Saint Peter's Episcopal Church

Saint Peter’s has been a place of ministry and mercy in the heart of Central Square for 175 years, and God willing, we have only just begun! We are committed to following the way of Jesus, a journey that sustains us amid the changes and chances of life.

We invite you to join us on a Sunday morning for lively worship with sermon and music, on a Wednesday evening for a contemplative service and our Adult Forum, on a Saturday afternoon as we feed our hungry neighbors, or perhaps at a concert or other event in our sanctuary. If what you read here speaks to you, then come and see!

We serve God in Central Square
We greet all with a smile
Wear what you like
We like to share meals, like this one for our 175th Anniversary
Good friends are made here
We sometimes enjoy a cake at the Wednesday Adult Forum
Anyone who loves to sing can join our choir
Volunteers for CommonCare, our meals ministry
Mardi Gras fun
Tending the Paschal Fire at Easter Vigil

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Great Vigil of Easter

Holy Week Services

We welcome all to our Holy Week services, during which we will walk beside Jesus on his path to the cross—and his victory over it.

Palm Sunday (Apr. 14): 8 am and 10:30 am, Blessing of the Palms, a dramatic reading of the Passion from the Gospel of Mark, and Holy Eucharist. During the 10:30 service we will walk from the church to the Central Square post office and proclaim the entry of Jesus into the city.
Wednesday (Apr. 17): 6 pm, Contemplative Holy Eucharist, followed by preparing an indoors prayer garden with plants, candles, and a fountain.
Maundy Thursday (Apr. 18): 8 am, Morning Prayer; 6:30 pm, Eucharistic Meal in the undercroft, followed by Foot Washing. At 8:30 pm we will strip all decorations from the altar and begin the Night Watch (until 11:00 pm).
Good Friday (Apr. 19): 8 am, Morning Prayer; 12 pm, Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary (booklet provided); 7 pm, Good Friday Liturgy with a dramatic reading of the Passion from the Gospel of John and Holy Eucharist.
Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil (Apr. 20): 9 am, Morning Prayer; 9:30 am, preparing the sanctuary for Easter; 7:00 pm, Great Vigil of Easter with Holy Eucharist.
Easter Sunday (Apr 1): 10:30 am, Festival Holy Eucharist followed by Easter egg hunt (no 8 am service).

Wednesday of Holy Week: Contemplative Eucharist Followed by Setting Up the Garden of Repose

Wednesday, April 17, 6:00 – 8:00 pm: Join us for our regular Contemplative Eucharist and stay to help set up our candle-lit Garden of Repose in the Good Shepherd Chapel. In this garden we will keep night watch following our Maundy Thursday service, joining spiritually with Jesus in his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Enter the church by the front door, on Mass. Ave.

Maundy Thursday Service with Foot-Washing Ceremony

Thursday, April 18, 6:30 pm: All are invited to our Maundy Thursday service commemorating the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and gave them a new commandment: “Love one another… as I have loved you.” After sharing a meal, we will celebrate Eucharist and then participate in a foot-washing ceremony. At 8:30 we will silently walk to the sanctuary to observe as all ornaments are removed from the sanctuary in preparation for Good Friday. To attend this service, ring the doorbell at the 13 Seller’s St. entrance to the church, and someone will let you in.

Good Friday: Pray the Stations of the Cross

Friday, April 19, 12:00 pm: Spiritually participate in Jesus’s trial and crucifixion by praying at 12 images stationed around the walls of Saint Peter’s sanctuary, each depicting a stage in his journey to the cross. Prayer booklets are provided for self-guided meditations. Enter the church by the front door, on Mass. Ave.

Keeping an Organ Fast This Lenten Season

Fasting to help prepare for Holy Week and the joy of Easter has long been a part of the Lenten season. This year Saint Peter’s will corporately fast by abstaining from hearing the organ in our services through Lent. Instead we will join our voices with our brothers and sisters in taking up the songs that have been sung by those who have gone before us. Plain-Chant, hymns, and service music will be sung, accompanied by only our neighbors’ voices and the Spirit. In doing so, we will grow closer, in love, to one another, opening our ears and hearts to a renewed worship. Then, on the Eve of Easter, while we keep our Vigil, the organ will sound and with it our voices will sing out in jubilant praise.

Saint Peter's Episcopal Church

Welcome to Saint Peter’s!

Scenes from Our Church Life

The Reclaiming Jesus Statement

Prayer of the Week

Upcoming Events

Holy Week Services

Wednesday of Holy Week: Contemplative Eucharist Followed by Setting Up the Garden of Repose

Maundy Thursday Service with Foot-Washing Ceremony

Good Friday: Pray the Stations of the Cross

Keeping an Organ Fast This Lenten Season