Calvary Church in Danvers, Grace Church in Salem and St. Paul’s Church in Peabody will embark on a shared worship initiative beginning on Sunday, June 19, and running through Sept. 4.
The three congregations are calling their new initiative “A Perfect Gift of Partnership.”
Each congregation will hold services in its own building for a designated four of the 12 weeks; during the other weeks, parishioners will attend services at one of the other churches: June 19-July 10 at St. Paul's Church in Peabody; July 17-Aug. 7 at Calvary Church in Danvers; and Aug. 14-Sept. 4 at Grace Church in Salem. All services will be at 9 a.m., and carpooling from each parish is being organized.
“This summer, we are excited to have the opportunity and gift of exploring new and vital ways to get to know our neighboring congregations and discover ways in which we can work more closely with each other in the future,” Calvary's rector, the Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, explained in a prepared release.
The churches note that since summer attendance is traditionally lower than the rest of the year, shared worship offers the three churches spiritual, fellowship and financial benefits.
Each of the three churches also will offer special shared summer programs, including an after-church barbecue at St. Paul's Church in Peabody on Sunday, June 26 and a family game night at Calvary Church in Danvers on Saturday, July 16, 5-7 p.m.
For more information visit: www.stpaulspeabody.com; www.calvaryepiscopal-danvers.org and www.gracechurchinsalem.org.