Worship at Seabury-Western
The center of Seabury-Western community life is worship, the crucible where life and joy and concern are brought together and offered to God in thanksgiving. Worshiping as an academic community of faculty and students, joined from time to time by staff, family members, friends, and other visitors, we affirm that the work of praising and serving God is the foundation for our studies and for our corporate life in its entirety.
Visitors are always welcome at our worship.
Students, assisted by faculty, plan fourteen worship services each week, exploring the possibilities of The Book of Common Prayer and other authorized liturgical resources (link to books used for worship), and the rich varieties of liturgical expression in the Episcopal Church. Except for presiding at the Eucharist, Seabury students serve in all liturgical capacities, providing invaluable experience preparing for future roles as parish leaders.
Worshipers in the Charles Palmerston Anderson Chapel of St. John the Divine sit facing one another. The brilliant lancet windows that illumine the chapel show ten of the Church's most noted theologians on one side and ten of the most faithful missionaries on the other. Encompassed by scholars and missionaries who have prepared our way—and confronted by our companions—the very structure of the chapel demonstrates that community is not simply something that we strive to create. It is also something that is graciously given—a gift to celebrate and to offer.
Bells call the community to worship two or three times each day, Monday through Friday. On some festive occasions, the Laurance Hearne Armour Memorial Carillon is played as a prelude or postlude.
Worship Schedule
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
| 8:15 | Morning Prayer |
| 11:00 | Holy Eucharist |
| 5:00 | Evensong (sung Evening Prayer) |
Wednesday:
| 8:15 | Matins (sung Morning Prayer) |
| 5:30 | Holy Eucharist (always Rite II) |
Friday:
| 8:15 | Morning Prayer |
| 11:00 | Holy Eucharist (usually said rather than sung) |
| 5:00 | Evening Prayer |
Services are scheduled each day, Monday through Friday, throughout the nine-month academic year. Changes to the regular schedule are posted on the seminary master calendar.
Tuesday Community Eucharist: This is normally the weekly celebration of the entire academic community. The Dean ordinarily presides at this service. All students and faculty are expected to attend this service.
Wednesday Eucharist: This evening Eucharist is an opportunity for the extended seminary community, including spouses and children, to gather and participate in worship.
Thursday Eucharist: Unction (sacramental healing) is usually administered after the Prayers of the People.
Triduum (Maundy Thursday Eucharist through the Great Vigil of Easter; "Triduum" means "three days"): The Seabury community celebrates the principal Holy Week services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil) according to a schedule determined each year by the Holy Week planning committee.
