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Up Front Service
Our Up Front services are one of our special offerings at St. Thomas. During these services, the children and youth of the parish take center stage. They read the lessons, serve on the Altar, and the children’s choir sings, and while the sermon is always appreciated by everyone young and old, the clergy make a special point to direct towards our little ones.
In an effort to further enhance the experience and involvement of our young people, we are going to add two new features to these services:
Prayer Cards
During the service, each parishioner will be encouraged to write or draw a prayer on their card. At the Prayers of the People, the cards will be collected by our children and brought up to the Altar. The clergy will then share a sample of prayers before inviting a general prayer on behalf of all the cards offered.
Confessing Stones
Each parishioner will be asked to hold a stone during the prayer of confession as a tangible symbol of our need for God’s grace. Upon concluding the prayer of confession, the children will gather the stones and lay them gently in the Baptismal Font. The clergy will then pour water over the stones as a reminder of our baptism and as an act of God’s forgiveness.
These practices have wide use in the Episcopal Church and they have been found to be quite meaningful for all that participate.
We hope you will join us on for our next Up Front service on Sunday, February 12th at 9:30 am.
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