St. Richard’s Adds Weekly 5 p.m. Sunday Services for ParishionersAugust 10, 2018 • Jeff Gardenour  • DIOCESAN FAMILY • REACHING OUT

When attendance for the main morning service declined, leaders at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church figured that adding a later-day service might be the answer to draw people back into the Lord’s house.

St. Richard’s leaders proved prophetic as parishioners are taking part in the church’s newest worship time: 5 p.m., Sunday. The move to add a regular 5 p.m. Sunday service came after the church began holding a Taizé (pronounced TAY ‘-zay) service, an ecumenical and nondenominational service powered by music in the form of repetitive singing of harmonized tunes three years ago on the last Sunday of each month.

The Taizé Community originated in France, established in 1940 by Roger Schutz, a reformed Protestant. It has become popular throughout the world for its simplicity and appeal to many people.

“The Taizé service was regularly attended so we decided to make 5:00 p.m. worship a weekly event the first Sunday in Lent 2018,” said the Rev. Alison Harrity, rector at St. Richard’s.

The weekly Sunday 5 p.m. service still will include a Taizé service on the fourth Sunday of each month. A team of leaders will run the other 5 p.m. Sunday services throughout the month.

“Love having another option for people,” Harrity said. “Rich Wilson, deacon, and others, including a lay person, Art Pini, lead the Evening Prayer services (on the second and third Sundays); other clergy lead the Taizé service and I take first Sunday Eucharists and the fifth Sunday offerings (when applicable). It is working, and we are happy to have another time to worship the creator of all that is at St. Richard’s!”

The Sunday 5 p.m. service adds to the church’s 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I, and 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II services.

“We have had the Taizé service on the last Sunday of the month for three years,” Harrity said. “We decided to add to it as attendance at 10:30 a.m. has declined. We hoped that 5:00 p.m. time slot might be another option for folks.”

The St. Richard’s rector said attendance has been as high as 60 for the 5 p.m. Sunday services. When there is a fifth Sunday, the church’s musician, Carl MaultsBy, creates a special musical service of Evensong or an Order for Evening Worship and HE II, Harrity said.

St. Richard’s is located at 5151 Lake Howell Road in Winter Park. Contact the church at 407-671-4211 for more information.