Sundays at 10am
An old rhythm, kept weekly
Word, prayer, peace, bread, and wine. A little over an hour, with coffee beforehand and children welcome and audible.
Why we do it this way
Worship is less about doing it perfectly and more about doing it together
Liturgy means the work of the people, which also means worshiping God is something we all get to play a part in, and your part counts from the first Sunday. You stand, you sit, you kneel, you say the words out loud with everyone else, and you put your hands out for bread. Worship here is something your body does before it is something you have figured out.
The words are up on the screen, so everyone can participate, and we say them on the weeks we mean them and on the weeks we are not sure. That is most of what the liturgy is for. It carries us when our own faith is thin, and it keeps the service from rising or falling on how compelling the person at the front happens to be that morning. The liturgy is the structure that holds us there, present with ourselves and with God.
The shape of an hour
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We gather
Singing, and the prayers that open the service.
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A word for the children
A short sermon for the kids. Then they are released: Godly Play for pre-k to second grade and The Upper Room for 3rd grade and up. Babies and toddlers have their own space, too.
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We hear
Scripture read out loud, then a sermon given by one of our priests or deacons.
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We respond
Some weeks the creed, then prayers of the people — for the world and for people by name — and passing the peace, which is when the room gets loud. The children come back in about then, and it does not get any quieter.
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We eat
Updates we call “Life at The Abbey”, then coming to the table for bread and wine. Hands out, hearts open. Gluten-free bread, and grape juice as well as wine.
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We are sent
A blessing, and out into the week.
Children
We are not fully gathered unless our children are here
We do not say that to excuse the noise. We mean it. Everyone starts in the room together, and babies and toddlers are welcome to stay there the whole way through, noise included.
There is a short sermon for the children early on. After it they are released: Godly Play for three and up, The Upper Room for ten and up. They come back right after the prayers of the people, in time for the updates and communion.
Before you come
Common questions
- How long is the service at Restoration Abbey?
- A little over an hour. Worship at Restoration Abbey begins Sundays at 10am at 800 W Mission Road, San Marcos, and there is coffee, tea and something to eat beforehand.
- What is liturgy, and why does this church use it?
- Liturgy means the work of the people. It is a shared script for worship, put up where everyone can see it and followed together, so the service does not depend on any one person being interesting. Restoration Abbey uses it because repeating the same words over years forms people in a way that novelty does not.
- Do I have to know when to stand or kneel?
- No. Everything is up on the screen, and the congregation is used to visitors. Stand when the room stands if you feel like it, and stay seated if you would rather. Everyone in the pews had a first Sunday once.
- Is communion open to visitors?
- Yes. The whole church is invited to communion at Restoration Abbey, including visitors and including people who are not sure what they believe. There is no membership requirement. Gluten-free bread is available, and there is grape juice as well as wine.
- What happens with children during the service?
- There is something for children of every age. Everyone starts in the room together, and after a short sermon for the children they are released: Godly Play for three and up, The Upper Room for ten and up. They come back right after the prayers of the people, in time for the updates and communion. Babies and toddlers are welcome to stay in the service the whole way through.
Come this Sunday. There is room.
800 W Mission Road, San Marcos, CA 92069
Right off W. Mission Road, between San Marcos Middle School and Palomar College. Parking in front, along the side, and around the back.
What to expect on your first visit