Worship

We offer four services on Sundays. All of our Sunday services include the celebration of Holy Communion.

8:00 am: Holy Communion, no music: This simple service uses our most traditional prayers, including elegant language like “thee” and “thou.” It is a quiet, contemplative service with a sermon and Communion. This service usually lasts about 45 minutes.

9:00 am: Holy Communion with choir, singing, and Children’s Chapel (Nursery care available) The 9:00am service is still traditional, but uses modern language like “you” and “your.” Our St. Francis choir helps lead the service, and congregational singing is encouraged. Before the sermon, children are invited to follow one of our Children’s Ministers to the Davenport Chapel (to the left of the altar) for a children’s service. They then return to their families for communion. This service is also livestreamed. This service usually lasts about one hour.

10:15 am: Sunday School for all ages. Sunday school begins at 10:15 and ends promptly at 11:00. For more information, see our formation page.

11:15 am: Holy Communion with choir, singing, and Children’s Chapel (Nursery care available). This spectacular service includes traditional prayers with elegant language, music from our choir with congregational singing, and a sermon. This service usually lasts about an hour and 15 minutes.

5:00 pm: The Table, a causal service of Holy Communion, held in Graves Hall. The Table is a simple liturgy using modern language, a variety of music, and a more casual atmosphere. Weather permitting, this service gathers outdoors on the lawn to the right of the church building. When it is too hot or too cold, we meet in Graves Hall. This service usually lasts about 45 minutes.

• You are welcome to park at any open parking spot. Handicapped parking is available near the front of the church.
• When you enter through the front doors, please feel free to check in at our welcome table in the Narthex (the room you enter) for a name tag, directions, or any information you may need.
• Head straight through the Narthex to the large doors at the back of the room to enter the worship space.
• An usher will give you a leaflet with the prayers and readings for the day. The songs are sung from the hymnals in each pew, and hymn numbers are marked in your leaflet and on the boards at the front of the worship space.
• Restrooms are available in the hallway to the left of the main entrance to the worship space. 

• Children are always welcome in worship, but we do have Nursery care available at the 9:00 am and 11:15 am services.
• If you’d like to take your child to Nursery, head downstairs to the children’s ministry area. An usher or greeter would be happy to direct you.
• Mothers who need to nurse or tend to their babies are welcome to use the Williamson Room, the room immediately to the right of the main doors to the worship space. The audio from the service is played in this room so that you can listen to the sermon and follow the service. 

• There is no dress code at St. Francis in the Fields; you’ll often see gentlemen in khakis, slacks, and button down shirts and ladies in skirts and dresses. Please wear whatever makes you comfortable!

• All Christians baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are invited to receive communion in the Episcopal Church, even if they were baptized in another denomination. If you are not baptized, or do not wish to commune, you are still invited to come to the altar at the appropriate time to receive a blessing—simply cross your arms across your chest to indicate this. If you would like to learn more about being baptized, please contact us or speak to a member of the clergy.
• An usher will indicate when it is time for you to approach the altar. Follow the other members of the congregation around the altar to receive.
• We use wheat bread and real wine for Holy Communion. If you do not wish to receive the wine, simply cross your arms across your chest after you receive the bread and the chalice bearer will pass you. If you want a gluten-free wafer, please tell the priest administering bread when you are at the rail.
• All baptized children, regardless of age, are welcome to take communion in the Episcopal Church.

• You can read more on our beliefs page. If you have any questions or want more information about the history, theology, and practice in the Episcopal Church, please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions.

• In the Anglican tradition, we worship God in our bodies. This means that we stand, kneel, and sit during the service. This keeps our bodies as well as our minds engaged in the practice of worship. Feel free to follow the other worshipers and let the rhythm and flow of our service carry you.
• Please know that your presence with us is enough. You do not have to “do” anything in church if you don’t want to. If you prefer to sit in the back and just watch, that is perfectly acceptable.
• If you have any questions about what to do, ask an Usher or another worshiper. If you have any questions about why we do something a certain way, please speak to a member of clergy.

• Our Sunday offering is for those who have made St. Francis their spiritual home. Guests and visitors are never expected to give. Instead of giving financially, we’d love for you to fill out a Connect Card (located in the pews in front of you) and to put it in the plate as it is passed.

• There are three ways to enter St. Francis with a walker or wheelchair. If you park in the handicapped spaces in front of the church, look for the door to the left of the main church doors, which has a ramp. There is also a handicapped space available behind the church offices (the white building to the left of the main church) with a ramp to enter the church through the doors between the chapel and the main church. Finally, you can park in the back, enter through the Children’s Ministry doors, and take the elevator to the main floor.