The Well at 5 p.m.
Join us Sunday at 5 p.m. online or in-person for our Celtic-inspired worship service. Parishioners are encouraged to watch the service together, online. We are also livestreaming the 1 p.m. (en espanol) and the 11 a.m. (rite I) services. Worship services at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m. are open for socially-distanced, in-person worship. Learn more about how to register to attend.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #726591-A, and CCLI, License #20610701. All rights reserved.
Having trouble with the live stream? Watch it directly on Vimeo here.
The service is also streamed live on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/cccathedraltx/live_videos/
(You do not have to have a Facebook account or be logged in to watch.)
Service Leaflet Book of Common Prayer
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You may also text the word “Give” to 888-998-1634.
You can find previous weeks' worship services from Christ Church Cathedral, Houston on Vimeo.
The Well Celtic Contemplative Eucharist
Sundays at 5 p.m.
“Our wells have gone dry, and we seek deeper wells from our tradition that were signposted long ago. We seek the enchantment of the world, which we have lost.”
These are the words of Anglican priest and Celtic Christianity scholar the Rev. Dr. Herbert O’Driscoll. Herb O’Driscoll speaks to the human desire to connect with God in ways that are deeply rooted and true, and which hearken to our origins. He encourages Christians to return to the ancient Celtic tradition of Ireland, Scotland, and northern England, which emphasizes an awareness of God in creation and the infinite ways that God connects with us in both profound and mundane experiences. The Celtic tradition remembers that the world, is, indeed, enchanted by the flow of God’s grace.
The name of this service, The Well, also draws metaphorically and physically from the tradition. Ancient holy wells are found throughout Britain and Ireland, and in the Celtic tradition such wells were places of pilgrimage, gathering, and worship. Wells were not only the source of life-giving water, but also were places through which people connected to God. Genesis 1:2 says that the Spirit of God “moved over the waters” at creation. Holy wells served to remind the faithful that, like water from the earth, God flows from and into the center of our being.
The Well features Celtic music played on harp, cello, and other instruments. It is contemplative, providing space for meditation and prayer. Lighting is muted, with the presence of many candles. The Eucharistic liturgy is thoroughly Episcopalian, but incorporates prayers from the Church of Ireland, the Iona Community in Scotland, and other sources.
Of the service, Dean Barkley Thompson says, “The Well provides a prayerful and peaceful way to center oneself in God at the end of the day and the outset of a new week. The Celtic tradition has enriched my own encounter with God’s grace, and I hope many parishioners and newcomers will come and experience The Well.”
The Well is held in the Cathedral. Attendees are encouraged to come as they are, including in casual attire.
