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.


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 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. This service is broadcast on Facebook and YouTube. 

Wednesday:     3 p.m. at The Moorings
(formerly Cadbury) in Lewes
Wednesday:     4 p.m. at The Lodge

Wednesday:     7:00 p. m. 

 


Special Services: Scroll below

Mystic Monday

One Monday a month we gather together to worship through a service of chant or healing. Please refer to our calendar to find out which Monday the service is scheduled for this month.


Alternate Calendar  Visit our calendar to see any upcoming services Alternate Calendar


  • Taizé

    Taizé is a small village in eastern France which, since 1940, has been the home of an ecumenical community of brothers committed to international communion for all.  Today, Taizé is a place to which visitors of all ages and backgrounds come on pilgrimage, to participate in international meetings of prayer and reflection.

    Since the 1970’s, Taizé has hosted meetings of young people between the ages of 18 and 30 from all over the world in increasing numbers.  This created a challenge to present music and song that would be accessible to large numbers of people (many of them young) from many countries with many languages.  A solution was found in the use of repetitive, short musical phrases with singable melodic units that could readily be memorized by everybody.  Other parts (cantors, choir, instruments) could be overlaid to enrich the experience.  Many of the chants are devised as canons or rounds. Today Taizé music is published and sung in many different languages both at Taizé and across the world.  Latin (no longer a spoken tongue anywhere) is often employed as a neutral language that is relatively easy to pronounce and sing.


    About this Service

    Tonight’s service will include six Taizé chants with a reading from the Gospel and prayers interspersed.  Generous periods of silence will follow each prayer/reading / chant, for contemplation and meditation.  

    Each Taizé chant (printed in this leaflet) will be introduced by the singers.  Please join in when you feel comfortable and allow the music to become part of your meditation.  At times, the singers will add harmony, descants, or insert short phrases sung by a cantor.  Meanwhile the established tonal chant will continue, uninterrupted, throughout, until a leader signals the end by slowing the chant and bringing it to a close.  Feel free to close your eyes or focus on a window or icon while you chant.  Be present in the moment.


    How to get started

    • Calm yourself from the outside world to open yourself to the Holy Spirit and to the presence of Christ.

    • Turn off outside distractions and allow yourself to be fully present to prayer and meditation.

    • Please silence all electronic communication devices.

    • Enter into the simplicity and beauty of this service.  If you are not comfortable with singing, you can say the words

  • Iona Healing Service

    Concerning prayers for healing and the laying on of hands

    This service of prayers for healing, which (typically on the island of Iona) takes place every Tuesday evening, reflects our believe that God’s purpose for us all is a life of wholeness, as expressed in the life and teaching of Jesus.  The ministry of healing is an integral part of our Christian witness.  We each stand in need of healing, but in this ministry, we recognize also the social dimension.  The healing of divided communities and nations and the healing of the earth itself have their place alongside the healing of broken bodies, hurt minds and wounded hearts, and of the hurts and divisions within ourselves.  Our prayers are complementary to the work of medicine and other forms of healing, which are also channels of God’s loving and transforming purpose.  In our service we shall name particular people, places and situations for which prayers have been specifically asked.  We do this because each person and situation is known to God, not as a problem to be solved, but as a focus for God’s acceptance and love.  We are not seeking to change God, but to change the world; and we trust God that our prayers will be answered, although we do not know when or how healing will happen.  There will also be an opportunity for those who wish to come forward to receive or share in the ministry of the laying on of hands.  This can be either for themselves or for another person or situation.  In and through this we affirm that the ministry of healing is not restricted to particular individuals but is a corporate, inclusive process—the work of the whole Christian community in which we all have a part to play.  God’s healing purpose, the promise of God’s fulfilling and sustaining love, is for every one of us.  Whether we choose to come forward or to remain seated in prayer and concern, God can use our presence in this service.

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  • 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 Fr. Ray if you are interested in serving.

  • 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.

  • 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.  If you are interested in volunteering at any of our services, please speak to Fr. Jeff.

  • To be eligible to assist the Rector in visiting the sick and shut-ins in the congregation and to provide the Eucharist 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.

  • By reading the lessons at each service, this group of parishioners is given a meaningful way to participate.  Simple training is provided and each Lector is sent a copy of their assigned reading before the Sunday service so they can familiarize themselves with the text.  If you are interested in this ministry, please speak with Fr. Jeff.

  • 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. If you are interested in serving as an Usher, please contact the office.


sung compline

Dates to be determined.


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. 


Compline Service Leaflet [PDF]