St. James Episcopal Church
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      • Organ Specifications
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        • Bishop Waldo Visits St. James (2017)
        • Stop Hunger Now Nov. 2016
        • 2016 Fall Festival
        • 2016 Blessing of the Animals
        • 2015 Annual Meeting
        • All Saints Day 2015 Baptisms
        • 2015 Fall Festival at St. James
        • Stop Hunger Now Photos
        • Faith Memorial 2015
        • Bishop's Visit 2015
        • Epiphany 2015
        • Christmas 2014
        • Easter 2014
      • Video Gallery
    • Recorded Sermons
  • Special Services

A Guide to Sunday Worship at St. James

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Welcome! We are delighted that you are considering joining us for worship.We know that visiting a new church can be a little intimidating, so we prepared this to help you feel more at home when you visit.

What is the service like? 

Regardless of the Christian tradition you were raised in, you will find some familiar elements in the Episcopal service. If you were raised in the Roman Catholic or Lutheran traditions, the Episcopal service will be more familiar. The service consists of two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion. The Liturgy of the Word includes prayers, readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament letters and one of the Gospels, a sermon, the Nicene Creed, and a general confession and absolution. Holy Communion includes the preparation of the table, the consecration of the bread and wine, receiving communion, prayers after receiving, and a final blessing by the priest.

The service at 7:45 a.m is Rite I which is the traditional language of "thee and thou." There is no music at the 7:45 service. The 9:00 service is Rite II with more relaxed, contemporary language and hymns. The 11:00 service is also Rite II, but is a sung service with a full choir, hymns, and portions of the service are chanted. 

How do I follow along in the service?

An usher will give you a bulletin as you enter. This bulletin will direct you to pages in the Book of Common Prayer or the hymnal which contain the service and the hymns. The Book of Common Prayer (also known as the BCP) is the red book with the cross on the front found in your pew rack. All the hymns are found in the blue book with “Hymnal 1982” on the front, also found in your pew rack. Hymn numbers that begin with an “S” refer to service music which is found at the front of the blue hymnal. 

Do Episcopalians stand, sit or kneel?

Episcopalians sometimes stand, sit or kneel during the service – in fact, different Episcopalians do things differently! The Book of Common Prayer will suggest standing, sitting or kneeling during different places in the service, but do what you are most comfortable with and what your physical condition allows. We guarantee that someone else will be doing it too!

Are children welcome in the service?

Children are always welcome in all our services and we mean it! Activity bags are available in the narthex to help keep our younger children engaged during the service. Don’t worry about your children making noise – they are children and we expect this! Should you choose, the narthex and foyer are available for our children to work off some energy during the service.

Is nursery care available during the service?

While children are always welcome at our services, those who choose to do so can utilize our nursery care for infant - Pre-K children on the lower level. However, parents are encouraged to collect their children and bring them to the Altar Rail with them to receive the sacrament as a family.

May I receive communion?

All baptized Christians, regardless of their religious tradition, are welcome to receive communion in the Episcopal Church, including divorced persons and children of all ages.

How do I receive communion?

To receive communion, come forward down the center aisle when the usher invites you to. To receive the bread, lay one hand over the other, forming a cross.  The priest will place the bread in your hand. Consume the bread and when the chalice is presented, grasp the chalice lightly at the foot and guide it to your lips to drink the wine. Another option is to dip the bread in the wine and then consume it. Return to your pew by the side aisle after you have received.

What if I am unbaptized or uncomfortable receiving communion?

All are welcome at God's altar. If you aren’t a baptized Christian or if you are uncomfortable receiving communion for any reason, you are encouraged to come to God’s altar for a blessing. Simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. This lets the priest know that you would like to receive a blessing rather than the sacrament.  

I want to be somewhat anonymous when I visit. Is that okay?

