SPRINGFIELD, Vt — After several meetings and with great enthusiasm the Parish of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Springfield has voted to take a bold step and alternate liturgies. Starting Aug. 4 the first and second services will be combined and held at 8:30 a.m. There is no history of this ever happening on a regular basis in the 100 plus years of the Springfield church. It will be an exciting blend of the “thee, thou, and Holy Ghost” traditional Rite I and the “Holy Spirit” contemporary language of the Rite II peoples. Both are beautiful versions of the centuries old “Book of Common Prayer.” The first and third Sundays of each month will be Rite I and the second and fourth Sundays will be Rite II. The seldom fifth Sunday of any month will be the “congregation’s pick”. Clergy led services will usually be Holy Eucharist (Communion) and Lay led services Morning Prayer. Special Holy Days will be as announced.
With this new 8:30 a.m. schedule the Rites are alternated each week instead of every Sunday. This exciting merger of service times will allow those with a “hankering” to do other things on a Sunday the chance to do so. It is also an excellent time for those searching for a new church family to check out St. Mark’s. Those unfamiliar with the rituals of this wonderful centuries old worship tradition need not be afraid. There will always be someone more than happy to assist. It is also an excellent opportunity for those who feel alienated from the church at large to become reconnected with compassion and understanding.
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