What to Expect
Visiting any church for the very first time can be a challenging experience. We want to put you at ease. Church of the Holy Spirit is a place where you can experience inspiring music, hopeful teaching and preaching, friendly people, and a place where you can feel welcome and “at home”! If it’s all completely new, no worries! Soak it all in. If you have questions about the service afterward, don’t hesitate to ask. We really are glad to have you visit.
Here are a few questions you might have about what you might expect on your first in-person visit.
What are your services like?
At Church of the Holy Spirit, we emphasize worshipping God in the beauty of music, preaching, and Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. The services are rooted in the worship of the Ancient Church and come from the Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal Church. The fancy church word for this is “liturgy.” It is a list of readings, prayers, and responses that are used in almost every service.
For those who are not familiar with liturgy, a first visit can be somewhat intimidating. Don’t worry, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible. Everything you need for the service is in your bulletin. All the prayers, songs, and scripture readings are right there. You can follow along. If you feel like responding, your part is indicated. If not, no problem.
If you’ve never experienced a traditional liturgy, here’s what to expect at Church of the Holy Spirit: hymns, choruses, chanting, Scripture readings, written prayers, Biblical preaching, bowing, kneeling, crossing, and more. Everything has a special purpose. From the clothing of the sacred ministers to the songs we sing and the movements we make, all is marked by a keen sense of God’s holy presence.
If all that sounds out of your paradigm, just participate as best you can. And if you’re not sure you want to participate, that’s ok too. That is all about personal conviction. Just enjoy the beauty and reverence of the service.
What should I expect for Eucharist?
Eucharist... also known as Communion or the Lord's Supper... is offered to any baptized believer in Christ, no matter your denomination. Since March of 2020, we have offered both the bread and the wine in one, pre-intincted wafer. You will be dismissed from your row by the ushers and then come up to the Priest or Lay Eucharistic Minister. They will pray a blessing and offer you the wafer.
If you are not baptized but would like to have the priest to pray over you, approach the priest with your arms crossing your chest. That will let us know that you prefer a prayer. It is our privilege to pray for you.
What should I wear?
At Church of the Holy Spirit, we’re pretty casual. Men dress in slacks and a nice shirt, often short sleeve, especially in the summer. Some come in shorts. Ladies dress in the same or a dress. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
How long is the service?
The service lasts between an hour and ten to an hour and fifteen minutes.
What happens after the service?
We have both adult and children’s Sunday School hour in the Parish Hall. There are refreshments including coffee and pastries. Adults will meet in the hall and our Sunday school rooms are in the back hallway. Just ask anyone and we will help direct you and your kids where you need to be.
What’s next?
Please click the button below and let us know you visited! We would love the opportunity to say thank you and to answer any questions you may have about Church of the Holy Spirit.
If you think that God is leading you to be a part of CHS, that’s wonderful! We welcome you into our family. Most of the church family life information goes out via email, newsletter, and the church’s Facebook page. In terms of giving, if you would like to fill out a pledge card, please ask an usher and we will give you one.
Visitor Check-In
We are so glad that you joined us today. We would love the opportunity to acknowledge your visit and say thank you.
Please click the button below and tell us a little about yourself. Again, thank you!
Address
601 S Highland Ave
Apopka, FL 32703
Service Time
Sunday Service (In-person and livestream) at 9am
Morning Prayer (Livestream): M,W,F at 9am