The St. Francis Chapel welcomes all for prayer and meditation. While its design honors the traditional style of an Eastern Orthodox Church, there are thoughtful modifications that reflect the open, inclusive spirit of St. Francis of the Woods. Above the Orthodox altar, a United Methodist cross symbolizes our ecumenical nature. The iconostasis, or icon screen, represents the meeting place between God and humanity; however, unlike most Orthodox churches, our iconostasis is transparent and without doors—a symbol that Divine Grace is accessible to everyone. Icons, a tradition dating back to the Apostles, remind us that the unseen Creator became incarnate, uniting spirit and matter, human and Divine, in one eternal flow of love.

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​On the first and fifth Sunday of each month, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in the St. Francis Chapel. This ancient eucharistic service, compiled by the Archbishop of Constantinople around 400 CE from earlier sources, is central to Orthodox worship, involving both mind and body in prayer. In the Divine Liturgy, every sense is engaged: the vibrant colors of icons, the scent of incense, the sound of sacred music, and the taste of bread and wine. All are meant to remind us that we worship with our whole selves—body, mind, and spirit—in the eternal reconciling of God and Creation. In Eucharist, as the early Church did, we break bread and share wine to participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. This holy meal unites us as one family, one people, the Body of Christ.

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On second and fourth Sundays, we gather for a Meditation and Eucharist Service in the St. Francis Chapel. Following an ancient liturgical pattern, the service begins with hymns, prayers, readings, and quiet contemplation. We follow the Orthodox liturgical lectionary and incorporate readings from saints and sages of diverse ancient wisdom traditions. Instead of a sermon, we engage in the monastic practice of lectio divina, an ancient meditative reading. Following this reflection, we enter into the Anaphora, or Eucharistic Prayer, of St. John Chrysostom, bringing together our community in reverence and unity.

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“The heart of the experience of the lectio divina is the participatory sharing in the deep meaning of scripture that is only made possible by understanding the resonances to allegorical meanings beyond the letter of the text.”
~ E. Ann Matter

All are welcome here. We believe the experiential truth and ancient wisdom of this spiritual path are meant for everyone. We believe that Divine Grace, the energies of God, are available to everyone and the image and spirit of God is present in everyone. For this reason, our Eucharist and other Holy Mysteries of the Church are open to all who seek communion with their Creator. Whoever you are, wherever your journey has taken you, you are welcome in this sacred space.