Visitors & Inquirers: We welcome you as our Guest!
Whether you are new to Orthodox Christianity or are visiting from another Orthodox parish we warmly welcome you to join with us, and we would be honored to have you visit.
If this is your first time to worship in an Orthodox church, there are a few things that you should know:
As long as God has called a people to Himself, from the Old Covenant through the New Covenant, He has set in order the way in which they are to encounter Him in worship. God meets with us and engages us through the use of all of our senses; sight, smell, hearing, touch, and so on. Why? Because, out of His great love for mankind, He desires that we experience Him and all of the benefits of His Kingdom.
In fact, if you look at the worship of God in both the Old Covenant and that which we do as Orthodox Christians in the New Covenant, you would find that the form and expression of worship closely matches the way in which Holy Scripture describes the eternal worship of God as noted various Old and New Testament passages.
So, what are some things you will experience as you worship God with us?
When you enter the Church building, you will see Icons of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Mother the Blessed Virgin Mary with Jesus as a child, as well as Icons of the Saints who have gone before us. You may see some of us kiss or reverence the icons of the Saints. Try not to be alarmed. We do not worship the Icons or the Saints of the Church. Many people kiss pictures of their relatives, whom they love. We are simply showing our love, honor, and respect for them since they are such an example to us of those who have lived a life offered entirely to God through Jesus Christ.
During worship you will notice that the Priest, Deacon, and Subdeacon all wear beautiful garments called vestments as they serve at the Altar. These vestments are not to draw attention at all to the man wearing them. Rather, the vestments tell us something either about Jesus Christ our Great High Priest or about ourselves as beloved children of God. What is with the use of incense? Incense is nothing new to the worship of God. It was used in the Tabernacle and the Temple in the Old Covenant. It is still used today in both Prayer Services as well as in Mass and has been used throughout the history of the Church. Incense has always represented the prayers of God’s people going up before His eternal throne.
Revelation 8:3–4
3Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.
Our services involve congregational participation. The faithful are encouraged to sing, to make the responses, and to be engaged through physical acts of devotion. Of course, visitors are certainly welcome to simply observe until they become more familiar with the service. You will be given a bulletin giving page numbers in the books that are used, such as our Pew Missal as well as our hymnal. Also, any church member who is near you will be happy to help you find the place in the books.
Another ancient Christian devotion you will see is when we frequently make the sign of the cross (such as when we enter the church, reverence icons, at the end of the Gloria and Creed, as well as both before and after receiving communion). As Christians, the work of Christ upon the Cross is essential to our salvation. Through the cross is power to overcome evil, through the blood of Christ shed upon the cross we are cleansed from our sins, and by His sufferings we are healed. Even in the first century of the Church, the very generation after the Apostles, making the sign of the Cross was encouraged. Making the sign of the Cross is touched by the grace of God, manifesting in that very moment all that Christ accomplished upon it for our great benefit.
To receive Holy Communion, the Orthodox faithful come to the front and kneel at the rail. If you are not an Orthodox Christian or simply desire not to take Holy Communion on that day, please come forward and kneel just like everyone else. Place your index finger over your mouth as a sign to the Priest that you will not be taking Communion. The Priest will make the sign of the Cross over you, asking God to grant you His blessing.
If you decide to come and visit us at St. Peter, please stay after Mass to enjoy some refreshments and fellowship. We would love to get to know you better. Our Priest and Parishioners will be happy to answer any questions you may have about Orthodoxy, the Western Rite, and the journeys of faith which our members have made from many diverse backgrounds. So, please come and visit. We look forward to sharing the love of God with you as we gather together to worship Him at St. Peter Orthodox Church!
Inquiring Minds Want to Know
Attend one of our Inquirers’ Classes
The purpose of our Inquirers’ Classes goes beyond what we have typically come to understand as teaching in our Western culture. The Apostolic Faith is far more than intellectual learning alone. This Faith brings us to an authentic experience of the living God. These classes teach us the Faith that has been handed down to us and how we can encounter our Lord as we live it. Inquirers’ classes are designed for those wanting to understand more about the Orthodox Faith while providing an opportunity for all to get their very important questions answered.
The classes normally take place twice a month from June through March. They are held on Saturdays just after the Vespers prayer service. Vespers begins at 5 pm. After a brief break, the class begins at 6 pm and goes until 6:45. All are invited to these classes and can begin attending at any time of the year. You do not have to start attending in June when the classes begin. Come any time!
To find out when the classes are being held, please go to the Church Calendar page of this website.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.