HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion is the sacramental worship service in which the members of the congregation come to the altar to receive the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Holy Communion is also called the Lord's Supper and the Holy Eucharist. Baptized Christians of any age or background are invited to receive this sacrament. Those not wishing to receive Communion may come to the altar and receive a blessing from the priest.

THE LITURGY
The Book of Common Prayer is the official liturgy (body of rites prescribed for worship) of the Episcopal Church. Through these rites we pray our faith and meet God as God meets us. Worship in the Episcopal Church can range from very plain to very full. It may have the simplicity and clarity of the Protestant denominations and in other places it may be ceremonial and full of imagery. Services at the Church of the Ascension fall somewhere in between.

The usual Sunday morning worship service at Ascension is the Holy Eucharist. The first part of this service is the Ministry of the Word, during which we listen to God's Word (Old Testament lesson, Psalm, Epistle, and Gospel); we learn about God's Word (the sermon); we proclaim our faith (the Creed); and we offer prayers for ourselves and for the world. The Offertory separates these actions from the second part of the service, the Liturgy of the Table, when we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Other worship services which may be used at various times of the church year include Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline, a brief evening prayer. All services, plus explanations of Episcopal belief, are found in the The Book of Common Prayer.