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OTHER SERVICES

Aside from our regular Sunday and Wednesday services of the Holy Eucharist, many other services, or "Offices," are held at St. Mark's.  Below is a list of other services which are/may be held at various times throughout the church year.  Simply click on a service to find out more about it.

Rite I vs. Rite II

The Daily Offices

• Morning Prayer
• Noonday Prayer
• Evening Prayer
• Compline

Pastoral Offices & Sacraments

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Ordination
• Holy Matrimony
• Reconciliation
• Ministration to the Sick
• Burial

Rite I vs. Rite II

Throughout the Book of Common Prayer, many services are offered in two versions, Rite I and Rite II.  As a general rule, Rite I is the more traditional and historical service.  The old language is preserved and the service is held very much as it would have been held centuries ago.  Rite II contains much of the same content, but it is written in modern language.  Nearly all services at St. Mark's and most modern Episcopal churches use the more contemporary Rite II; however, Rite I is still occasionally used.

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The Daily Offices

Morning Prayer - Morning Prayer is a service which is even older than the Anglican Communion.  It has its roots in the Canonical hours of the church which, in ancient days, divided the time of the day and served as increments between the prescribed prayers of the day.  Canticles (hymns taken directly from the Bible) are said or sung frequently in this service.  Morning Prayer can be held on any day of the week and can be officiated by a layperson.  Until the later half of the twentieth century, Morning Prayer was the main Sunday service at most Anglican churches.  This was because Communion as part of the Holy Eucharist was only held a few times each year.  Today, the Holy Eucharist is almost always the principle Sunday service.  At St. Mark's, Morning Prayer is offered on weekdays during Lent and occasionally throughout the year.  Morning Prayer also usually serves as the principle service if the rector is away.  BACK TO TOP

Noonday Prayer - Noonday Prayer, like Morning Prayer, has its roots in the Canonical hours.  It can be officiated by a layperson.  Noonday Prayer is primarily found in larger churches which have a need for numerous services on a daily basis, but is occasionally offered at smaller churches, particularly when there is a mid-day gathering.  Noonday Prayer is not regularly held at St. Mark's.  BACK TO TOP

Evening Prayer - Evening Prayer is essentially the same service as Morning Prayer and follows the same general rules.  The only changes are different canticles and collects specifically meant for the evening.  It is meant to be used as a main service when held in the evening hours.  While Morning Prayer used to be the more important service, Evening Prayer is becoming more common since most churches which have multiple services throughout the day have Holy Eucharist in the morning.  Evening Prayer is not regularly held at St. Mark's.  BACK TO TOP

Compline - Compline is the final church service of the day.  The word is derived from the Latin word completorium, meaning "the completion of the work day".  It has its roots in the Canonical hours and can be officiated by a lay person.  Compline is a contemplative service which emphasizes spiritual peace.  Compline is frequently held at St. Mark's as part of the Agape program.  It is also held during Lent at the end of each Lenten program.  BACK TO TOP

Holy Days - There are many other special services throughout the church year held on Holy Days.  Dates and/or times for these services vary by year.  Examples of Holy Days would be All Saints' Day (November 1st), Christmas Eve and Day, Epiphany (January 6th), Ascension Day, Ash Wednesday, and the Holy Week services of Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.  To find out more about these services, please check out our summary of the church year. BACK TO TOP

Pastoral Offices & Sacraments

If you or a loved one are interested in or have any questions about one of the following sacraments, please contact our Rector.

Baptism - Baptism by water is an individual's first step in the Christian faith.  The ceremony is done for a person's initial forgiveness of sins and acceptance into the family of Christ.  During the service, the holy water which is used in the baptism is poured into a basin called a "font".  The rector then baptises the candidate using the water from the font.  Baptism's are scheduled as requested by the individual or his/her family.  There is no minimum age for baptism.  BACK TO TOP

Confirmation - Confirmation is a mature statement of faith given by a person who is already baptized.  There is no longer a minimum age for confirmation, but the candidate should be old enough to understand their commitment.  The Episcopal Church recognizes non-Episcopal confirmations.  A confirmed person changing to the Episcopal Church from another Christian denomination will be "received" rather than confirmed again.  Confirmation must be administered by a bishop.  BACK TO TOP

Ordination - Ordination, or the Sacrament of Holy Orders, is the process in which clergy become authorized by their denomination to perform religious rituals and ceremonies.  There are three orders of clergy which require ordination: bishops, priests, and deacons.  Ordination can be administered only by a bishop in a line of succession of bishops dating back to the Apostles.  In the Episcopal Church, graduation from an approved seminary school is a requirement for ordination.  Both males and females may be ordained to any order of clergy.  BACK TO TOP

Holy Matrimony - Holy Matrimony, or marriage, is the sacrament ordained by God as the lifelong union of a man and a woman.  It is first mentioned in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 2:24 . . . " Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh."  BACK TO TOP

Reconciliation - Since the Episcopal service includes a silent confession of sins to God as part of the Holy Eucharist, the Episcopal church does not require a person to confess their sins directly to a priest; however, there is a service for this in the Book of Common Prayer called "The Reconciliation of a Penitent".  This service may be conducted for all who desire it and may be conducted anytime and anywhere.  BACK TO TOP

Ministration to the Sick - Ministration to the Sick , or Unction to the Sick, is a sacrament administered to persons who are in reasonable danger of death due to illness or old age.  When death is imminent, there is a special service called "Ministration at the Time of Death."  This is also known as the Final Rites, or Last Unction.  Though this is no longer seen as a requirement for admittance to the Kingdom of God, the Minister of the Congregation should be notified when death is imminent so that the ministration may be given.  BACK TO TOP

Burial - Burial is the order in which a person's physical body returns to the earth that it came from and their spirit goes to live with Jesus in his Heavenly Kingdom.  The service is a source of comfort for the living and final prayers of pardon for the deceased.  During the service, the grave is consecrated in the name of Jesus Christ.  BACK TO TOP