Sunday Worship

The sacrament of Christ's body and blood, and the principal act of Christian worship. The term is from the Greek, "thanksgiving." Jesus instituted the eucharist "on the night when he was betrayed." At the Last Supper he shared the bread and cup of wine at a sacred meal with his disciples. He identified the bread with his body and the wine with his blood of the new covenant. Jesus commanded his disciples to "do this" in remembrance of him (see 1 Cor 11:23-26; Mk 14:22-25; Mt 26:26-29; Lk 22:14-20). Christ's sacrifice is made present by the eucharist, and in it we are united to his one self-offering (BCP, p. 859). The Last Supper provides the basis for the fourfold eucharistic action of taking, blessing, breaking, and sharing. Christ's body and blood are really present in the sacrament of the eucharist and received by faith. Christ's presence is also known in the gathered eucharistic community. In the BCP, the whole service is entitled the Holy Eucharist. The first part of the service is designated the Word of God. It usually includes the entrance rite, the lessons and gradual psalm, the gospel, the sermon, the Nicene Creed, the prayers of the people, the confession of sin and absolution, and the peace. The second portion of the service is designated the Holy Communion. It includes the offertory, the consecration of the bread and wine in the Great Thanksgiving, the communion of the people, and the concluding prayers of thanksgiving and dismissal. A blessing may be given prior to the dismissal. The eucharist is also called the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, the Divine Liturgy, the Mass, and the Great Offertory (BCP, p. 859). The Hymnal 1982 includes a section with a variety of hymns for the Holy Eucharist (300-347), including "Come, risen Lord, and deign to be our guest" (305-306), "My God, thy table now is spread" (321), "Now, my tongue, the mystery telling" (329-331), and "I am the bread of life" (335).

Episcopalians worship in many different styles, ranging from very formal, with vestments and incense, to informal services with contemporary music. Yet all worship in the Episcopal Church is based in the Book of Common Prayer, which gives worship a familiar feel, no matter where you go. Worship in the Episcopal Church is “liturgical.” The congregation follows service forms and prayers that don’t change greatly from week to week. This gives worship a rhythm that becomes comforting and familiar to the worshipers. For the first-time visitor, liturgy may be exhilarating or confusing. Services may involve standing, sitting and kneeling, as well as sung or spoken responses, that may provide a challenge for the first-time visitor. Here’s what to expect.

On any normal Sunday, you will hear us read a chapter from the Old Testament, a reading from the New Testament (usually from one of Paul's letters), and a selection from one of the Gospels. In addition to those readings, the congregation will read one of the Psalms in unison. We follow a lectionary, which is a plan that gets us through the whole Bible in about three years. On a different note, we look to three sources of authority for our decisions: scripture, tradition, and reason. These together are sometimes called the "three-legged stool," because you need all three for it to be stable. Without Scripture, we are just doing what we have always done, and we would not be open to God's voice in our midst.

We welcome all people to the house of God. We do not subscribe to a racial or sexual preference as no matter what your preference or orientation or skin tone is, you are still a child of God. Therefore we welcome all to our community to explore, to encourage and to emulate Jesus in every manner possible. When God created man and woman, God created them all equal and worthy of all things Godly.

First of all what is Apostolic Succession? It is that we hold that there is an unbroken line of authority, bishop to bishop, going all the way back to the Apostle Peter. Thus, when a bishop visits our little parish to confirm a new member, there is a direct line going back to the very earliest days of the faith. Now about Salvation, it is not in the control of any person to grant eternity to anyone except to God. We believe God has given all that is needed for salvation

#Baptism#: The Episcopal Church considers that anyone who has been baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in any church or denomination, has been validly baptized. Those who have not been baptized become members of the church through baptism. 2. Transfer: Those who have already been baptized become members by transferring from another church or denomination. 3. Confirmation: Adult members become confirmed members through the sacrament ofconfirmation. Confirmation involves prayers and the laying on of hands by an Episcopal Bishop.