Services at St. Brendan's
Weekly Services
Sundays, 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
On Sunday, we hold two services both of which follow the Rite II Eucharistic liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer. The 8:00 a.m. service is a quiet service conducted in St. Brendan's intimate chapel. The 10:00 a.m. service is a family-friendly celebration with music and is followed by an opportunity for informal socializing with refreshments in the Social Hall.
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Holy Communion
We warmly welcome anyone who has been baptized to receive Communion. If you feel more comfortable receiving a blessing, simply cross your arms over your chest at the Communion rail. Gluten-free Communion wafers are readily available upon request; never hesitate to ask for them.
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Children
Childcare for infants through preschool is available during the 10:00 a.m. service in the Nursery.
Children in kindergarten through 5th grade begin the service with their families and are invited to Sunday School after the opening hymn and prayer. They then return for communion with their families.
On the fourth Sunday of each month between September and May the 10:00 service is a children’s liturgy when children are encouraged to participate in the service as acolytes, greeters, ushers and lectors as well as by singing with the choir.
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Mask-up Sunday
St. Brendan's always wants to welcome members and visitors whose health status leaves them vulnerable to infection. On the first Sunday of each month, therefore, we ask everyone at the 10:00 a.m. service to wear a mask. On all other days, the back two rows of seats in the nave are reserved for anyone who wears a mask and will feel more comfortable if those around them do so too.
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Wednesdays, 6:00 pm
St. Brendan's also offers a Eucharist service the first three Wednesdays of every month. On the fourth Wednesday, we offer a Taize/Evening Prayer service (with communion) in the chapel. This is a quiet, candlelit service with time set aside for meditation. [The exact times for these services vary between 5:00 and 6:00 depending on the season and are announced in the Navigator.]
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Holy Baptism
Holy Baptism is included from time to time within the context of our 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. We believe that the person being baptized and welcomed into the Christian community, no matter how young or how old they may be, needs the love and support of that community of faith. The service gives us all the opportunity to promise that we will love and support the person being baptized as they join us in our journey of faith. Arrangements for baptism can be made by contacting the Church Office several weeks prior to the desired date for the baptism.
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Confirmation and Reception​​​​​​
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The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh visits the parish once each year. At that service, members who were previously baptized may ask to be confirmed and those who previously belonged to other denominations may ask to be received into the Episcopal Church. This solemn but joyful occasion allows the community as a whole to reaffirm its love for, and support of, those who are ready to renew their baptismal promises. Some weeks prior to the Bishop's annual visit, the priest will invite anyone interested in being confirmed or received to contact the Church Office for more information. Prior to the service, a short series of preparatory meetings with the priest will be required.
Funerals and Memorial Services
Funerals and memorial services take place as the occasion arises. Upon the death of a loved one, the family should contact the Church Office as soon as possible to make arrangements for the service. The priest will then meet with the family to discuss the service.
The parish administrator can provide a booklet that outlines key choices that the family of the bereaved will be asked to make. It includes a form on which anyone can make their wishes known in advance. The form is then kept on file in the Church Office and can be very helpful to the family when the time comes for those wishes to be carried out.
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Weddings
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St. Brendan's welcomes all couples, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, to celebrate their marriage. Weddings should be scheduled six to nine months prior to the intended date. The couple will need to meet with the priest several times prior to the wedding to discuss the ceremony itself, the meaning of marriage, and other pertinent theological and practical issues. The couple will also need to meet with the Altar Guild and the Music Director to discuss other details of the wedding ceremony. The first step in arranging a wedding is to contact either the Church Office or the priest.
Pastoral Care
Each week, a group of Lay Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to members of the parish who are sick or shut in. If you would like communion to be brought to you or a loved one, please contact the parish administrator.
St. Brendan’s also offers other services to parishioners and friends in times of illness and stress. Meals can be arranged; altar flowers can be delivered to the sick or housebound; notes and greeting cards can be mailed or emails sent; and intercessory prayers can be offered at worship services and by individual parishioners.
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