United in the Eucharist

We celebrate the Holy Eucharist (communion) every Sunday, every Tuesday, and on holy days. Our two Sunday services are different in character, but both unite us with Christ and one another so that we may participate in His ministry. Christ Church also hosts Iglesia La Virgen de Guadalupe, which has a Spanish language service at 1 p.m.
 

Sunday, 8 a.m.: This service is contemplative, without music, and uses Rite I of the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer for the Eucharist. Rite I uses traditional Anglican language. The 8 o'clock congregation is small, but dedicated, and many members serve as Lectors (who read the lessons), Prayer Leaders, Acolytes (altar servers), and Chalice Bearers.

Sunday, 10 a.m.: This service makes music an important part of our worship, and uses Rite II of the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer for the Eucharist. Rite II uses more contemporary language. Nursery care is provided during the service, although children are welcome and encouraged to be part of our liturgy in any way they can. The congregation participates in the worship service as ushers, lectors, choir, prayer leaders, chalice bearers, Verger (who leads the procession), acolytes (torch bearers, crucifers, and altar servers), and Altar Guild.

Sunday, 1:00 p.m.: Service in Spanish for the Congregation of La Virgen de Guadalupe; Father Arnulfo Arambulo officiates at this service.

Tuesday, 10 a.m.: This service is contemplative, without music, and uses Rite 1 of the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer for the Eucharist.

Holy Days: Services of various kinds are held on Holy Days, particularly during Lent and Holy Week. Some of these are focused towards adults, and some towards families and children, but all are welcome at any service.

Prayer For World Peace

Great God, who has told us
"Vengeance is mine,"
save us from ourselves,
save us from the vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.

Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.

Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again,
to make peace even when peace eludes us.

We ask, O God, for the grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the heart it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, or Palestine and Israel
as well as ourselves.

Give us the depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might
to resist the temptations of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to understand
that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace - not war - wherever we go.

For you, O God, have been merciful to us.
For you, O God, have been patient with us.
For you, O God, have been gracious to us.

And so may we be merciful
and patient
and gracious
and trusting
with these others whom you also love.

This we ask through Jesus,
the one without vengeance in his heart.
This we ask forever and ever.  Amen.

By Joan D. Chittister, OSB