We believe in giving visitors plenty of room to experience St. James with no pressure to identify yourself publicly as a visitor. You will not be asked to wear a special name tag or stand up and introduce yourself or anything like that. It is not uncommon for one of our greeters or our Rector to ask if you are visiting before or after the service, just to make sure you feel welcomed. When you are ready, we ask that you fill out a visitor's card or sign our guestbook so that we can add you to our mailing list and begin a discussion of how you can become more involved in the St. James community.

I am hearing impaired. Will I be able to hear?

We have assisted listening devices for those who are hearing impaired. Just ask an usher and they will bring you a device. 


Location

Directions

Service Times

SUMMER SUNDAYS
​7:45 a.m. Rite I (said Eucharist)
10:00 a.m. Rite II (Choral Eucharist)

Nursery care is available during the 10:00 service

PROGRAM YEAR SUNDAYS
7:45 a.m. Rite I (said Eucharist)
9:00 a.m. Rite II (said Eucharist with hymns)
10:10 a.m. Christian education for all ages
11:00 a.m. Rite II (Choral Eucharist)
Nursery care is available during the 9:00 and 11:00 services

WEDNESDAYS
6:30 p.m. Celtic Eucharist with Anointing for Healing
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Contact Us

301 Piney Mountain Road
Greenville, SC 29609
864.244.6358
​864.244.6359 (fax)
​admin@stjamesgreenville.org
  • Home
  • Welcome
    • Welcome Visitors
    • Who We Are
    • The St. James Story
    • What We Believe
    • Leadership >
      • Ministry Staff
      • The Wardens, Vestry & Delegates
    • Baptism & Membership
  • Worship
    • What to Expect on Sunday
    • The Wednesday Celtic Evening Eucharist with Healing
    • The Sacraments & Sacramental Rites >
      • Holy Baptism
      • The Holy Eucharist
      • Confirmation
      • The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage
      • The Burial of the Dead (Resurrection Liturgy)
      • Reconciliation of a Penitent (Confession)
      • Ministration to the Sick (Holy Unction)
      • Ministration at the Time of Death (Last Rites)
      • Holy Orders (Ordination)
    • Music >
      • St. James Organ
      • Organ Specifications
      • St. James Choral Scholars
    • Stained Glass Windows
    • Altar Flower Reservation
    • Sanctuary Candle Reservation
  • Formation
    • Prayer and Spirituality
    • St. James Day School >
      • Application Materials
      • Pay Day School Tuition
      • Camp Fun
      • Weather Conditions and Closings
    • Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) >
      • Calendar & Communications
      • Newsletters
      • Registration and Forms
    • Adult Christian Education
    • Adult Ministry >
      • The Gathering - A Senior Adult Ministry
      • St. James Small Group Ministry
      • St. James Men's Group
    • Children's Christian Education
    • Vacation Bible School
  • Mission
    • St. James Outreach >
      • Housing Ministry
      • KAIROS
      • Go Forth Magazine
    • Pastoral Care
    • Iglesia Episcopal San Francisco
  • Giving
    • St. James Stewardship
    • Online Giving
  • Resources
    • Parish-Wide Calendar
    • Online Registrations and Order Forms
    • Special Event Page
    • St. James Store
    • St. James Facebook Page
    • Servants in Worship Calendar
    • Forms & Documents
    • St. James Enote Archive
    • News Sites >
      • Anglican Communion News Service
      • Episcopal News Service
      • EDUSC News
    • The Anglican Communion
    • The Episcopal Church
    • Daughters of the King
    • Liturgical Resources >
      • The Daily Office
      • Book of Common Prayer Online
    • Galleries >
      • Photo Gallery >
        • Bishop Waldo Visits St. James (2017)
        • Stop Hunger Now Nov. 2016
        • 2016 Fall Festival
        • 2016 Blessing of the Animals
        • 2015 Annual Meeting
        • All Saints Day 2015 Baptisms
        • 2015 Fall Festival at St. James
        • Stop Hunger Now Photos
        • Faith Memorial 2015
        • Bishop's Visit 2015
        • Epiphany 2015
        • Christmas 2014
        • Easter 2014
      • Video Gallery
    • Recorded Sermons
  • Special Services
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