What is it like to visit St. Michael's?  

First and foremost, we are happy to welcome ANYONE into our church. You (and your family, including children of any age) are always welcome to church for the ENTIRE Holy Eucharist. Crying babies, squirmy toddlers, folks from different cultures and religions, and people with disabilities are ALL always welcome in our worship.

You can simply come and enjoy the service, anytime. There is never a need to participate.  For instance, you can simply: 

  • Listen to beautiful hymns sung by our amazing choir.  

  • Ponder the Bible readings and the sermon.  

  • Absorb and participate in the reverence of our prayers.

  • Just enjoy watching people in the midst of religious devotion.  

There is no "required" or "right" way to be present at our church:

  • ALL people, of any race, ethnicity, religion, background, culture, class, sexuality, or gender expression are fully welcome to all of our events.

  • Formal dress is not required.

  • Children are always welcome in worship, but childcare is also available most Sundays, should YOU wish to use it. This is a service to give parents space and time to have their own worship.  It is NOT intended to keep babies away from worship.  

  • You do not need to "be a Christian" to attend.  

  • The directions in the bulletin are invitations, not commands. You may sit, stand, and/or kneel as you feel called.  

We are very excited to meet you and learn about you!

If you want to see what our services are like, please visit our Facebook page or our YouTube channel. We stream our services for people who can’t make it or just want to understand who we are.

A Detailed Walkthrough of a Typical Visit

When you come to visit St. Michael's for the first time, we will try to greet you. There will be a bulletin to help you understand our service. Please feel free to wherever you feel comfortable. The bulletin contains all of the directions for the service, including readings, prayers, responses, and directions on when to sit, stand, or kneel as able. Hymn numbers are provided in the bulletin, and the hymns can be found in the Blue Hymnal 1982 (note that the first songs in the hymnal are service music, marked with an "S;" the hymns follow and are simply numbered, without the "S").  Participate as you are comfortable. In the middle of the service, we "pass the Peace," and most people shake hands. Familiar people may hug each other. Again, participate as you are comfortable. More details on Communion follow below.  Following the service, there is a coffee hour with refreshments, snacks, and often lunch foods available for all. People will socialize here, and they will welcome you to our parish.  

Concerning Communion:

In the Episcopal tradition, Holy Communion—also called the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, or the Mass—is the central act of Christian worship. It is a sacred meal that recalls Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples and celebrates our unity with God and one another.

All baptized Christians, regardless of denomination, are warmly invited to receive Communion. If you prefer not to receive, you are still welcome to come forward, kneel, and cross your arms over your chest to receive a blessing instead.

Communion is a symbolic reenactment of the Last Supper, where bread and wine are shared as signs of Christ’s body and blood. Episcopalians believe in the real presence of Christ in this sacrament—not just a memorial, but a spiritual encounter with grace.

Children who are baptized are also welcome to receive Communion. Many parishes offer age-appropriate instruction to help them understand the meaning of the sacrament.

The "Flavor" of Worship at St. Michael's

Those familiar with church may wonder what worship at St. Michael's "feels" like. There is only one answer: come and see for yourself!

But here are some characteristics that may help to describe our worship: 

Our worship strives to be both imminent and transcendent.  

Our worship, with God's grace, is imminent. It addresses the real "here and now" of our lives.

  • We share our prayer life in "real time": we pray together in worship, welcoming the words that the Spirit gently lays upon our hearts.  

  • We do not end after the Eucharist: our Coffee Hour after the service is our 21st century Agape Meal. Here we feast of God's Presence in fellowship, in laughter, and in sharing hospitality with all who come. 

Our worship, with God's grace, is also transcendent. It lifts us out of our daily lives for a taste of divine comfort and awakening.  

  • We are sacramentally-focused: the Presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist centers our shared worship life. We offer a full ministry celebrating the Sacraments of the Church, sharing God's blessings with all people, across the fullness of our lives: Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination, Reconciliation, Unction (special blessings for the ill and those preparing to die).  We also try to practice sacramental (small 's') presence, carrying Christ's compassion and listening companionship into our shared lives. 

  • We love music and liturgy: our outstanding choir provides an atmosphere of contemplative yet warm holiness to our liturgy. The liturgy communicates - though symbolic actions - the deep Mysteries of our faith.   

  • Children are central to our faith and we try to intergrate that into our service. If you arrive on a day with a “Children’s Sunday,” our sermon will feature the children and our education leader. But you will notice that children also present the elements of the sacrament, sometimes do the reading, and are often engaged in our worship in a variety of ways.