WORSHIP
St. Mary's
St. Mary’s, Park Ridge is a warm, inclusive church community of faith which belongs to the larger Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
We are a community which honors God with beautiful, joyful worship, which we call liturgy, and with service to others in God’s name. We place our faith and trust in the God who made and loves all people, and we seek to pattern our lives after the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, God’s Son, our Lord and Savior.
​
As Episcopalians, and as St. Mary’s Church, we seek to love, welcome, and include people of all ages, expressions, orientations, ethnicities, or backgrounds. All are invited to participate in our worship, fellowship, and works of service.
Episcopal Tradition
The roots of the Episcopal Church go all the way back to the traditions of the very first Christians. We have been shaped and influenced by both the catholic and reformed traditions of the church. We have a very deep and historic connection to the Church of England, as many of our most important traditions are rooted in the English Christian heritage. For that reason, Episcopalians belong to a family of churches often referred to as Anglicans.
​
Our worship life is centered around the sacraments (holy signs of God’s grace and love) of Baptism and Holy Eucharist (or Holy Communion, or the Mass as it’s called). Our worship follows ancient forms, uses long cherished prayer language, and is also relevant to current realities.
​
The word “Episcopal” is an old word which refers to Bishops. Bishops are church leaders called to oversee the work of the church and proclaim the good news of Jesus. Because Bishops not only have the important work of leadership in our church, but are also symbols of our unity, we have called ourselves the Episcopal Church.
Music
St. Mary's cherishes a history and culture of excellent choral music and enthusiastic congregational singing. Rooted in the best of the Episcopal tradition, but open to diverse musical expressions, our music spans a broad range of repertory from Renaissance motets to American spirituals to gems of the English choral tradition. Our choral season spans from early September till Pentecost each year.
​
For four Sundays per year, our Gospel Choir provides an opportunity to welcome and include singers of all levels of experience, even those who may not regularly sing in choirs or read music. Participants work with guest leaders and conductors who teach them a variety of music from the Gospel, praise, and world music traditions.
There are always chances to make music at St. Mary's, including instrumental music and inclusion of young voices.
​
For more information please contact ligiapucci@stmaryspr.org