Saturday Service at

5 p.m.

Sunday School for

Adults and Children

9:30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist at

11 a.m. Sundays

290 Old Haw Creek

Asheville, NC

828-298-3553

Our regular schedule includes a 5 p.m. Holy Eucharist on Saturdays, Adult and children's Sunday School at 9:30 a.m., and Holy Eucharist with choir at 11 a.m..

How to find us

    We are located at the top of Trinity Chapel Road at 290 Old Haw Creek Road. From Tunnel Road, turn right onto New Haw Creek Road. Take a left on Trinity Chapel and go to the top of the hill. You can't miss us! There's plenty of parking in the rear. Handicapped parking is in the front of the church.

What to expect when you visit

    Sunday is traditionally when Episcopalians gather to worship, although we have a service on Saturday evenings at 5 with Holy Eucharist for the convenience of some of our parishioners.

     At St. John's, we have Holy Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper, at 11 on Sunday morning, our principal worship service.

    There are many different styles of worship in which Episcopalians worship. In one you may find very formal, almost Catholic styles with lots of singing, music, vestments (fancy robes) and incense, to very informal, spoken styles that sometimes includes guitars and folk music. At St. John's we are somewhere in between! No matter the style, all worship in the Episcopal Church is based on the Book of Common Prayer (the red book).

    Worship in the Episcopal Church is said to be "liturgical," which means that the congregation follows the same service and prays from texts that don't change very much from week to week during a season of the year.

    You may notice that some people bow as they enter the pew, most will lower the kneeling bench and kneel to pray in silence before church begins. This is different for different people. When we kneel to pray at this time, we are telling God that we are here and centering ourselves for worship and the word.

    The Liturgy can be confusing, however, or difficult to follow for the first-time visitor. We also have one book for the Liturgy (The Book of Common Prayer) and one and maybe even two for the hymns. The page numbers are listed in your bulletin, or ask one of your neighbors to help you find your place! There is also a lot of standing, sitting, kneeling, bowing and sung or spoken responses. Liturgical worship can be compared with a formal dance: Once you learn its steps and movements, you learn to appreciate its rhythm and it becomes satisfying to dance, again and again, as the music changes.

    We begin with the praise of God through singing and prayers, and then listen to the readings. Usually there are readings from the Old Testament, a psalm, one from the Epistles, and lastly, a reading from the Gospel. The priest will deliver a sermon or meditation on the readings.

    The congregation recites the Nicene Creed, which was written in the Fourth Century and has been the Church's statement of what we believe ever since.

    Next, the congregation prays together -- for the Church, for the World, and for those in need. We pray for the sick, we thank God for all the good things in our lives, and finally we pray for the dead. Then usually the congregation confesses its sins before God and before one another. The priest then "prounounces absolution," assuring the congregation that God is always ready to forgive our sins.

    The congregation greets one another and wishes them "peace." At St. John's we often leave our seats and greet one another with a hug or a handshake.

The Liturgy of the Table

    Next, the priest stands at the table, which has been set with a cup of wine and a loaf of bread. Now begins the Eucharistic Prayer, in which the priest tells the story of Christianity. We are reminded that Jesus instituted this meal (communion) as a continual remembrance of Him.

    The priest blesses the bread and wine and shares it with the people. At St. John's the ushers will help direct you to the kneelers at the front rail. Most prefer to kneel, but you may stand. Extend your cupped hand to the priest and she will place the bread in it. You may dip your bread in the wine and eat it, or place the bread in your mouth and take a sip from the chalice when it's offered. Different churches do it different ways.

All are Welcome!

    All baptized Christians, no matter what age, and no matter what denomination, are welcome to "receive communion," no matter which Church they were baptized in. This invitation to other Christians who are not Episcopalians is in sharp contrast to the position of some other Churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church, which allows only Roman Catholics to receive. Episcopalians invite all baptised people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our baptism so seriously.

    Visitors who are not baptized Christians are still welcome to come forward during the Communion to receive a blessing.

    "Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord!"

    "Thanks be to God!"

    Please join us immediately following the service in the Parish Hall for coffee and fellowship. It's an Episcopalian tradition!

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