What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Anglican Communion. We are a Church that is the middle way between the Roman Catholic Church and the various Protestant Churches.
We have worship based on the ancient worship of the Christian church and a three-fold ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons.
We also have a theology based on the Protestant ideal that the individual conscience and relationship with God are the ultimate authority. And that the church’s role is to guide the formation of each person’s conscience.
So the answer to the question: “What do Episcopalians believe about …” is usually “Well Episcopalians believe lots of different things about … “
To learn more about the Episcopal Church visit the website: http://www.iamepiscopalian.org
What to expect when you visit St. Paul’s
The Basic Service Structure is based on the same ancient roots as the Roman Catholic Mass and the Orthodox Eucharist. We share the Holy Eucharist every Sunday. The service starts with the liturgy of the Word: an opening prayer, readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament and the Gospel, a sermon, the Nicene Creed and more prayers. The second half of the service is the liturgy of the Table: the Eucharistic Prayer, Communion, Post-communion prayer and a dismissal that sends us out into the world.
Differences in services: The 8:00 service is both quieter and more traditional. We use the more traditional language and there is no music at 8:00. The 8:00 service lasts slightly less than an hour. We don’t have ushers or greeters at 8:00 – you pick up your own bulletin just outside the inner door to the sanctuary. Because the 8:00 service attracts fewer children, we don’t have nursery care or Sunday School at the 8:00 service – children should worship with their parents.
The 10:00 service has more modern language and has music. The choir sings at the 10:00 service from September through June. The 10:00 service lasts between an hour and an hour and a half. Nursery care is provided and Sunday School takes place during the first part of the 10:00 service, but children are welcome to stay with their parents for the whole service if you prefer. Coffee hour also follows the 10:00 service.
Communion All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion. We come to the communion rail. If you wish to receive – you place your hands out and the priest will place the wafer in your hands. We use a common cup for communion. Guide the base of the chalice to your mouth and take a small sip. If you are uncomfortable receiving from the common cup, you may receive just the bread. If you are uncomfortable receiving communion, please come to the altar rail and cross your arms over your chest. The priest will bless you.
Nursery The nursery is located off the parish hall. The parish hall is at the back of the education wing. You can reach the nursery either by going the front of the sacristy, through the door at the front by the organ and turning right, heading down the hall to the parish hall – the nursery is to your left as you enter the parish hall. You can also reach the nursery by going in the green door (on the right as you face the church) and just heading down the hallway to the parish hall. The nursery is open during the 10 a.m. service.
Sunday School is in session most Sundays from September to June. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. The children come back to church during the announcements and stay with their parents for the rest of the service. Sunday School classes are found in the education wing (the same place as the parish hall and nursery)
