All Saints by-the-Sea Church

What are services like?
All Saints celebrates the Holy Eucharistic twice each Sunday and also holds a monthly Family Feast Eucharistic service for parents and children in the Parish Hall concurrent with our 10 a.m. Sunday service. Our early service is at 8 a.m. and features a hymn but no choir. Our 10 a.m. service has a full choral Eucharist, accompanied by our choir of parishioners and professionals (September through May). Children from Sunday School typically rejoin the 10 a.m. service at Communion. Attendance ranges from between 80 and 100 parishioners at the 8 a.m. service. and from 175 to 225 at 10 a.m. Our Eucharistic services are typically Rite II. The language of our worship is primarily from “The Book of Common Prayer” as well as from the “Enriching our Worship” supplemental resource. Frequently liturgical elements outside the Church Publishing publications are used with the goal of using a strong architecture from our Anglican and Episcopal heritage that merges with culturally contextual language. Outdoor socializing fortified by coffee follows each of the Sunday services. Besides catching up with each other and welcoming visitors, the time between services is also used for educational presentations, group or committee meetings, discussion groups or review of next week’s lectionary.

What is the community like?
All Saints-by-the-Sea is an energetic Episcopal community that comes together to serve and praise God through Worship, Outreach and Formation. We are a mix of active and energetic Christians, with quite a few retired folks from all walks of life, particularly retired corporate executives who have relocated to beautiful Santa Barbara. We also enjoy the membership of many faculty members of Westmont College, located just a few miles away. Students from Westmont and the University of California, Santa Barbara also enrich our daily lives. Our youth programs are gaining tremendous traction: we have between 20 and 40 regularly attend Sunday School.

What if I'm not a Christian?
As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and we believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and traces its heritage to the beginnings of Christianity. Our liturgy retains ancient structure and traditions. Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. We believe in amendment of life, the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Those seeking answers to the mysteries of faith, belief, God and the purpose of life are welcome to attend service -- quietly or actively. We know God loves each of us and we strive every day to love each of our neighbors, regardless of beliefs. We would love to have you join us!