The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, Rock Hill, SC

What do members of The Church of Our Saviour like so much about our church? Click through to go to our YouTube page to find out! And while you're there, go ahead and like and subscribe to get notifications when new content is posted.

My Favorite Thing 01

A Prayer for Labor Day

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 261

Sunday at Our Saviour!

The Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost was a great day to celebrate, serve, and share Christ together! A highlight of the service was a special blessing for Lou and Joan Amzler for their 70th wedding anniversary! Today's altar flowers are in honor of this special milestone.💙 After the service, we enjoyed a tasty coffee hour provided by Martha Macdonald and Jim Russell. It was so wonderful that yours truly was too busy eating to get photos. 🙂

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend, everyone!

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233

A Prayer for the Absent

O God, whose fatherly care reacheth to the uttermost parts of the earth: We humbly beseech thee graciously to behold and bless those whom we love, now absent from us. Defend them from all dangers of soul and body; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 830

Next week at Our Saviour:

Sunday, September 1
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
* 9:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II, with music (livestreamed on our YouTube channel, see link in bio). Nursery is available during the service.
*followed by coffee hour in the parish hall
*Fr. Ray's class will not meet this week, but he will have a healing service in the chapel for anyone who would like to participate but cannot make it to the Wednesday service.
*Adult forum does not meet this week, but will resume next week!

Tuesday, September 3
*6:00 pm - St. Junia's group meets in the parish hall. open to all women of the church! bring a drink and a snack to share.

Wednesday, September 4
*12:05 pm - Holy Eucharist and Healing Service, in the chapel

Other announcements:
☕ Coffee hour hosts are needed! If you are interested, the sign up sheet is on the board in the parish hall. Contact Karen Hill with questions.

🎼The Choral Scholars program is still looking for sponsors! If you are interested in sponsoring a Winthrop student to sing in the choir to help provide music for our worship services, please see Chip Mays.

The last of the four services in the Daily Office (BCP, p. 127), Compline is descended from the night prayers said before bed at the end of the monastic round of daily prayer. Now, it is prayed by families, churches, or other small groups as well. It’s a simple office that includes a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and the canticle Nunc dimittis. The collects may be followed by a time of silence, along with free intercessions and thanksgivings. Traditionally, Compline is the last thing that someone would do before going to sleep, and is sometimes prayed by candlelight!

This office is a great way to end your day in prayer, whether alone or with those you love. Do you or your family pray Compline?

Join us in reading Living Undivided by Chuck Mingo and Troy Jackson. This online book club is open Diocesan-wide to all people of EDUSC. This book club meets every Sunday in September at 4:00 PM on Google Meet. In order to access the club, please e-mail the Rev. Jill Williams at [email protected] to sign up. Books can be purchased at https://buff.ly/3ADX0EH or at your favorite book seller.

In October and November, the study will be followed by two in-person workshops:
October - Restoring Streets to Dwell In
November - Emotional Cultural Awareness
(Sign-up links to follow)

This project is a recipient of a Matthew 25 grant, and is co-sponsored by The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina and the Episcopal Church of St. Simon and St. Jude.

What do members of The Church of Our Saviour like so much about our church? Click through to go to our YouTube page to find out! And while you're there, go ahead and like and subscribe to get notifications when new content is posted.

My Favorite Thing 02

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour supports our community by partnering with Pathways Community Center and Agape Ministries to help feed anyone in need of a hot, nutritious meal...for free...no questions asked. The meal you see here was funded entirely by donations to our ECOOS Mission and Outreach Fund.

This video features one of our meal teams known affectionately as " Team Idaho" as they prepare and serve a meal of meatloaf and gravy, potatoes, and green beans to over 60 people.

Celebrate Christ + Serve Christ + Share Christ

Meatloaf for the Masses The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour supports our community by partnering with Pathways Community Center and Agape Ministries to help feed anyone in need of a...

Sunday at Our Saviour!

The fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost was a great day to celebrate, serve, and share Christ! After a wonderful service, we enjoyed a lovely coffee hour provided by Karen Hill, Barbara Dawson, and Reesa McCrorey.

Today's altar flowers were given by Jeff Couick in loving memory of his brother, Bradley Scott Couick.

Thanks to John Stewart for sharing some photos of today's service!

A few reminders:

Fr. Ray's class will not meet next week. Instead, he will offer a healing service in the chapel for anyone who wishes it that can't make the Wednesday service. The next Wednesday Eucharist and Healing will be Wednesday, September 4 at 12:05.

The next collection date for Cans for Turkeys will be September 29. Thanks to all who brought cans today!

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232-233

A Prayer for the Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

--the Book of Common Prayer, p. 829

Next week at Our Saviour:

Sunday, August 25 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
* 9:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II, with music (livestreamed on our YouTube channel, see link in bio). Nursery is available during the service.
*followed by coffee hour in the parish hall
*Fr. Ray's class will meet after coffee hour in the church

Other announcements:

☕ Coffee hour hosts are needed! If you are interested, the sign up sheet is on the board in the parish hall. Contact Karen Hill with questions.

✝Acolyte training is coming up on August 24. Acolyte ministry is open to those in 4th through 12th grade. If your child/teen is interested, please see Steve and Maggie McGill.

🥫Start saving your aluminum cans for the Cans for Turkeys project. They will be collected on the last Sunday of each month between now and Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the sale of the cans will go to Rev. Ronal King's Thanksgiving meals program. Bring your clean cans in plastic bags (no loose cans) THIS SUNDAY and place them in the marked truck in the parking lot. The next collection date will be Sunday, September 29.

What is Evening Prayer?

Evening Prayer, also known as Evensong (when the service is sung), is a daily liturgy that is part of the Daily Office. The service closely mirrors Morning Prayer, and consists of psalms, scripture readings, and prayers.

Some people like to enjoy Evening Prayer before their evening meal, but it does not have to precede a meal. It’s a wonderful opportunity to let go of the day’s stress and prepare your heart and mind for a restful evening.

Does your family practice Evening Prayer?

The acolyte ministry at The Church of Our Saviour performs very important functions in our Sunday service each week! The acolytes help set the tone for our worship service by lighting candles, leading the procession with the cross, receiving the elements at the offertory, and assisting the celebrant in preparing for the Eucharist, among many other things. Our worship services would feel very incomplete without them!

The acolyte ministry is open to all youth of the church from fourth grade to twelfth grade. Parents of interested youth should contact Maggie or Steve McGill for more information. Acolyte training will be this Saturday morning, August 24. Come out and learn how to be a part of this group of young leaders!

Today was the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and it was a great day to celebrate, serve, and share Christ! After the service, we enjoyed a great coffee hour hosted by Eve and James Fitzpatrick (with a bit of help from their parents!), and Father Ray led another study of the stained glass windows in the church.

Today's altar flowers were given by Keith and Karen Lloyd in memory of their parents, Neil and Frances Lloyd.

Other announcements:

☕ Coffee hour hosts are needed! If you are interested, the sign up sheet is on the board in the parish hall. Contact Karen Hill with questions.

✝Acolyte training is coming up on August 24. Acolyte ministry is open to those in 4th through 12th grade. If your child/teen is interested, please see Steve and Maggie McGill.

🥫Start saving your aluminum cans for the Cans for Turkeys project. They will be collected on the last Sunday of each month between now and Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the sale of the cans will go to Rev. Ronal King's Thanksgiving meals program. Bring your clean cans in plastic bags (no loose cans) on Sunday, August 25 and place them in the marked truck in the parking lot.

🎼 If you would like to sponsor a Choral Scholar, please see Chip Mays! Sponsoring a Scholar involves financial support as well as encouraging them with cards, meals, and exam care packages (for example).

