At St. Patrick’s you will be welcomed like family into a comfortable and friendly space by people who are excited to meet you. We would like you to have an idea of what to expect when you visit St. Patrick’s – all you have to do from here is come as you are and find out more for yourself!

• Our 8 am service follows the Rite II format of The Book of Common Prayer.  There is no music at this service and it usually lasts 45 minutes.
• At 9 am we have Christian Formation.
• Our 10 am service is a Rite II Choral Eucharist.  The music is a combination of hymns and praise songs.  Our choir is new and small, and always looking for more members!  Nursery is available during this service.  This service lasts about an hour.
• Communion is offered at each service.
• You will hear engaging messages from the Bible each week.  Did you know?  The Episcopal church will have read the entire Bible through over a three year period just at its’ Sunday service.
• Casual dress or your “Sunday best” is fine!  Just come as you are and join us!!

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church was admitted as a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida in February 2008.  We are located in Fruit Cove in northwest St. Johns County, Florida, just a little south of Jacksonville.

As Episcopalians, we affirm our Baptismal Covenant by proclaiming by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. We are committed to seeking  and serving Christ in all persons, striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being.

Whether you are a life-long Episcopalian, coming from another Christian Church, or seeking something previously missing in your life, you are welcome at St. Patrick’s. In us, we hope you will find a community of faith that supports each other no matter where we are in our Journey. We hope you will worship with us, study with us, pray with us, serve with us, and give with us.   

We welcome you to become a part of St. Patrick’s.

Is there a dress code?

No.   St. Patrick’s is a diverse church in so many ways and what we wear each Sunday is one of those ways! Above all we want you to be comfortable. You will find that some people will wear their Sunday Best while others will be dressed more casually. In the summer months, it is not uncommon to see shorts, but if a suit and tie is your style you will fit in as well! (Word of warning… rumor has it the front two rows are the coolest, so some will bring a light sweater while others will relish the A/C).

Where do I park?

There is ample parking and none of the spaces are very far from the front door. Visitors are welcome to use the special spaces designated for Visitors near the building, but feel free to park anywhere along the fence, building or beside the playground. Handicap parking spaces are available as well. The circular driveway in front of the church is available for drop off and pickup only.

We don’t pounce, but we do want you to feel welcome. Our ushers will offer you a service bulletin and are ready to answer any questions you may have.  If new, you will be invited to sign our guest book.

Where is the nursery?

We are currently trying out a soft space for families with young children. Please proceed towards the front of the church on the left hand side.

St. Patrick’s now offers a ‘soft area’ for families with young children. This area has been modified with a cushioned floor and more space for the children and parents to move around. This space is located near the front for the purpose of allowing children to see what is going on. It is okay to get up and walk with your child along the side wall or in the back of the church.

On your way out take a minute to look at our “Watch Our Children Grow” Measuring Board next to the nursery door. Grab a pencil and mark your child’s height if you’d like.

Where do I sit?

Choose where you feel most comfortable to sit. It is here you will notice our diverse parish family, as some will be happily greeting and catching up with each other while some will be sitting quietly and praying. Before the service begins, we invite the congregation to prepare their hearts for worship.

Can you describe your worship?

We follow the rich liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer and we sing our hymns from the Hymnal (1982) or the yellow Alleluia III Songbook.  All three books will be under the chair in front of you and your service bulletin will guide you through the entire service. If you are not familiar with a liturgical style of worship, we believe you will find it meaningful as everything we do or say has purpose and the service flows from one piece to the next in a rhythm that becomes very familiar. There will be times when we sit and times we stand or kneel, if able. If you need guidance there will always be a friendly face nearby to point the way for you.  Just ask!  If you cannot stand or kneel, feel free to sit… just no sleeping unless you are an infant!  After the reading of the daily lessons, we will  exchange The Peace (“peace of the the Lord be with you”) with one another. Some may think we are done for the day at this point, but it’s not over, the best is yet to come! Followed by brief announcements we will proceed to the Eucharist.

At the center of who were are as a parish family is our celebration and receiving of the Holy Eucharist, also known as The Lord’s Supper or Communion.  It is our tradition that all are welcome at God’s altar and those who are baptized are invited to receive Communion.  The Ushers direct us when it is our turn to come to the altar.  Some will kneel at the altar rail and some will stand. You will be offered both bread and wine. To receive the bread, simply place one hand on top of the other, palms open and up and the bread will be placed on your top hand.  To receive the wine, you may drink from the cup or dip your bread slightly into the wine.  If you prefer not to receive one or both simply cross your arms in front of you.  This will indicate that you prefer a blessing, which the priest will offer. After you receive, you will return to your seat for the post-communion prayer, blessing and dismissal.

After the service ends, we sometimes enjoy light refreshments together. We hope you will want to stay for a few minutes, but if you need to be on your way, we certainly understand. We are just glad you have joined us.