I'm new. What do I do?

Welcome! There are many reasons to visit a church. Whichever reason you might claim, we’re delighted that you’re thinking of Christ Church.

What will you find on a Sunday morning?

On Sundays, the doors are open no later than 8:30 am. Both doors on Central Street are open; the door at the corner opens directly into the nave, our primary worship space, and the door at the top of the steps and ramp opens into an entryway, which has a door on the left into the nave. Our greeters will give you the bulletin and worship booklet that we will use on Sundays, and you’ll find a hymnal in the pew in front of you, which we use to sing.

Come as you are! We have no dress code apart from this: be clothed. Episcopal worship is a great place to hear Scripture, to pray with others, and to be invited to God’s table for Communion. Feel free to participate as much as you find comfortable.

There will be some directions about when to stand, sit, or kneel. We stand to sing; standing makes it easier sing. We also stand when the Gospel is read, because while all Scripture reveals God to us, the Gospels contain God’s most direct revelation in the person of Jesus Christ. We stand to share God’s peace with one another, in part because some move around to greet one another, and it’s easier to wave or share peace signs from a distance when standing. Some people might offer hugs, and others might offer to shake hands. If that happens, you should do what’s most comfortable to you. You will likely hear these words when it’s time to stand: “I invite you to stand in body or in spirit,” and we take that seriously. If your hands are full with a young child, your body hurts or your movement is otherwise restricted, please stand in spirit and stay seated in body. No one will be angry if you don’t get to your feet.

Kneeling is humble and penitent, so many people kneel in Episcopal churches when we say our corporate confession, and some kneel partway through the Eucharistic prayer. When coming to the altar rail for Communion, some people kneel and others stand. Again, both options are welcome, and we can bring Communion to you in the pews if you can’t comfortably make your way to the front. Just let someone near you know that you’d like Communion, and we’ll be sure that our priest will come to you.

There are Sundays when we pray Morning Prayer together. Like Communion, Morning Prayer contains a great deal of Scripture, and we sing. We hope that Morning Prayer is a reminder that we can all pray, and Morning Prayer can be prayed at home as well as in church. The form that we use in church, along with a shorter form for individuals and families, can both be found in our prayer book.

After church, we typically gather downstairs in the parish hall, where we visit and share food and drink. It’s a great time to ask questions and tell us what you thought of our worship!

To get to our parish hall, go through either door toward the front of the nave. If you go through the door on the left, you’ll pass the chapel where we gather for Eucharist and healing prayer on Tuesdays at 9:30 am; turn right and go downstairs, then turn right again to enter the parish hall. That stairway has a chairlift for anyone who needs help going up and downstairs, and we have plenty of people who will help get the chairlift to you as needed. The door to the right will lead you back into the entryway; turn left to get to the stairs, and then go left to enter the parish hall.

We have restrooms in two places. There is a single use, all gender restroom off the parish hall, at the base of the stairway that has the chairlift. Our office hallway is at the top of the stairs, and there are two sets of restrooms upstairs.

Please don't hesitate to ask for directions as you need!