BASICS OF OUR WORSHIP
We are a Eucharistic-centered church, in that our primary worship services are centered around the Holy Eucharist service.
· HOLY EUCHARIST: The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until his coming again. It is the currently common term in the Episcopal Church for both the prayers and receiving of the consecrated bread and wine. The terms:Mass; Holy Communion; Lord's Supper and Holy Eucharist are used interchangeably and all are accurate.
· RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION: All baptized Christians of any age are permitted to receive the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unbaptized adults and children are invited to come to the altar rail during communion to receive a special blessing.Simply cross your hands over your heart as you kneel and the priest will pronounce God's blessing over you.
· THE REAL PRESENCE: the theological expression used in the Episcopal Church to cover several doctrines emphasizing the actual presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the sacrament.There are a variety of theories and theologies as to the how Jesus is present in the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist.Ultimately we believe He is present in the bread and wine because He said in the gospels,'This is my body.This is my blood.'
· THE BIBLE: The Episcopal Church believes the Holy Scriptures to be the Word of God, and to contain all things necessary for salvation.(Book of Common Prayer p. 526) The Bible (the maroon book at your seats ) is the source for Scripture readings during worship, especially when there is a shared reading of the Psalms .
· BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER (the red book at your seats ): provides form and focus for worship of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
· THE HYMNAL (the blue book at your seats ):is a frequent source of hymns and songs sung during worship.
· STANDING, SITTING, KNEELING:We stand to praise God, sit to listen to His Word, and kneel to pray.
SACRAMENTS
HOLY BAPTISM is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.In Baptism it is required that we renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Infants and children are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God. Promises are made for them by their parents and sponsors, who guarantee that they will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him.
CONFIRMATION is the sacramental rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.It is required that we be instructed in the Christian Faith, are penitent for our sins, and are ready to affirm our confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
