Worship is at the heart of all we do at St. Margaret's.  Our commitment to excellence in worship goes beyond our regularly scheduled services and extends to Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals.  Join with us at St. Margaret's in looking to proclaim God's goodness to us and offer praise and thanksgiving in all of our actions. 

•  7:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I in the church (spoken)

• 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in the church (with music)

• 10:15 a.m. Formation Hour
  • Children and Youth Formation: Sunday School, Godly Play, Seasons of the Spirit, J2A in various classrooms
  • Adult Forums and Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall
  • Adult Formation: The Heretics in the Conference Room, Bible Study with Jeff Macris in Temporary Classrooms

• 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in the church

Wednesday Worship

• 7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II in the church

We celebrate three services of Holy Eucharist each Sunday, warmly welcoming visitors of all ages, sharing God’s peace with genuine concern and affection for one another, and responding to the liturgy with energy and thoughtful consideration. At the 7:30 a.m. service on Sundays, we generally worship using Rite I Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer in a spoken service. At our Sunday 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. choral services, we generally use Rite II Liturgy  from the Book of Common Prayer. 

Children’s Chapel takes place in the chapel in the Administration Building during the first part of the Sunday 9:00 and 11:15am services. Children join their families at the Peace in time for Communion.

St. Margaret's is known for its enthusiastic congregation singing and musical diversity. Each Sunday has a different musical focus that ranges from the classic hymns and anthems of the Anglican tradition to contemporary Christian and Gospel music.  See our Musical Diversity Page for more information and an explanation of how music is chosen and scheduled for services

Coffee Hour and Education for all ages takes place between Sunday services.

Additional services, observances and Christian formation are offered throughout the year. Check our calendar for more information.

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. For the earliest period of Christian history, baptism has been the gateway into membership in the Christian church. Along with Holy Eucharist, Baptism is one of the two great sacraments of the church. The Baptismal liturgy is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace of becoming a member of the Body of Christ.

How do I go about being baptized in the church? Please click here for our Baptism Guidelines.

Please contact the church office at (410) 974-0200 to schedule a baptism.

When does baptism take place at the church?
The service of Holy Baptism normally takes place in the context of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning or a major Feast Day. Holy Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints’ Day or the Sunday after All Saints’ Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after Epiphany).

"Marriage is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord." - The Book of Common Prayer

One of the most challenging and rewarding of human relationships, marriage is meant to be lived out in a community of faith where we can support and nurture one another as we seek to grow in love, forgiveness, justice, and compassion. By choosing to be married at St. Margaret’s Church, you become part of our church community and affirm that you share in our committment to support each other now and in the future.

Marriage at St. Margaret’s is performed within the tradition of the Episcopal Church. Only the "Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” as contained in the Book of Common Prayer may be used as a liturgical form for the service and the final decision relating to all elements of the service rests with the St. Margaret’s clergy person who will serve as the officiant. To assure the uniqueness of each service and the participation of the couple in the design and execution of their wedding service, each couple is asked to specify:

• the readings and/or lessons they desire
• whether or not they desire the Holy Eucharist; and
• what music (hymns, processional and recessional music, soloists, etc.) they would like incorporated
  and a number of other particulars relating to the conduct of the service. These determinations are not terribly time-consuming and they can be explored in consultation with the clergy and/or the Wedding Coordinator.

If you would like to be married at St. Margaret’s, please read our wedding customary and then contact the church office.

Wedding Cutomary with Information Sheet

When someone we love dies, we want to say goodbye in a proper, fitting way. While we mourn their death, we also yearn to celebrate the life they shared with us. The Episcopal liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds its meaning in the resurrection. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn. At St. Margaret’s we strive to recognize all these pastoral needs as one we love approaches death as well as at the time of death.

What do I do when someone I love is dying or has died?

The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to the clergy of St. Margaret’sl Church. When a family member is approaching death, it is often helpful for the clergy to be notified. There are many lovely ways to pray with a dying loved one and your clergy can help you do this.

What do I do once my loved one has died?

The hospital or hospice or nursing home will make arrangements for the body to be transported to the funeral home or cremation society. If you need help finding a funeral home, please consult the clergy for advice. Once the body is at the funeral home, the funeral director there will help you with the obituary notice and care of the body for burial or cremation.

We have prepared a document to help you plan your own funeral or make final decisions about the celebration of a loved one’s life. The clergy are always available to help you make these important plans. Contact the church office to receive one of these packets or download the document here.

SMC Funeral Planning Guide

Most gracious Father Who has called me Your child to serve in the preparation of Your Altar, so that it may be a suitable place for the offering of Your Body and Blood; Sanctify my life and consecrate my hands so that I may worthily handle those Sacred Gifts which are being offered to You. As I handle holy things, grant that my whole life may be illuminated and blessed by You, in whose honor I prepare them, and grant that the people who shall be blessed by their use, may find their lives drawn closer to Him Whose Body and Blood is our hope and our strength, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.                                                                  The National Altar Guild Association Prayer

The Altar Guild of St. Margaret’s is a wonderful group of very dedicated women and men who work diligently behind the scenes to make sure that everything is in place for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and other special services. The Guild meets regularly as a group to make preparations in advance as well as to have a time of fellowship and prayer in community. On a rotating basis the members launder and care for the altar linens, polish the silver and brass, set out the wine and the bread, prepare the candles and set up for Sunday and weekday services. Email Shelby Pritzlaff if you would like more information about this ministry.

The Flower Guild provides a very important contribution to the worship experiences at St. Margaret’s Church. Guild members create floral arrangements for Sunday worship services. The special decorations during holidays are all designed and arranged by the Guild.

Each Sunday during the year, except during Lent, parishioners may donate funds for altar flowers as a memorial for loved ones or in celebration of special events. Donors are encouraged to contact our Parish Administrator to indicate which day(s) they wish to contribute.

The Flower Guild is eager to welcome new members. No previous floral design experience is required, and novice arrangers are paired with experienced designers as they learn. In addition, it would be impossible to prepare the church for Christmas and Easter without the assistance of many parishioners who are not Guild members!

Serving on The Flower Guild is an opportunity for you to enhance our corporate worship as we glorify God. If you are interested in joining us, contact Mollie Benz Flounlacker, Flower Guild Chair.