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 829

Next week at Our Saviour:

Sunday, August 18 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

* 9:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II, with music (livestreamed on our YouTube channel, see link in bio). Nursery is available during the service.
*followed by coffee hour in the parish hall + Divine Diners "Meet and Greet"
*Fr. Ray's class will resume their stained glass window study this week! Come learn more about these beautiful installations in our church.

Other announcements:

☕ Coffee hour hosts are needed! If you are interested, the sign up sheet is on the board in the parish hall. Contact Karen Hill with questions.

✝Acolyte training is coming up on August 24. Acolyte ministry is open to those in 4th through 12th grade. If your child/teen is interested, please see Steve and Maggie McGill.

🥫Start saving your aluminum cans for the Cans for Turkeys project. They will be collected on the last Sunday of each month between now and Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the sale of the cans will go to Rev. Ronal King's Thanksgiving meals program. Bring your clean cans in plastic bags (no loose cans) on Sunday, August 25 and place them in the marked truck in the parking lot.

What is Noonday Prayer?

Noonday Prayer is the second of the Daily Office services in the Book of Common Prayer, and is the shortest of of offices.

Noonday Prayer is based on the "little offices" of terce, sext, and none in Christian monasticism. These "little offices" were said at 9 a.m., 12 noon, and 3 p.m., which were known as the third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day. Personal devotions at these hours have been observed by Christians since the second century. The 1979
BCP is the first American Prayer Book to include this office.

Do you and your family enjoy Noonday Prayer?

Join us tomorrow for Game Night! We'll have chess and bingo, plus pizza and drinks. Players of all ages welcome!

Wednesday, August 14
6:00-7:30 pm
parish hall

ECOOS has a long history of solid music. Supported by the congregation’s fine Austin Organ, the adult choir provides leadership for the people of God each Sunday and offers special music presentations throughout the year.

The church offers opportunities to sing in the choir and lead through music. If you are new to town or the church, this smaller “faith family” within our larger church family is an excellent starting point. We are proud of our music program and eager for you to join us! Fall choir rehearsals resume next Wednesday, August 21 from 7:00-8:30 in the choir room.

For more information, email Chip Mays, director of music, at [email protected].

Today, for the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, we welcomed Cameron Graham Vivanco as our guest preacher at our 9:30 service! Cameron is the co-founder of Education = Hope, and she and her family serve as SAMS missionaries (Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders) in Quito, Ecuador. She shared stories with us about her work in Quito during her sermon and in a presentation during coffee hour. If you are interested in learning more about their missionary work, you can read about them here: https://give.samsusa.org/missionary/roberto-and-cameron-vivanco and you can learn more about Education = Hope here: https://educationequalshope.org/.

Today's altar flowers were given by Dottie White in memory of Reuben, Helen, and Jack White, and Jill White Hoeft. Today's lovely coffee hour was hosted by Anna and Dennis Goonen.

As you go into the world this week, remember to celebrate Christ, serve Christ, and share Christ.💙

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 232

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by thy Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of thy truth, they may worship thee and serve thee from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer, p. 209

This Sunday, the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour welcomes Cameron Graham Vivanco as our guest preacher at the 9:30 service. She is the Co-Founder of Education Equals Hope (E=H). Originally from NC, she has been in full time lay ministry for 23 years focusing on the voids that come with poverty, especially in the areas of education and leadership development.

E=H started in Quito, Ecuador, where Cameron and her husband Roberto and three children serve as SAMS missionaries and has grown from helping one 15 year old girl finish third grade to serve over 2,000 students in five countries (Ecuador, Costa Rica, Haiti, Rwanda and Kenya). She also runs Hope on the Ground, a short-term teams program which supports the E=H students and their families.

Cameron started ministry in 1995 as the youth coordinator at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, in Spartanburg, SC and has been full time on the mission field for 18 years. She is a graduate of The University of the South, Sewanee, TN and holds a certificate in youth ministry from the Institute for Professional Youth Ministry. Cameron’s passion for her work comes from a desire to live out her faith so that students know that Jesus makes life better and makes us better at life.

