how  we  worship

The faith community of St. Peter's gathers several times a week to offer praise and thanks to God and to be nurtured and challenged in its spiritual growth through worship. Our celebrations are marked by a spirit of joy, warmth and reverence. Exceptional music and thoughtful, provocative preaching enliven our Sunday experience of our beautiful Episcopal liturgy.


This is a Eucharistically-centered parish, celebrating the Holy Eucharist several times per week:

  • 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the Sanctuary
  • 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday morning in the Sanctuary
  • 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning in the Parish Hall
  • 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening in the Absalom Jones Chapel
  • 10 a.m. Thursday morning at The Moorings in Lewes (formerly Cadbury). 

Rite II is used for most services.

 

The Laying on of Hands and Anointing, with prayers for healing, are offered during the Communion portion of most Eucharists. At the Sunday services if you wish to receive unction or to share a special prayer request, please meet a member of the clergy in side chapel during the distribution of Communion.

 

All God's people are welcomed to the Lord's Table to receive the Holy Sacrament of Communion, including children. The ushers will help direct you to the Communion rail. If physical limitations make it difficult for you to come to the rail, please let an usher know, and we will be happy to bring Communion to you in your pew.

services


WEEKLY SERVICES

  


Holy Eucharist is Celebrated


Saturday:        5 p.m.

Sunday:             8 a.m. (with organ) & 10 a.m. (with choir) in the Sanctuary

                          10:15 a.m.  Iona Service in the Parish Hall

                                 (service time from September to May is 10:30 a.m.)

Wednesday:     7:30 p. m. in The Absalom Jones Chapel

Thursday:         10 a.m. at The Moorings (formerly Cadbury) in Lewes




Special Services: Scroll below

light Service

Sunday at 10:15 a.m. - Parish Hall


Join us at the Iona Service each Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall. 

This worship experience is an intergenerational service which combines elements of ancient and future worship in an Episcopal context.  You don’t have to have a family with young children or be a child to attend. Led by our parish priests and musicians from our congregation. 


Come worship, sing, listen, pray!

sung compline

First Thursday of Every Month at 8:45 pm


Join our Adult Choir in a short contemplative service of evening  worship. Compline is the last service of the Daily Office typically celebrated by religious orders. Compline consists of psalms, short scripture passages, an office hymn, a canticle (Nunc Dimittis), a litany, collects and additional prayers, sung to plainsong chant. 

In keeping with the earliest practices of the monastic communities, Compline is offered when the work of the day is completed, and the quietness of evening settles over the hearts and minds of those who have come together in thankfulness for the blessings of the day which has passed and in anticipation of God's gift of a new day. 

The service is about 20 minutes and sung by the adult choir of St. Peter's. 

Please join us for this peaceful and meditative liturgy. 

special services

LENT, HOLY WEEK, AND EASTER


ASH WEDNESDAY 

10:00 a.m. - Liturgy and Imposition of Ashes (at The Moorings at Lewes)


12:00 noon and 7:30 p.m - Liturgy and Imposition of Ashes (church)


PALM SUNDAY

5:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist on Saturday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Choir on Sunday

10:00 a.m. The Last Supper service and feast with Fr. Mark (parish hall)

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Choir on Sunday


MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK  

noon  Holy Eucharist, Rite I


TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK

noon  Holy Eucharist, Rite I

6:00 p.m. Seder Passover [rsvp required--contact church office]


WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK  

noon Holy Eucharist, Rite I

7:30 p.m.  Tenebrae Service


MAUNDY  THURSDAY

7:00 p.m. Stripping of the Altar; Eucharist

8:00 p.m. through 8:00 a.m. Friday - Vigil in the Garden

               

GOOD FRIDAY                   

Noon -Good Friday Liturgy,  Mass of the Pre-Sanctified          

7:00 p.m.  Celtic Stations of the Cross             


EASTER SATURDAY

7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil with Choir and Brass


EASTER SUNDAY

8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist (church)

8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with music (parish hall)




OTHER

Noon St. Francis Celebration - Blessing of the Animals

1st Sunday in October



CHRISTMAS



CHRISTMAS EVE


5:00 p.m.     Children's Pageant, Festal Holy Eucharist and Carols

7:00 p.m.     Candlelight Festal Holy Eucharist, Carols, and Bell Choir

9:00 p.m.     Celtic Eucharist, Carols,  and Acoustic Music (Parish Hall)

11:00 p.m.   Candlelight Festal Holy Eucharist, Carols,  and Adult Choir
                            (Prelude begins at 10:30 p.m.)          

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

ACOLYTES

Acolytes are trained to perform important functions in the worship service such as carrying the cross, lighting the candles and assisting clergy in preparation of the Eucharist.  Please speak to Fr. Jeffrey or Richard Jundt  if you are interested in serving.


ALTAR GUILD

The Altar Guild is the ministry of men and women who prepare and maintain the sacred vessels and vestments used in the church.  Some of our members also help with floral arrangements and decorations for special occasions.  Members are trained and assigned to a rotating team that is responsible for the services during a two week series.  Serving on the Altar Guild, members say, is like preparing for a very special party--a feast--because you set the table and choose fine linen and candles or oil lights, the brass or silver vessels.


LAY EUCHARIST MINISTER

To serve St. Peter's church as a Lay Eucharistic Minister is a meaningful and fulfilling ministry.  The opportunity to assist the celebrant during Holy Eucharist as a chalice bearer and lay reader is available to any church member who is in good standing and who wishes to be trained to perform these duties.  Two LEM's are scheduled to serve at all of the Sunday morning services.  The schedule for serving is published in the monthly newsletter.  If you are interested in volunteering at any of our services, please speak to Fr. Jeff.


LAY EUCHARIST VISITOR

License from the Bishop is available to several members of the congregation to assist the Rector in visiting the sick and shut-ins in the congregation and to provide the Eucharist.  If you are interested in serving in this ministry you must be a member in good standing, faithful in worship and devotion.  If you are interested in pursuing this ministry, please speak to Fr. Jeff.


LECTOR

By reading the First Lesson and the Psalm at each Sunday morning service, this group of parishioners is given a meaningful way to participate in our services.  Simple training is provided and each Lector has his or her own copy of the lectionary to keep at home in order to become familiar with the reading before the Sunday service.  If you are interested, please speak with Fr. Jeff.


USHER

Ushers at our worship services are crucial participants in our liturgy.  They welcome newcomers, help them find seats and assimilate into the service.  Usher teams typically serve once a month and are essential to our ministry of hospitality.