THE SERVICE OF HOLY EUCHARIST

Sundays at 10:45 AM

Join us on Sundays at 10:45 as we celebrate the service of Holy Eucharist at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Odessa.  In light of COVID-19, we are worshipping together online at on our Facebook page.  In order to access our services, click here. 

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Sunday morning, we have one service of Holy Eucharist (Communion or Mass).  The Episcopal tradition of worship most closely mirrors what you might see in a Catholic Mass.  The service is divided into two parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Table.  During the Liturgy of the Word, we have a reading from the Old Testament, a psalm, a reading from the New Testament (often from one of the epistles), and a reading from the gospels.  After the gospel reading, there is a sermon, most often given by the chaplain.  Then, the congregation is invited to recite the Nicene Creed.  We then have prayers, a confession of sin, and the pronouncement of absolution.  The passing of the peace then follows.  During "the peace," we greet each other in the name of Christ, and often this takes the form of a hearty handshake, or hug, and a wish of "peace" for the other person.  The second part of the service is commonly referred to as "communion." It is at this time that people are invited around the altar rail to receive communion (bread and wine).  All baptized people are welcome to receive communion at St. Barnabas.  After Communion, the priest will offer a blessing over the congregation.  

Click on the videos below to access short clips explaining the meaning of each step of our liturgy.