Communion

The Holy Eucharist (Greek for "great thanksgiving) or Holy Communion is the central act of worship in the Episcopal Church. All baptized persons are invited to receive Holy Communion at St. John's Church, regardless of religious background. Classes are offered every other year to prepare young children to receive Holy Communion. (Classes are offered in 2011; scheduled for March 27, April 3 & 10 at 4pm in the church - classes are 45 minutes and include a snack.) Word Alive, a brief activity in the Church School for young people during the first part of the Eucharist is dismissed at the Peace, when children rejoin their families in the church to receive Communion with them.

The Book of Common Prayer provides two forms for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist: Rite I, in more traditional language, and Rite II, in contemporary language. During the summer worship schedule, St. John's Church also uses Eucharistic Prayers from Enriching Our Worship, supplemental liturgical materials approved by General Convention.

The Holy Eucharist is the most ancient form of Christian prayer, known in the Eastern Orthodox Churches as The Divine Liturgy or The Holy Mysteries, in the Roman Catholic Church as The Mass and in the Protestant tradition as The Lord's Supper or The Holy Communion. In all traditions the basic format of the service is similar: gathering in Christ's name, hearing and responding to Holy Scripture (which often includes a homily or sermon), prayers for the world and the Church, an exchange of the Peace, the Eucharistic Prayer over bread and wine, and Communion or sharing the bread and wine. The Holy Eucharist is celebrated Sundays at 8am and 10:30am and Wednesdays at 5:30pm. Upon request, the clergy will take Holy Communion to parishioners unable to attend church.