Posted 11:21 pm Saturday, January 28, 2012
Epiphany Eucharist Service Has Wide Reach
By REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
It’s been a year since the Epiphany Eucharist service launched at Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler, and it’s an important part of the church’s ministry, said the Rev. Matthew Boulter, assistant rector of Christ Church.
“This is not a service for the parishioners, it’s a service for their neighbors and coworkers,” he said.
The Epiphany Eucharist is the church’s version of a contemporary service. The priests opt for a collar instead of robes and the music includes more modern songs, such as “Mighty to Save,” “In Christ Alone,” and “Christ is Risen.” Still, attendees confess creeds every Sunday and take bread and real wine from a communal chalice, Boulter said.
Staff Writer
It’s been a year since the Epiphany Eucharist service launched at Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler, and it’s an important part of the church’s ministry, said the Rev. Matthew Boulter, assistant rector of Christ Church.
“This is not a service for the parishioners, it’s a service for their neighbors and coworkers,” he said.
The Epiphany Eucharist is the church’s version of a contemporary service. The priests opt for a collar instead of robes and the music includes more modern songs, such as “Mighty to Save,” “In Christ Alone,” and “Christ is Risen.” Still, attendees confess creeds every Sunday and take bread and real wine from a communal chalice, Boulter said.
“It’s important for us that the liturgy not be dumbed-down,” he said. “We love the liturgy so much, we want to share it. It’s not a rock concert at all. It’s a service where folks who might be uncomfortable in the nave (the more traditional service) can be exposed to the liturgy.”
Ultimately the point of the Epiphany Eucharist service is to acclimate those who haven’t grown up in the tradition.
“It’s like a bridge beer,” he said. “There’s a good chance they’ll like something about it. This service is like a Shiner for someone who drinks Bud Light. This is how we introduce Bible Belt evangelicals to church history.”
Ultimately the point of the Epiphany Eucharist service is to acclimate those who haven’t grown up in the tradition.
“It’s like a bridge beer,” he said. “There’s a good chance they’ll like something about it. This service is like a Shiner for someone who drinks Bud Light. This is how we introduce Bible Belt evangelicals to church history.”
While the service isn’t for traditional Episcopalians, they aren’t interested in “sheep stealing” from other churches, Boulter said.
“It’s for people who were raised in a different denomination and haven’t been back in one or five years. I think the trendy word for that is ‘dechurched,’” he said.
The church has grown 10 percent during the past two years. There are 1,500 members, 800 of which are active and 400 who are regular attendees. About 200 attend Sunday School every week, which is a good number for an Episcopalian congregation, Boulter said. About 60 people attend the Epiphany Eucharist service.
Most of the service’s attendees are younger, Boulter said, and he tailors his sermons to fit that audience. But the people who attend the two types of services aren’t as different as one might think.
“The things I talk about also play well in the nave,” he said. “For example, I could talk about cutting, but maybe there’s a 75-year-old grandmother whose granddaughter struggles with that. I think the 75-year-olds today are much different than they were 20 years ago, because of the Internet. It’s an exciting time to do ministry.”
“It’s for people who were raised in a different denomination and haven’t been back in one or five years. I think the trendy word for that is ‘dechurched,’” he said.
The church has grown 10 percent during the past two years. There are 1,500 members, 800 of which are active and 400 who are regular attendees. About 200 attend Sunday School every week, which is a good number for an Episcopalian congregation, Boulter said. About 60 people attend the Epiphany Eucharist service.
Most of the service’s attendees are younger, Boulter said, and he tailors his sermons to fit that audience. But the people who attend the two types of services aren’t as different as one might think.
“The things I talk about also play well in the nave,” he said. “For example, I could talk about cutting, but maybe there’s a 75-year-old grandmother whose granddaughter struggles with that. I think the 75-year-olds today are much different than they were 20 years ago, because of the Internet. It’s an exciting time to do ministry.”
