You are invited to take part in a holy, ancient and life-giving practice available each weekday at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Each weekday morning at 8 a.m. and weekday evening at 5:30 p.m. a short service of prayer is held in our Chapel, in the 200 block of North Church Street across from the Old English Cemetery.

You don’t need to be Episcopal to come and pray with us. You don’t need to be Protestant. You don’t even have to be certain what your faith is. You won’t be asked to join the church, you won’t be asked to join a mailing list, you won’t be asked for a donation. Instead, you are invited to take part in a holy rhythm of prayer known as the Daily Office.

The use of prayer to punctuate the day is a time-tested and sacred way to go deeper in your faith. The first usage of a series of set, public prayers came in the third century and developed into the monastic tradition of having several prayer services each day. Since the birth of the Church of England in the 1500s, Morning and Evening Prayer have become normative patterns of prayer in homes, cathedrals, seminaries, and some churches. As a part of this tradition, for about the last ten years, St. Luke’s has held services of Morning and Evening Prayer each weekday.

The services last about 20-25 minutes each and contain readings from Scripture and prayers. There is no music or sermon included in these short services. The service on Wednesday evening is a service with Communion and prayers for healing, lasting about 30 minutes.

The Daily Office is a chance to come and be still and know that God is God. It is a chance to come and pray when you cannot find the words. When you have something to celebrate, you are welcomed to pray with us. When you have something to mourn, you are welcomed. When you have something to discern, you are welcomed. You are welcome as often as you want to attend. And if you’re not able to join us, know that each weekday, faithful members of St. Luke’s are praying on your behalf and for our community.

Also, our main worship space is open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for individuals to come and pray on their own or sit quietly in the beauty and peace of the church. To learn more about the Daily Office, contact the Rev. Robert Black at rblack@sls.church or 704-633-3221.