- From its origins as a house church, the parish has been composed of
people who are wholeheartedly committed to serving the Lord and His
Church. This commitment, expressed in sacrificial giving of time,
money, and resources, makes everything else mentioned here possible.
- Also from its origins, St. Lawrence Church has been committed to the
ideal of community. We take literally our Lord's injunction to love
one another and live this out in very practical ways, so that the
parish is like a large extended family. Members try to live near one
another and interact socially on a regular basis. When anyone is in
need, brothers and sisters are always available to help. From birth to
marriage to death and through all the daily struggles in between, St.
Lawrence parishioners bear one another's burdens and share in one
another's joys.
- The worship of the parish is conducted entirely in English (with the
exception of a few brief responses such as the Kyrie Eleison).
A dedicated a cappella choir, under the direction of skilled musicians Alice Hughes and Anne Schoepp, leads the congregation to participate
fully throughout the service. (In accordance with Orthodox tradition,
no musical instruments are used in church. Our singing is prayer, and
as such must be offered by the human voice alone.) Music is chosen
from a variety of Orthodox ethnic traditions, and is adapted and sung
with the conscious goal of making every word of the Liturgy
understandable and meaningful to all participants. A second, equally
important goal is to offer to God music that is both prayerful and as
beautiful as we can make it.
- St. Lawrence Church celebrates a weekly cycle of services, including matins, vespers
and liturgies each week. Please view the monthly calendar for service times. Weekday services are led by a
choir of skilled chanters under the direction Reader John Smith. Naturally, very few
parishioners are able to attend every service, but the services are
available for those who wish to participate.
Who Are We? 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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