The Holy Hours and Eucharistic Adoration

Saturdays in Lent, in the Chapel, 11am until Noon.

Our worship at Saint Luke’s is centered on the Altar, and on the receiving of Holy Communion. Daily celebrations of the Holy Eucharist are the feature of our parish life that defines who we are.  Everything that we do flows out of our worship. 

The Eucharist is an act of holy thanksgiving directed to God the Father, giving thanks for all that has been done for us and opened to us through the saving work of Jesus.  Receiving of Holy Communion is the way that we unite ourselves to the saving work of Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, come into deep and intimate fellowship with the Holy Trinity.  There is nothing to compare with this in any other form of worship! 

The presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the most comforting and wonderful of God’s gifts to us; it is our sure and certain assurance of his presence with us that doesn’t depend on feelings, emotion, mood, eloquence, or atmosphere.  We come in faith to the altar, and, with certainty and surety,  leave filled with the life of Jesus himself. 

The Eucharist is an act of worship directed to the Father, and so devotional emphasis upon Jesus and his Real Presence to us in the Sacrament isn’t appropriate.  However, many devout Christians over the centuries have found that such devotion at other times is a good and helpful spiritual practice.  It builds up their appreciation and understanding of worship, and far from being a substitute for receiving Communion makes their receiving even more meaningful.   

An example of this type of devotion at Saint Luke’s is our prayer vigil at the Altar of Repose during the night before Good Friday.  Many of our parish participate in this lovely and traditional devotional practice, where the Blessed Sacrament is placed on the temporary altar as a focus of our prayer and adoration through the night. 

Another example of this devotion is the “Holy Hour”  In Lent, there will be a Holy Hour each Saturday morning in the  chapel, from 11am until Noon.  The chapel will be a quiet place for reflection, meditation, and prayer, with the Blessed Sacrament on the altar as a focus for prayer and adoration.  One of the priests will be present along with those who wish to join in the prayer. 

The “Holy Hour” will be kept as a quiet time, and will close at noon with prayers from the Prayer Book, a blessing, and a dismissal.  You may come and go throughout the hour, or you may wish to be there from start to finish.  It is up to you whether you join in for a few minutes or the whole hour., and anyone is welcome.