Worship
The church is part of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and worship services are based on the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. There are a number of important worship services, such as the Solemn Mass of Easter and Midnight Mass at Christmas. While most of the services are High Church other services are more Broad church in style. As an inner city church, its congregation and services are quite diverse.
Incense is used at most of the principal feasts of the church year.
Music is an important element at the cathedral, which boasts a pipe organ with an estimated 2,800 pipes. The organ has been added to several times and now features three manuals, 35-40 stops (depending on method used to count them) and around 40 ranks of pipes. The cathedral has hosted various festivals of music with renowned musicians over the years, including such local talent as concert organists James Diaz and Bradley Welch. The current Director of Music and Arts (and also principal organist) is Michie Akin. Mr Akin is assisted by long-time assistant organist and choirmaster Jim Stillson, who is also a local pipe-organ builder. Past organist-choirmasters include John Emory Bush and Gerald Near.
On Sunday, there are three worship services with Mass held at the cathedral. The third service of the day is conducted in Spanish.
Most weekday services are held in the oratory, with Mass each morning, and Evening Prayer from the Daily Office each evening. Noonday Prayer is offered on the last Saturday of each month.
Twice each month, Chanted Vespers is held in the cathedral.
In addition, from time to time, the cathedral hosts Taizé services. People from many places and many denominations attend these services of devotion and meditation. Taizé services at the cathedral are led by lay people.
The cathedral is also host of several diocesan services and events including ordinations, confirmations, conventions, annual vergers’ conferences as well as a variety of retreats for religious and civic groups.
In addition, the cathedral hosts for the community a number of civic events each year, including plays, dances, festivals, tea parties and summer camps for youth.
Read more about this topic: Cathedral Church Of Saint Matthew, Dallas, Texas
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