Scott Painter

Our communal gathering, centered in common prayer, makes space to lift up church teaching and theological tradition. We read from Scripture, hear a sermon, and say the Nicene Creed.

When I found The Episcopal Church, my immediate impression was quite the opposite to prior experiences of church. I found a well-structured order of worship together, which initially seemed to minimize individual preferences; and throughout the community there was a generous freedom in terms of individual thought and expression of self.

Much of the time, we don’t read directly from The Book of Common Prayer—like, from the actual book—most Sundays at St. Michael’s. You probably see it every week, peeking over the pew racks in back of each row, right next to hymnals and miscellaneous information cards.