About Our Church
Thank you for visiting our web site. We think it a good representation of who we are and what we do. However, it's only a representation. To fully know who we are please visit us some Sunday. (See Worship Schedule.)
For those unfamiliar with the Episcopal Church let me offer the following brief thoughts.
- Our services are similar to Lutherans, Roman Catholics, and to some extent, Presbyterians and Methodists in that we use a printed book, (The Book of Common Prayer), for worship. Extemporaneous or "pastoral prayers" are not normally part of our services. The Holy Communion or Lord's Supper or Holy Eucharist is the usual service on Sunday.
- Our services are described as "liturgical" in that we include ceremony -- robes and vestments for participants; processions of worship leaders into and out from worship, usually led by a processional cross and torches; the use of a prescribed rotation of scripture readings -- in our worship. Individual congregations use more or less ceremony as local custom determines. The laity takes an active role in the leadership of public worship along with the clergy.
- The theological foundation of the Episcopal Church could be described as encouraging a dynamic spiritual journey rather than providing absolute answers to life's questions. Consequently, you will find a wonderful variety of, (and occasionally contradictory), theological "positions" among Episcopalians. What unites us is not an adherence to an official position, but rather our commitment to live out our baptismal vows nurtured by joining each other at the communion rail each Sunday.
- Most of us do not read or study Holy Scripture from a literal point of view.
- Most of us believe that our "salvation" is a gift from God, delivered to all peoples and all of creation in some way by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We can neither earn nor lose that gift by how we lead our lives. We can only reject or ignore it.
If this "mini-overview" of Episcopalians and their Church intrigues you, I urge you to visit an Episcopal church near you. If you don't know where one is, check out the phone book, or e-mail Carole McCollum, our Parish Administrator. We have a list of all Episcopal churches.
The Rev. Bill Coombs, Rector
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