St. John's, College Park, GA - Visitors/Newcomers

St. John's Episcopal Church, A Parish of the Diocese of Atlanta

Visitors/Newcomers

We're delighted to have you join us for worship at St. John's! We hope that this part of our website will prove to be a beneficial source of information for those new to St. John's, or to the Episcopal church in general. Thanks for visiting us!

If you need directions to the church, please click on the link on the left side of this page.
If you're visiting St. John's for the first time, please let an usher know. We'd like to have you sign our church guestbook, and if you wish, we can contact you with information on upcoming events.
If you have visited St. John's, and would like to sign our online guestbook, please click on the link on the left side of this page.
Please join us after each Sunday's 10:30am service for coffee and refreshments downstairs in our fellowship hall. We'd love a chance to meet and greet you.
We also come together after the 10:30am service on the 2nd Sunday of each month for a potluck brunch. On 4th Sundays, we hold Celebration Brunches. They are a great time to be fed spiritually, physically and socially.
Children's Sunday School are held during the school year (Sept.-May) from 9:00am-10:30am on the first floor of the church building, at the back of Bott Hall. (Please also visit our Sunday School pages, at left). Someone will be glad to show you to the classrooms.
We also have a nursery open during the 10:30 a.m. service for children up to nine years old. Kids can enjoy toys, games and a light snack. The nursery is located right outside the church sanctuary on the left side aisle. You may pick up your children from the nursery after the 10:30 service, or, if you'd like them to join you for communion, during the Peace.

We want to make you feel as comfortable and "at home" as possible at St. John's. Below are a few valuable guides for newcomers to our church:

A kind of "quick start" brochure for those unfamiliar with Episcopal worship.

A very informative guide that takes you step by step through a typical Rite I (usually our Sunday 8:00am) service, as printed in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). This guide explains what we do and say during the service, and why. A great resource for newcomers and long-time Episcopalians alike.

A very informative guide that takes you step by step through a typical Rite II (usually our Sunday 10:30am) service, as printed in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). This guide explains what we do and say during the service, and why. A great resource for newcomers and long-time Episcopalians alike.

A sample of a bulletin that you will receive from one of our friendly ushers at each service.

"Episcopalese"

Whether you are new, or not so new, to the Episcopal Church, here are some of the more common ecclesiastical words that may be unfamiliar to you:

Acolytes: Lay people who assist the priests during services.	Celebrant: Priest who consecrates the elements (bread and wine) at the Eucharist.
Censer: Incense container; also called a thurible.	Chalice: Cup for consecrated wine.
Ciborium: Vessel in which the Eucharistic bread is kept.	Collect: A short prayer that makes a request.
Corporal: A linen cloth placed on the altar for Holy Communion.	Crosier: Staff carried by the Bishop symbolizing the Good Shepherd.
Crucifer: Person who carries the processional cross.	Deacon: The first order of ordained ministry.
Dean: Senior priest of the Cathedral; Rector of the Cathedral parish.	Decalogue: The Ten Commandments.
Elements: The bread and wine which are consecrated during the Eucharist.	Eucharist: Holy Communion; Greek word for Thanksgiving.
Host: The bread or wafer consecrated at the Eucharist.	Intinction: Act of dipping the host in the wine.
Lay/Laity: Members of the church who are not ordained clergy.	Lectionary: A book or list of liturgical lessons for the church year.
Mitre: Bishop's high pointed hat.	Narthex: Vestibule (foyer) of the church.
Nave: The main part of the church where the congregation is seated.	Oblation: An offering.
Paten: Plate from which the host (consecrated bread) is served.	Purificator: A small linen cloth used to wipe the chalice rim during Holy Communion.
Rector: Senior priest of the parish.	Rubrics: Instructions in italics in the Book of Common Prayer.
Sanctuary: The area in front of the nave where the altar is.	Stole: Narrow scarf the priest wears.
Thurifer: Person who swings the incense in its censer (thurible).	Vestry: Members elected to oversee the temporal affairs of the parish.