When our church building was constructed right around 1960, it was very much a suburban church.  As the pace and perceived size of our modern lives has shifted over the ensuing decades, so has the scope and ministry of St. Michael’s.  We stand but a wee three miles from downtown Racine.  Depending on which way you turn out of our driveway, you will encounter expensive lake homes or subsidized housing.  If you go twenty minutes north, you land in downtown Milwaukee.  Sixty minutes south and you are in Chicago.  In a word, our community has become diverse and complex; and this is reflected in the fabric that makes up the backdrop of our present-day church. 

St. Michael’s cannot help but be integrated into our local community.  It is a place where people come to worship, for community, for formation, and to be engaged in mission.  This cannot be accomplished, however, in a vacuum.  We are one parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee whose mission has recently been articulated by our bishop, Steven Andrew Miller: To invite others to know Jesus as Savior and Lord in the fellowship of his church, and to get to know the story of Jesus that is written [in Scripture] as God is writing his story in your life and in your heart. 

Our diocese is one of many that constitute the national Episcopal Church – a diverse and motley collection of people from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences.  Much has been made of the challenges associated with sharing a common life in a church where people disagree about so many issues facing our modern world.  The challenge of the Episcopal Church is very much the challenge of being a part of the global society.  How do we live with and respond to those who are different from us?  St. Michael’s is confident in our position that stalwartly upholds Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the authority of Holy Scripture as God’s Word and our rule of life, and the evangelical imperative to make Jesus known to others in word and in deed.  We participate freely and humbly in our church and in the world, unafraid - because we know our Lord as he has revealed himself to us.

The Episcopal Church is a member of the World-wide Anglican Communion.  To be Anglican is to be in “communion” with the historic See of Canterbury.  While more is said about this elsewhere on this site, it is important to note that we are a global church.  The Anglican Communion is a collection of thirty-eight provinces in over one hundred sixty countries representing over eighty million Christians!  So when you gather at one of our services, whether you are one of thirty others or one hundred and thirty, you are joining your voice with Christians across the world, who sing a common refrain and worship a common Lord.

Protestant or Catholic?

The Anglican Way was given birth in the days of the Reformation (AD 1500’s) when the Church of England and the Church of Rome were separated.  We retained the rich liturgy and symbolism thrown out by other Protestant churches while clarifying our theology to reflect a return to more biblical roots.  Hence we are a both/and church. We also retain an unbroken line of apostolic succession. That simply means that our bishops, priests, and deacons trace their ordinations directly to beginning days of the Church. We are part of what we profess to be the one holy catholic and apostolic church. Within Anglicanism is the full spectrum of people whose practice of Christianity is on one side “Anglo-Catholic” all the way over to Evangelical and Charismatic on the other. St. Michael's is a true mix of having in its congregation people from these categories and everything in between! Both a common commitment to following Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and worship from the BCP bind us together in harmony.

Our Front Door Is Really Our Back!
While the big red doors (at the west end) facing the road are open on Sundays and other times, the main entrance is found by going around the building and is off of the main parking lot.  Once you enter, you can find the nursery (for infants to 3-year-olds) upstairs and to the right.  Preschool through fifth grade classes are downstairs – just follow the signs.  The main worship space is upstairs and to the left; where the doors open more or less in the middle of the “nave”.  Thus, if you enter after the service begins, it is kind of noticeable – but nobody really cares!  You can always go around to the west doors if you are sheepish.  For any other questions, grab an usher or a greeter or anybody else who seems to know where they are going! 

Our Worship Is Active
The first thing you’ll notice about our worship is how active it is. A lot of people will be doing a lot of different things. Some people will kneel during part of the service. Some will stand. Some will bow towards the front of the church. Some will make the sign of the cross. Others will close their eyes and raise their hands in worship. Anglicanism allows for a wide variety of expression. This is part of our understanding of what it means to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice unto God (Romans 12.1). Ours is a liturgical tradition. That means we follow a set order of worship found in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) which is reprinted in your bulletin for the sake of simplicity. On one hand it may seem like a lot of busy-ness. On the other, everything we do in our worship has an important meaning and a rich symbolism. There is no one right way to worship God – so don’t worry about doing something “wrong”!

Both the priest and all those assisting with the services with be wearing different “vestments”. Vestments are traditional garments and robes worn by clergy for centuries. The color of the vestments and cloths that decorate the church building (such as the Altar and the lecterns) change according to the season of the year.

Other traditions that we use in varying degrees during our services include grand processions following a cross and candles. Sometimes we will use incense; this is simply another way to engage our senses in worship and is a visible sign of the prayers of the saints ascending to heaven. And especially during high holy days – such as Christmas, Easter, and Michaelmas – we have more ways of expressing our thanksgiving to God for what he has done through Jesus’ death, life, and resurrection by the use of special liturgies and prayers.

The preacher, usually Father Terry, will deliver a highly relevant sermon expounding upon one or more of the four passages of the Bible that are read aloud during the service. You’ll definitely leave feeling encouraged and equipped to go back into the world and live out the rest of the week.

Finally, the 7.30, and 9.00 services have Holy Communion (Eucharist). All baptized Christians from any tradition are welcome to come to the Lord’s Table. We receive the Body and Blood of our Lord by walking forward to the front of the church and kneeling (or standing) at the Altar rail. We extend our hands to receive the bread (a small, round wafer) and, once eaten, receive the wine in a common cup. A blessing may be received at the Altar instead of Communion by crossing one’s arms across one’s chest. 

You’ll Need Your Bulletin
We have tried to keep book juggling down to a bare minimum for you.  The bulletin contains the order of the service as well as any spoken responses by the congregation.  It also contains the words to any contemporary songs we are using that morning.  Just start at the beginning and follow along!  You will still need, however, the blue hymnal in the pew rack in front of you.  Any hymn number beginning with an “S” (for Service music) is found towards the front, while all other hymns are found towards the back.