathering in small groups, and everything in between. Together we work towards making everything we do, our whole lives, an act of worship to Almighty God.
Worship FAQs
What is the Sunday Mass?
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Readings from the Old Testament and New Testament are read (a total of four including one reading from the Gospels), and then a brief homily is preached, explaining and applying the Biblical teachings to our lives. The service continues with a time of prayer before an offering for the work of the Church is collected, and the Altar is prepared to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. After Communion, we ask God’s blessing and are dismissed, being sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel we have heard.
When should I arrive?
Where do I park?
Where do I go?
The main doors to the Church are on the corner of E. Lemon Ave and S. Mary St. You will be greeted by a parishioner to welcome you to the Church and who can offer to direct you around and help you to get your bearings. If you need an accessible entrance, one is available from the Breezeway Entrance, between Wisdom Hall and the Church further east on E. Lemon Ave. Again once inside the doors you will be greeted and welcomed to the Church.
On weekdays, services are held in the chapel. There is an entrance from Lemon Ave or an accessible entrance on the breezeway. Bathrooms for the chapel are available just inside the E. Lemon Ave doors at the back of the chapel.
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What should I wear?
On Sundays you will see men in ties and sports coats as well at-shirts and shorts. A similar range of fashion is on display from women. It is never wrong to wear your ‘Sunday best,’ whatever that might be, but the question most appropriate to ask yourself is what you feel best to enter God’s house of worship to honor God.
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St. Thomas is fully air-conditioned, and with a Canadian rector, the Nave is kept generally cool. If you find yourself chilly if the thermostat is down towards 70 F, you may wish to bring a warmer jacket that could be worn if needed.
I'm not Episcopalian or Anglican. May I receive Communion?
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If for any reason you are not able to receive, you are still welcome to come to the rail, kneel if you are able, and cross your arms to indicate the desire to receive a blessing rather than the Sacrament.
Worship FAQs
What is the Sunday Mass?
The Mass is our principal Sunday worship service, and time to gather. It combines both Word and Sacrament. We begin gathering in worship of God, then we hear the Word of God proclaimed.
Readings from the Old Testament and New Testament are read (a total of four including one reading from the Gospels), and then a brief homily is preached, explaining and applying the Biblical teachings to our lives. The service continues with a time of prayer before an offering for the work of the Church is collected, and the Altar is prepared to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. After Communion, we ask God’s blessing and are dismissed, being sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel we have heard.
When should I arrive?
You are encouraged to arrive about 10 minutes before the Mass is scheduled to begin to give yourself time to prepare. We encourage everyone to pray silently beforehand in order to orient their hearts towards God. A suggested prayer is provided in the Order of Service if one is needed as a starting point.
Where do I park?
There is a grass lot on the north side of E. Lemon Ave with ample parking. In addition, street parking on E. Lemon Ave next to the Church is reserved for those with mobility issues.
Where do I go?
The main doors to the Church are on the corner of E. Lemon Ave and S. Mary St. You will be greeted by a parishioner to welcome you to the Church and who can offer to direct you around and help you to get your bearings. If you need an accessible entrance, one is available from the Breezeway Entrance, between Wisdom Hall and the Church further east on E. Lemon Ave. Again once inside the doors you will be greeted and welcomed to the Church.
On weekdays, services are held in the chapel. There is an entrance from Lemon Ave or an accessible entrance on the breezeway. Bathrooms for the chapel are available just inside the E. Lemon Ave doors at the back of the chapel.
What should I wear?
On Sundays you will see men in ties and sports coats as well at-shirts and shorts. A similar range of fashion is on display from women. It is never wrong to wear your ‘Sunday best,’ whatever that might be, but the question most appropriate to ask yourself is what you feel best to enter God’s house of worship to honor God.
St. Thomas is fully air-conditioned, and with a Canadian rector, the Nave is kept generally cool. If you find yourself chilly if the thermostat is down towards 70 F, you may wish to bring a warmer jacket that could be worn if needed.
I'm not Episcopalian or Anglican. May I receive Communion?
The Sacraments belong to Christ, and not to any particular Church tradition. All Baptized Christians who have examined their conscience and who desire to receive the Body and Blood of Christ are welcome to come to the Communion Rail to receive.
If for any reason you are not able to receive, you are still welcome to come to the rail, kneel if you are able, and cross your arms to indicate the desire to receive a blessing rather than the Sacrament.
Learn more about the faith.
Devotion & Study
Receive guidance from the rector.
Spiritual Direction