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The Hidden Brook

Our Services

Sunday Services are at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. except when otherwise noted and are Holy Eucharist, Rite II. Our 8 AM service is the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion) and is celebrated quite simply, without music.  During our 10 AM service music is customary.

FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, THERE IS A SINGLE SERVICE ONLY, HELD AT 9:30 A.M. (Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with music.)

Nursery for children to age 4 and Church School for children age 5 to 12 are held during the 10 AM service.


While some parts of the services are always the same, others change. At the Holy Eucharist, for example, two or three Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday. So do the psalms. Certain of the prayers also change, in order to provide variety. Page numbers for parts of the service printed elsewhere in the Book are an­nounced or given in the service leaflet. But do not be embarrassed to ask your neighbor for the page number.

A service of Morning Prayer is held at 7:15 AM Wednesday through Friday. These services consist of psalms, Bible readings, and prayers, without music

Baptisms, weddings, funerals

Please contact the church office at 617.924.9420 

What will worship be like?

Episcopal church services are congregational. 

In the pews you will find the Book of Common Prayer (the red one), which lets the congrega­tion share fully in every service. The large print is the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people for con­duct of the service.

You may wonder when to stand, sit, or kneel. Practices vary even among individual Episcopalians. The general rule is to stand to sing hymns (found in the Hymnal in the pews) and other songs (many of them from the Holy Bible) are printed as part of the service. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Eucharist. Psalms are sung or said while sitting.
We sit during readings from the Hebrew scrip­tures or New Testament Letters, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as children or as an act of humility before God.

Can I take Communion?

The tradition of the Episcopal Church is one of hospitality. This is God's table and all are welcome to receive the consecrated bread and wine of communion in which we believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ or a blessing of the church. For Communion, it is our custom to come forward to the rail, and, while kneeling or standing, place the palm of one hand in the other to receive the bread. You may receive the wine either by guid­ing the chalice to your mouth, or by intinction (carefully dipping the wafer into the wine).
If you would like the celebrating minister to bless you instead, come forward to the rail and kneel or stand without presenting your hands for the bread.

Before and After Services

It is the custom upon entering church to sit or kneel in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship. Some people also bow to the altar on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.

Episcopalians do not talk in church before a ser­vice but use this time for personal meditation and devotions. At the end of the service some persons kneel for a private prayer before leav­ing. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude.

You Will Not Be Embarrassed

When you visit an Episcopal church, you will be our respected and welcome guest. You will not be singled out in an embarrassing way, nor asked to stand before the congregation nor to come for­ward. You will worship God with us.