Worship Service Overview

Christ at the center of the Communion Window

We offer a wide variety of worship services throughout the week at Saint Thomas Church. Below you can find descriptions of weekly worship and how different kinds of services work.


Sundays

Each Sunday, we offer several and varied opportunities to worship. Visitors are welcome at any service.

9am – Sung Eucharist in the Chancel

This service takes place in the chancel with a front-facing altar and is ideal for children and families. It typically lasts about 45 minutes and is followed by a Coffee Hour in the living and dining room of the Parish House. If you are attending as a family you are welcome to register for Sunday School, which begins at 10am.

11am – Choral Eucharist at the High Altar

This service, always with a choir, usually has by far the largest attendance of the Sunday services. It includes hymns, appointed readings, a psalm sung by the choir, a sermon, prayers, the Eucharist, and anthems sung by the choir. Depending on the service, it might include incense and various processions. From September through May, the vast majority of the 11am services are sung by the full Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys. However, when the choir school is on break, it’s the Gents only. In the summer months we usually have visiting choirs.

The 11am liturgy is followed by Coffee Hour in narthex. Also, a formal tour of the Church is often offered following this service.

4pm – Choral Evensong at the High Altar

September – Mid-May

Choral Evensong is generally a more contemplative way to worship, requiring only minimal active participation from the congregation. Therefore, it is popular among those who are new to the Episcopal tradition of worship. And because it is beautiful, it is also popular among those who are well acquainted with the tradition, especially among those who follow the routine of daily worship.

Please note that unlike weekday Choral Evensongs at Saint Thomas, Sunday Choral Evensongs are not followed by a celebration of the Eucharist. If you would like to make your Holy Communion at Saint Thomas on a Sunday, please come at 8am, 9am or 11am.


Monday through Saturday

Every Monday through Saturday, there is at least one celebration of the Mass at Saint Thomas in the form of noontime Shrine Prayers and Holy Eucharist. These services are audio livestreamed and include the reading of prayers submitted either online or in the church. We invite you to send us a prayer request.

During the academic term we offer regular services of Choral Evensong, sung by our full Choir of Men and Boys, on Tuesdays through Thursdays at 5:30pm followed by a shortened mass at the High Altar. When we don’t have Choral Evensong on these weekdays we will often offer a said mass in the Chantry Chapel instead.

Because our schedule of worship is impacted by various considerations, including the liturgical calendar, federal holidays, choir school sessions, and special events, the schedule of worship services for any given week may vary from the list below. Therefore, please see the worship calendar for particular dates.