To learn more about Cameron and her work, visit: https://give.samsusa.org/missionary/roberto-and-cameron-vivanco

Next week at Our Saviour!

Sunday, August 11 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
* 9:30 am - Holy Eucharist Rite II, with music (livestreamed on our YouTube channel, see link in bio). Nursery is available during the service. Our guest preacher will be Cameron Graham Vivanco, co-founder of Education=Hope.
*followed by coffee hour in the parish hall
*vestry meeting following coffee hour

Other announcements:

☕ Coffee hour hosts are needed! If you are interested, the sign up sheet is on the board in the parish hall. Contact Karen Hill with questions.

🍽 Divine Diners returns! This is a program where we have small groups of 6 to 8 people and groups of families with children who meet once a month for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner--it's up to you! If you are interested in participating in Divine Diners, there is a sign up sheet in the parish hall. This Sunday, August 11, is the last day to sign up! If you have questions about how Divine Diners works, please see Becky Ferguson.

👒St. Anne's guild meets this Tuesday, August 13th at 11:30 at Hickory Tavern in Rock Hill. This group is open to all women of the church!

♟Family Game Night is this Wednesday, August 14 at 6:00 pm in the parish hall. Pizza and drinks will be provided, along with plenty of games for all ages.

✝Acolyte training is coming up on August 24. Acolyte ministry is open to those in 4th through 12th grade. If your child/teen is interested, please see Steve and Maggie McGill.

🥫Start saving your aluminum cans for the Cans for Turkeys project. They will be collected on the last Sunday of each month between now and Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the sale of the cans will go to Rev. Ronal King's Thanksgiving meals program. Bring your clean cans in plastic bags (no loose cans) on Sunday, August 25 and place them in the marked truck in the parking lot.

What is Morning Prayer?

In many times, places, and religious traditions, daybreak has been a time of prayer. Early Jewish customs of praying at sunrise influenced the Christian monastic Daily Office, which originally included prayers at seven specific times each day. In 1549, Thomas Cranmer simplified this to two services for the first English Prayer Book: morning (Matins) and evening (Evensong).

Morning Prayer, as named in the 1552 Prayer Book, incorporates elements from monastic prayers such as matins, lauds, and Prime. Psalms are a vital part, traditionally recited daily. Over time, the structure has evolved, yet the essence remains: a dedicated time to connect with God at the start of the day.

Historically, Morning Prayer was the main Sunday service in many Anglican churches, but today, the Eucharist is recognized as the principal act of Christian worship on Sundays. Nonetheless, Morning Prayer holds its place as a cherished daily service, echoing the ancient tradition of the Daily Office.

May you enjoy the peace and grounding of Morning Prayer as you begin your day. ☀

Sunday at Our Saviour!

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost was a great day to celebrate, serve, and share Christ! A special blessing was said for the teachers and students of the parish as they return to school for the upcoming academic year. After the service, we enjoyed a great coffee hour from Louis Veronen and Becky Ferguson, and Fr. Ray's Christian Formation class learned about the meanings of the symbols in our historic building's stained-glass windows.

A few reminders:

St. Junia's group meets in the parish hall on Tuesday, August 6 at 6 pm. This is a casual fellowship time and all women of the church are invited!

The next Holy Eucharist and Healing Service will be held on Wednesday, August 7 at 12:05 pm.

Acolyte training is coming up on August 24. Acolyte ministry is open to those in 4th through 12th grade. If your child/teen is interested, please see Steve and Maggie McGill.

Start saving your aluminum cans for the Cans for Turkeys project. They will be collected on the last Sunday of each month between now and Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the sale of the cans will go to Rev. Ronal King's Thanksgiving meals program. Bring your clean cans in plastic bags (no loose cans) on Sunday, August 25 and place them in the marked truck in the parking lot.

Celebrate Christ + Serve Christ + Share Christ