On the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m., a group gathers in the church for worship. Though we record this service in the register as “Evening Prayer,” it is unlike any other service in the parish. A vestry member reading an account of it last year in the "News and Observer" found the description exciting but thought nothing like this went on at the Chapel of the Cross – until he read further on in the article. We call it “Special Worship” or just the “Third Monday service”, and we invite to it especially persons with developmental disabilities.

We have been having this service for three years, not because we want to keep this rather joyous, noisy, boisterous group out of our more traditional Sunday celebrations – indeed some of the worshippers have come to Sunday morning services. Rather, we do this because it is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate together—with singing, with everyone having an instrument, with lessons in which we all take part. We literally “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” led by our Episcopal Campus Ministry student guitarists, with our instruments, with our out-of-tune voices.

Special Worship attracts about 50 people each month – young and old, children with autism, adults from group homes, parishioners, students. But we don’t divide into these categories, for we are all “one in the Spirit” and all come together as children of God. It’s both a worship opportunity at the Chapel of the Cross and an outreach into the community to all those who we might not encounter every day but who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

All are invited to our Third Monday service – the only requirements are a willingness to welcome and be welcomed to another part of the worshipping community that is our parish. Bill Joyner or Sarah Taylor can provide additional information about this service.