The Episcopal community at Carol Woods has been blessed to have regular celebrations of the Holy Eucharist for two decades. Under the leadership of Peter Lee, then Rector of the Chapel of the Cross, a committee of Episcopal residents was formed in 1980 to plan services for one Sunday each month and for Ash Wednesday, Easter, and Christmas. Semi-monthly services began soon after the Rev. Stephen Elkins-Williams became rector in 1985 and are continuing today. They have become an increasingly significant and meaningful aspect of our community life.

These gatherings mean much to many people, especially those unable to attend church downtown. The services emphasize liturgy, simplicity, congregational participation, and an attempt to welcome all residents and all denominations. Wheelchairs bring in denizens from the assisted living and health-care center areas. Resident Rebecca Warren publicizes these services with announcements in our "Friday Memo," on bulletin boards throughout the campus, and in individual in-house mail boxes.

Clergy from the Chapel of the Cross rotate as celebrants, assisted by resident lay eucharistic ministers. It is good to have different priests come, for they help communicants to feel a part of the parish. Scores of residents are members of the Chapel of the Cross—several have been for 40 to 55 years.

Services are held in the spacious, attractive Assembly Hall, fitted with comfortable chairs and aids for the hard-of-hearing. Denizen altar guild members perform necessary duties including preparing the communion on the improvised altar, providing flowers and distributing the printed bulletin excerpts from "The Book of Common Prayer" and the 55 hymnals donated by resident Sara Hill in memory of her late husband. The service is enhanced by organ music played by Carolyn Powell on an organ donated by a former resident. Usually three or four hymns are sung at each gathering. This total experience provides the opportunity to meditate and to feel the presence of God, the spirit of worship, and the sense of fellowship.

There has been good participation and interest in this endeavor. Some of the residents who have provided leadership through the years include the late Anne Corpening, Dorothy Moulton, and Jean Cooke; and current denizens Marty Ensign, Sara Hill, and Rebecca Warren. Carol Woods is indeed grateful to the priests of the parish for their years of faithful ministry and wonderful parish care. Our celebrations of Holy Eucharist are from 4 to 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. We welcome anyone who would like to come.