Episcopalians: A Primer

Celebrating God’s Presence 

In our worship service, we celebrate God with us through water, bread and wine.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us through water we are united with God. We call this Baptism. The Episcopal Church believes through baptism in any Christian denomination we become brothers and sisters in God’s family. (If you are not baptized and wish to be, you may contact the church office for more information.) 

Jesus shared bread and wine with his first followers and is with us today in this family meal we call Holy Communion. 

Through it we receive the forgiveness of our sins and a strengthening of our union with God and one another as we remember Christ’s life, death and Resurrection. Any baptized person is welcome and encouraged to share in this meal. 

Our Beliefs 

We believe there is One God who creates all things, redeems us from sin and death and renews us as the Children of God. As Episcopalians we promise to follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of our church is restoration of all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. We are enriched by your presence with us. 

As you continue your journey, please remember us as a place of rest, restoration and reunion. If you are searching for a place to worship regularly, we welcome you.  

The Book of Common Prayer  

Our guide to worship and devotion, The Book of Common Prayer can be complicated even for lifelong Episcopalians and seem even more bewildering for visitors and newcomers. Although this is brief, we hope to answer some of the questions you may have and make worship easier for you. 

Our current Book of Common Prayer, revised in 1979, was originally compiled by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, in 1549. There are more than 70 million Anglicans (Episcopalians) in 163 countries throughout the world, using a Book of Common Prayer in their own language, reflecting our diversity and ethnic backgrounds. 

Some Common Questions about the Book of Common Prayer 

Q: What is The Book of Common Prayer? 

The Book of Common Prayer is a collection of ancient and modern prayers and worship services for occasions when the community gathers and for individual use as well. It allows everyone to participate, reminding us that each person is an important part of the worship experience, whether the service is a celebration or a solemn occasion. It is a guidebook for daily Christian living. 

Q: Why call it “Common” Prayer? 

Common does not mean ordinary. These are the prayers we say together or “in common” when we worship as a community. 

Q: Does it relate to the Bible? 

Scripture is the foundation of our worship. Two-thirds of The Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Old and New Testaments. 

Q: What services are included? 

The primary service is the presentation of our Lord’s Last Supper with his disciples, a service we call the Holy Eucharist. However, the first experience many visitors have with the Book of Common Prayer is at weddings, baptisms or at funerals in the Episcopal Church. 

Q: Can it be used in personal devotions? 

Yes, in private daily prayers or with family, prayers in the morning and evening, special prayers of praise or thanksgiving, requests for others and for special occasions. All 150 Psalms, or poems from the Old Testament, are contained in The Book of Common Prayer and can be read at any time. 

A calendar for reading through the entire Bible every two years, as well as an outline of the Episcopal faith and Church history, is also included. 

Q: Can I make up my own prayers? 

The Book of Common Prayer is meant to complement daily individual prayers, not to replace them. Every service in the book includes time for personal prayer requests, either silent or aloud.

 
The Worship Life of the Episcopal Church

In the Episcopal Church we take part in certain regular acts of worship. These are called sacraments or reenactments of Christ’s ministries on earth. The two primary sacraments are Baptism and Holy Communion.

We believe that God is actively present in the world and in us. In the sacraments we realize his presence and his favor towards us. Through the sacraments, which are freely given to us by God, our sins are forgiven, our minds are enlightened, our hearts stirred and our wills strengthened.

These sacraments are contained in the worship services found in the Book of Common Prayer, a book used for worship and as a guide for Christian life. A complete outline of the Episcopal faith can be found on pages 845-862 of the Book of Common Prayer. Your questions are encouraged and always welcome. Please feel free to contact the church office for more information.

 
Scripture, Tradition and Reason  

In the Episcopal Church, we are called to live out our faith on a daily basis, whether we are at home, school, work or recreation.  

The cornerstones of our faith are Scripture, Tradition and Reason.  

Scripture: 

Scripture is the word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The 39 books of the Old Testament contain the story of God’s love from the time of Creation to the birth of His son, Jesus Christ. The books contain God’s laws as He gave them to the Hebrew people. 

The New Testament contains Christ’s teachings, the accounts of His life as told by His followers and the beginning of His Church. It is written in 27 books. Within an Episcopal worship service, Scripture is read in the lessons, the Gospel (the teachings of Jesus), the Psalms (poems from the Old Testament) and other prayers. Additionally, two-thirds of our guide to worship, The Book of Common Prayer, comes directly from the Old and New Testaments.

Tradition:  

We are not Christians in isolation but are part of a living faith that spans 2000 years. Tradition is the embodiment of our experience as Christians throughout the centuries. The heart of our tradition is expressed through the Bible, the Creeds (statement of faith, written in the first centuries of the Church’s existence), the Sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism and the ordained ministry passed on by Christ to his Church. 

Our tradition is expressed with many voices, among which are a variety of worship styles, languages, cultures, architecture and music. Our tradition encourages this diversity. We seek to value the life and story each person brings to the community of faith. As in a multi textured tapestry, each person’s offering is woven into the life of the whole, making it stronger and more beautiful. 

Reason: 

Each one of us, with God’s help, makes a decision about how we use tradition and Scripture in our lives. A personal relationship with God allows us to realize and celebrate our lives to the fullest. The gift of reason, as a complement to Scripture and tradition, leads us to seek answers to our own questions and to grow spiritually. Being active in a community of faith strengthens us to carry our faith into the world. Weaving Scripture, tradition and reason together, we strengthen our faith and grow as children of God. 

The Creeds

The word “Creed” comes from the Latin word credo which means “I believe.” Our Creeds contain a summary of our basic beliefs.

In the Episcopal Church, we have three Creeds, Most commonly used is the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. The third Creed is the Creed of St. Athanasius. Because we are a community of faith, we openly declare our beliefs and in this way unite ourselves to Christians in the past, present and future.

The Apostles’ Creed dates from the early years of the Christian Church and was used as a statement of faith at Baptism. The Apostles’ Creed is included in the services of daily morning and evening prayer that may be used both at church and in private devotions. It can be found in The Book of Common Prayer on pages 53, 66, 96 and 120.

The Nicene Creed was written in the year 325 by early bishops meeting in Nicaea (modern-day Turkey). It is a statement which summarizes the Christian faith and is said in unison during services of Holy Eucharist (the reenactment of the Lord’s Supper). It can be found on pages 326 and 358 in The Book of Common Prayer.

The Creed Of St. Athanasius can be found on page pg 864 in The Book of Common Prayer. It describes the doctrine of the Trinity.

Do I Have To Believe Everything in the Creeds?

Relationship with God is a personal journey and also one we share with others in this community of faith. The Creeds clearly state the beliefs of the Church, and we recite them as we join with those around us in the process of discovering our own relationship with God. So it is not easy to answer this question “yes” or “no.” It is important that we take part with fellow seekers in this lifelong journey.

What If I Have Doubts or Questions?

It is not unusual to have doubts and questions. In the Episcopal Church, questions are encouraged. There are many groups, classes and forums available for discussing questions with other seekers. One opportunity is the Inquirers’ Class, held in January each year. In addition, the clergy are eager to be contacted for help with questions.