Most area churches offer members a choice of two Sunday services.

We at the Chapel of the Cross have four. While each has its own character and appeal, all four are celebrations of the Eucharist. The rector, Stephen Elkins-Williams, says the “liturgical ministry is intentionally broad with different styles to help people worship better and to make full use of the Prayer Book.” But four separate services present both a blessing and a challenge, according to Elkins-Williams. “We want to keep a unity,” he says, “and make sure we do not have four separate congregations.”

One way to overcome that potential problem is through careful scheduling of the priests and deacons. Elkins-Williams labors over this. He says, “we try to preach the same sermon at the 9:00, 11:15, and 5:15 services. That and the weekly bulletin, Crossings, and the newly expanded tri-fold service leaflet, now allow all parishioners to be made aware of the same things.”

Elkins-Williams plans the schedule in three-month segments. “Providing airtime to all the clergy is sometimes difficult,” he says. He calls having a parish with four staff priests two deacons and three priest associates, and now a Missioner priest exciting but a challenge to make sure they get an opportunity to rotate through all the services.

The first service on Sunday is at 7:30 a.m. in the Chapel. It draws an average of 40 to 50 hard-core early-risers. “While most Episcopal churches have an 8 a.m. service, ours is earlier,” Elkins-Williams says, “because we have two other services later in the morning.” The liturgy is always a Rite I Eucharist with one priest and an acolyte, and on special occasions an organist. Lay readers are assigned and there is an informal system of ushers. It is the quietest of the liturgical ceremonies and appeals to many that plan a busy Sunday and want to get an early start.

The 9:00 Eucharist fills the main church with the most parishioners. While not designated the “family service,” it is chosen by many parents because there is a greater involvement for children with the junior choir’s role and children who are both ushers and lectors. This service is normally Rite II, but Rite I is celebrated on the third Sunday each month to keep kids in touch with their Anglican roots.

Some people refer to the 11:15 Eucharist in the main church as the “cathedral service.” It is the most formal of the Sunday liturgical celebrations. The senior choir leads the music. It is a Rite I Eucharist but on the second and fourth Sundays, Morning Prayer is included.

A recent addition to both the 9:00 and 11:15 services is the opportunity for parishioners to be anointed. The anointing and laying on of hands for anyone seeking healing of mind, body, and spirit is performed by a priest in the baptismal font alcove during the distribution of Holy Communion.

One parishioner refers to the 5:15 p.m. liturgy as the “Birkenstock service” because of the number of students and other ‘late risers’ who attend. It normally fills the Chapel with 80 to 100 parishioners. It’s also a more ‘relaxed’ service. The small parish choir sings twice a month, often without vestments or procession. It is a Rite II Eucharist.

And what service appeals most to Elkins-Williams? He ponders the question and smiles, “It’s very difficult to say which I prefer most. I enjoy the dynamics of the larger services, but I love all of them.”