At St. Clare’s, we want our worship to match our core values. We want it to be hospitable, authentic, relevant, and full of gratitude and joy!
In worship we come together as a community to praise and give thanks to God. Hospitality means that everyone is made to feel welcome in this expression of praise and gratitude.
We want to ensure that the first-time guest is made to feel as welcome and comfortable as those who have been members for years. Whether you are a child, a teenager or an adult of any age, we hope you will feel like St. Clare’s is your worship community.
Welcoming Guests
You are at home when you are at St. Clare’s. There is no need to worry about getting it “wrong.” There is no “wrong” when your heart is in the right place! Our Episcopal worship is liturgical, which means there is a set pattern each week. The service is all laid out for you in the bulletin and the worship leaders will guide you with helpful instructions each step of the way. Worship with us for two to three weeks and you won’t need any helpful hints – you’ll be teaching others!
Welcoming Children
We have nursery care for the littlest ones, but children of around 4 and up remain for the full worship service and praise God, give thanks, and receive Holy Communion with the rest of the congregation. In fact, children take an active role in leading worship on a regular basis. They carry the Gospel book in procession, lead our Prayers of the People, and read Scripture among various other roles. We try to keep the sermons very conversational and interactive so that children – and adults – don’t get bored. We can describe what this is like, but our best recommendation is “Come and see.”
Tradition Updated for the 21st Century
Are we traditional? Are we contemporary? Yes! At St. Clare’s we remain rooted in ancient Christian tradition and find value in traditional elements like chanted prayers and communal recitation of the Church’s early creeds. At the same time, we can worship with modern prayer language, contemporary music, and casual attire. We sing contemporary music and traditional hymns. Over time, we’ll decorate our walls with new creations, but the cross and altar where communion is served will remain the focus inside the church.
We Invite You
The people of St. Clare’s invite you to come and give thanks and praise with us. Come and help us create a new witness to Jesus Christ. Come join our community and help shape what St. Clare’s will be in the coming months, years and decades.
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