There are three basic sources of Episcopal Church beliefs:

1. Scripture
(the primary source)

The Old and New Testaments contain the essence of Christian doctrine. They reveal God to humankind, and tell of our response to God in history. The Bible helps us to know God’s will, revealed supremely through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Scriptures are the word of God, proclaiming that Jesus – both God and human being – is Christ, the Messiah.

2. Reason
(gifts of the Holy Spirit)

The Episcopal Church does not control interpretation and practice. Instead, members are encouraged to use reason to explore and comprehend God’s works; to make responsible moral decisions under the guidance of Scripture, the ordained ministry and in response to sincere prayer.

3. Tradition
(wisdom of generations past).

Tradition helps us to interpret Scripture. It lets us share experiences of early Christians and believers of every era by preserving hymns, prayers, and rituals, that strengthen our faith and keep it alive. Through its continuity and consistency, our Tradition helps preserve essential truths.

The Book of Common Prayer tells us that private worship is not always adequate; religion is a fellowship. You relate to the whole church through your parish, your local church community. Being with a community of believers inspires us, nurtures us, encourages us, and comforts us.

Absolutely not. In the Episcopal Church, we know that every journey toward God is unique and highly personal. You won’t be forced to think a certain way or “get in line” with everyone else. In fact, you’re welcome to bring your questions, doubts, hopes and dreams with you. There’s a good reason why the Episcopal tradition is sometimes called “the thinking person’s church.” You’ll be encouraged to think for yourself and seek guidance from God through prayer, worship, meditation, reading and any other method that works for you. Each one of us is precious to God and we all find God in different ways.

The Episcopal Church is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion; derived from the Church of England and sharing with it traditions of faith and order as set forth in its Book of Common Prayer. Before the American Revolution, we were known as the Church of England in America. After the Revolution, we became the Episcopal Church – a self-governing faith community affiliated with the worldwide Anglican tradition. The word “Anglican” means in the tradition of the Church of England. Today, more than 80 million people around the world are part of the Anglican faith tradition: every continent except Antarctica has Anglican churches today. For example, if you travel to Australia or Argentina, you’ll find an Anglican churches that worship in the same style as the Episcopal Church in America.

The Episcopal Church worships in the “liturgical style,” which means all Episcopal churches follow a relatively common order of service. Being with a community of believers inspires us, nurtures us, encourages us, and comforts us. Our Sunday services throughout the year usually include singing, Bible readings, prayers for ourselves and others, time for meditation, a sermon or pastoral message, and Communion (Holy Eucharist) where we share bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus Christ and the Last Supper. All people are welcome to approach the front of the church during the Communion portion of the service, even if you’re not an Episcopalian. Anyone who has been baptized (in any tradition) is invited to share in the bread and wine. Unbaptized persons are welcome to come forward for a special blessing.

1. The Holy Bible (NRSV)
2. The Book of Common Prayer
3. The 1982 Hymnal

Don’t worry. You won’t be embarrassed or singled out. We provide a “service bulletin” during each Sunday service. It guides you through the service and provides basic instructions for participation. Other worshippers are delighted to assist and once you've been to a few services, it will seem like second nature to you. The Book of Common Prayer can also serve as a guide to our Sunday worship service (sometimes called our “liturgy”), as well as a wide range of other services for everything from baptism to funerals. Many people, even those outside the Anglican tradition, consider The Book of Common Prayer to be the most beautiful collection of prayers and meditations in the English language.

The Place of Worship
As you enter, you will notice an atmosphere of worship and reverence. Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles; but whether the church be small or large, elaborate or plain, your eye is carried to the altar, or holy table, and to the cross. So our thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God whose house the church is. On or near the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the ``Light of the world’’ (John 8:12). There are flowers to beautify God’s house and to recall the resurrection of Jesus. On either side at the front of the church are the lectern and pulpit; here the Scriptures are read and the sermon is preached. 

The Act of Worship
In the pews you will find The Book of Common Prayer, the use of which enables the congregation to share fully in every service. The large print is the actual service. The smaller print gives directions to ministers and people for conduct of the service.

You may wonder when to stand or kneel. Practices vary - even among individual Episcopalians. The general rule is to stand to sing. We stand, too, to say our affirmation of faith, the Creed; and for the reading of the Gospel in the Holy Eucharist. Psalms are sung or said sitting down. We also sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as children or as an act of humility before God.

Before and After Services
It is the custom of many upon entering church to kneel or sit in one's pew for a prayer of personal preparation for worship.  In many churches it is also the custom to bow to the cross on entering and leaving the church as an act of reverence for Christ.  In some Episcopal Churches at the end of the service some persons kneel or sit for a private prayer before leaving.  Others sometimes sit to listen to the postlude.  Others begin visiting with one another.  We are a diverse group!

The Church Year
The Episcopal Church observes the traditional Christian calendar. The season of Advent, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30. Christmas itself lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Lent, the forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. Easter season lasts fifty days, concluding on the feast of Pentecost.

During these times the Bible readings are chosen for their appropriateness to the season. During the rest of the year - the season after Epiphany and the long season after Pentecost (except for a few special Sundays) - the New Testament is read sequentially from Sunday to Sunday. The Old Testament lesson corresponds in theme with one of the New Testament readings.

Coming and Going
As you enter, our greeter will welcome you and will answer any questions about the service.  Pews are unreserved in the Episcopal church.  Following the service the priest or worship leader greets people as they leave.

Is real wine used during the Communion part of the service?
Yes. We use consecrated wine in remembrance of Christ’s instructions during the Last Supper.

Why does the Episcopal liturgy typically use wafers instead of bread?
The Last Supper was held during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorates the Hebrews flight from captivity in Egypt. The Bible says that they prepared the Passover meal “in haste,” which meant they didn’t have time for leavened bread to “rise” before baking it. Instead, they served unleavened bread (bread made without yeast), which is very flat. We believe that this Passover tradition was incorporated during the Last Supper, which is why most Communion services in the Episcopal Church use unleavened bread “wafers” instead of pieces of regular bread. That being said, some churches do use regular bread during the Communion (Eucharist) service. Individual parishes (churches) are free to do so. St. James uses gluten free wafer exclusively.

Yes. Both. Neither. All of the above. In the Episcopal Church (Anglican tradition), we embrace aspects of both the Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions, in terms of worship styles, beliefs and actions. Some people refer to the Anglican tradition as a “bridge” between Protestants and Roman Catholics. We are independent of the Roman Catholic hierarchy and we don’t report to the Pope or anyone else in Rome. At the same time, we share a liturgical and Apostolic tradition with the Roman Catholic Church. As you’ll read below, the Episcopal Church’s beliefs are also rooted in many Protestant traditions. This explains why so many people from different faith backgrounds feel comfortable worshiping in the Episcopal Church today.