Each Sunday morning George Khoury arrives at least 45 minutes early at St. Andrew Russian Greek Church in El Segundo to begin a time of prayer and meditation. He stands and prays alone before the iconostasis, the wood curtain of icons that separates the altar and sanctuary from the body of this Eastern Catholic church.

A member of St. Paul Melkite Greek Catholic Mission, George is the cantor in Arabic and English for the Divine Liturgy celebrated at 8:45 a.m. Born in Egypt to Lebanese and Syrian parents, George has been a member of the parish since 1969. A certified court interpreter who speaks six languages, he has also compiled a worship aid in English, Arabic and Greek for his fellow Melkite parishioners. During the liturgy, he leads the congregation in simple chant, a most ancient form of praise to God.

This small Eastern Catholic church means "everything" to George. "It's the reason for our existence," he says, "our belief, our tradition. It is everything. God created us. If God has given me some voice today, it is because he wanted me to chant. He wanted me to use it to glorify him. What more could you want than that? God has blessed me." His prayer is, simply, "God give me the strength, the health, the voice to continue."

After the Melkite liturgy each Sunday morning, the St. Andrew Russian Greek Divine Liturgy begins at 10. The music is sung a cappella in English in four-part harmony.

Michael Cervenak, who sings in the choir and frequently chants the epistle, has rarely missed a Divine Liturgy at his parish over the last 50 years. The Toronto, Ohio, native came to California in September 1958 and a month later joined St. Andrew Church. His worship at St. Andrew's, he says, "is deep in my blood and in my bones."

A retired attorney who chairs the parish advisory council, Cervenak values the "consistency of the whole worship service that we have. The beautiful icons, the words, the music we use, the prayers - all that comes together. Sometimes it's magical. It's what sustains me. It's who I am."

With a smile he adds, "I think I am about the only one left here who is what my kids call a 'natural,' the ones who were born into this. Those who come here to learn about it are the 'rookies.' It's in my blood; it's in my bones."

St. Andrew parishioners come from all over Los Angeles to attend either the Melkite Divine Liturgy or the Russian Greek Divine Liturgy. Their dedication impresses their pastor, Archimandrite Father Alexei Smith.

"Very few of the households are located here in El Segundo," he says. "They drive here every single Sunday from Santa Ana, Simi Valley, Temple City. That says something. I go around once a year to bless homes. It amazes me that some of these people make it here every single Sunday for spiritual nourishment. They come here because they want to, not out of a sense of obligation."

These people, he adds, are dedicated to their fellow parishioners, especially when they are ill or in need. "There's a spirit of community here," says Father Smith. People stay after liturgy, well into the afternoon, to visit. The parish celebrates birthday Sunday once a month, and recently had their parish picnic. "This is their village," says Father Smith, who recently organized a group of parishioners to join him for an outdoor performance of "She Stoops to Conquer."

"Eastern Catholic worship is not just the mind worshipping God," adds the pastor. "It's the whole person - we worship God physically and mentally. Body posture is important. We stand. We take our Jewish roots very seriously."

Father Smith serves both the Russian Greek and Melkite communities, even though style and traditions are different. There is no attempt to meld the two Eastern traditions. "It is important to the people to be comfortable in their worship," he says.

Indeed, this tradition of ancient prayer and worship is at the heart of their lives, as is the iconography that adorns the church. Michael Cervenak says the icons speak to him.

"I am in the presence of whoever is depicted," he says. "When we pray during the Divine Liturgy, we are surrounded by the saints. It's more than a building. I've gone to many, many Roman Catholic churches, but it's not the same. And I am not alone. My roots are here."