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What is St. David’s?

St. David’s is home to a spiritual, joyful, and active group of children, teens, and adults, from toddlers to people in their 90s. A few of us grew up in the Episcopal Church; many come from different faith backgrounds. Some of us are from Kansas, while the rest are here for family or career. Each of us is valued and has a role to play at our church.

As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world.  We experience a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We work to love God and to love our neighbor through our worship, fellowship, education, and outreach.

We believe that God loves you — no exceptions 

The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.

Come and connect with God and find more meaning and purpose in your life. 
We’d love to meet you!

Contact Information

If you have questions, please ask. Most important, we want you to be able to engage with us in meaningful worship.  If you have questions before or after joining us, please call the church office at 785-272-5144 or email our office at office@stdavidschurch.com. Our clergy will be happy to visit with you, and provide more information at your request. In addition, we are on Facebook. 

A Visitor’s Guide to the Episcopal Service

We have developed this section of the web site to answer some of your questions you might have.  More than anything, we just want to offer a place to rest and worship.

Am I allowed to receive communion here?

The answer is not only YES, but also WE HOPE YOU WILL.  Anyone who is a baptized Christian is welcome to receive communion.

What about Communion?  How do I participate?

Communion is received at the circular communion rail around the Holy Table and occasionally at other stations in the nave (although there is a slight difference, the word “nave” is what most other non-Episcopalians call the “sanctuary”). Ushers dismiss pews (when they get to your pew, it’s your turn to go to the communion rail). You may kneel or stand to receive communion. Just put your right hand, palm up, in your left hand and a priest or deacon will put a wafer or a piece of bread in your hand, saying either, “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life,” or “The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.” Simply raise your hands to your mouth and eat the bread or wafer.

Next the wine will be brought to you. We use real wine, and a common cup. When the chalice bearer comes to you, help guide the cup to your lips and take a sip. If you do not wish to consume wine, just cross your arms over your chest as the chalice bearer approaches you. If you want wine, but don’t want to drink from the cup, leave the bread in your palm–the chalice bearer will dip the bread in the wine and put it in your mouth. As the chalice bearer gives you wine, he or she will say, “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life,” or “The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.”

If you have a child who you do not wish to receive communion, just have your child cross his or her arms across his or her chest. The priest will say a blessing. (This is true for adults too.) Please remember that all who love God, most especially children, are welcome at the Lord’s table.

What are the different books beneath the chair in front of me?

There should be two different books.  One is the Book of Common Prayer. It has a cross on the cover. The entire service, as well as many other ceremonies and material, is contained in it.  It is referred to as “BCP” in the Order of Service (OOS) you received when you came in. 

The other book is the Hymnal 1982. The hymns we sing are indicated in the bulletin. The first 287 hymns in the front part of the book are called “Service Music” and have an “S” before the hymn number. If the hymn has an “H” and not an “S” before the number, it will be found toward the back of the book. The hymnal is generally used only at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Service. There is no music at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday Service or the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Service.

What is all the printed material that I was handed?

The OOS shows the order we follow. If you want to follow the service word for word, this sheet directs you to the page numbers in the Book of Common Prayer. It also shows hymn numbers, and lists the members of the ministry teams (people who serve in specific ways in today’s service).

The other sheet, the ATT (“Around the Table”) contains various announcements, the calendar for the coming week and other items of interest. One of the most important announcements is that we serve breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. most Sundays.  Please join us for breakfast either before or after the service you attend.

Why do some people bow and some kneel before entering the pews, and others don’t do anything at all? 

What you are noticing is called “reverencing” and people have different ways of doing it. Some bow in the direction of the cross, some “genuflect” (touch their knee to the floor), others reverence silently or without gesture.  Do whatever helps you to offer worship; don’t do whatever hinders that.

Why do some people touch themselves on the forehead, the chest and shoulders?

Again, this is a personal worship style. It is called making the sign of the cross. Some people do it out of habit, others because it reminds them of the price Jesus paid to enable us to respond to God’s love; still others because it’s their way of “taking up their own cross” and following Him. You will see them doing this at times during the service, too. But you don’t have to cross yourself just because others do.

This looks very Roman Catholic to me. Is this a Roman Catholic Church?

That is difficult to answer in a short page like this. Like the Roman Catholic Church, worship in the Episcopal Church is liturgical and sacramental in the ancient catholic tradition. Although our worship is similar, organization and authority in the Anglican Church is different. The important thing, however, is our worship of God.

Is anyone going to make me stand up and give my name or anything like that?

No. Not because we don’t care, in fact, you will find we care very much. We just don’t want to embarrass you or make you uncomfortable. But we hope you will fill out one of the “Guest” cards at the end of each row of seats–just put it in the offertory plate–and introduce yourself to one of the clergy after the service.  An invitation may be given for visitors to introduce themselves, but you can choose not to.

What is going to happen next?

As you wait for the service to start, the first thing you’ll probably hear will be the Prelude, usually an organ solo. You may see Altar Guild volunteers placing linens and arranging things around the Holy Table and the lecterns. Sometimes acolytes (usually wearing white robes) will light candles. One thing you can do before the actual service begins is to familiarize yourself with the OOS and the hymnal. Whatever we will be singing first is listed in the OOS as the Processional Hymn. If you know the hymn, sing out, whether you’re in tune or not. If you don’t know the hymn or don’t want to sing, you can just read the words to yourself.

Who are the people in the procession? 

Depending on the service you’re attending, the procession may be led by a verger. The verger carries a staff with a small cross at the top and sets the pace for the procession. Next, you will see acolytes wearing white and carrying a cross (watch people bow as it passes them) and candles; sometimes acolytes also carry banners. If the choir is part of the procession, they come next. Then come the clergy. Their vestments are the most festive and sometimes very elaborate–the colors of their stoles reflect the colors of the season in the church calendar. If the bishop is present, she or he will be last in the procession. You’ll know it’s the bishop because s/he wears a pointed hat (called a mitre) and carries a staff (called a crosier).