Episcopal Beliefs

We believe there is One God who creates all things, redeems us from sin and death, and renews us as the Children of God. As Episcopalians we promise to follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of our church is.

This is a brief introduction to our life and faith and to tell you a little about who we are. The Episcopal Church is a member of the world-wide Anglican Communion, with 70 million members in 163 countries. We are a community of Christians bound together by: our belief that Holy Scripture contains the very core of all Christian faith and thought, the many ancient and modern stories that connect us to Jesus and his teachings, discovering daily God's hope and call to us through our life together. We live out these core beliefs through:

Worship and Parish Programs
Community Outreach
Sharing our story
Seeking God's love together in study and prayer
Giving of our means and talents to the greater purpose of God's work

In worship, we are united, acknowledging the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer and to celebrate God's presence among us. All are welcome to participate in our worship because it is in worship that we live out our life as a Christian family together. Scripture is the foundation of our worship. The service follows an order found in our worship book called the Book of Common Prayer, two-thirds of which is scriptural. Every worship service includes the reading of Holy Scripture from the Old and New Testaments. Many of our prayers and hymns are filled with Scripture. The Book of Common Prayer includes a variety of ancient and modern prayers and worship occasions for times when the whole community gathers, and for individual use. The Book of Common Prayer allows everyone to participate, reminding us that each person is an important part of the worship experience, whether the service is a celebration or a solemn occasion. It is a guide book for daily Christian living. Music, both traditional and contemporary, is an integral part of uniting our prayers and scripture.

Our Creeds

The word "Creed" comes from the Latin word "credo" which means "I believe." The Creeds are the statements that contain a summary of our basic beliefs.

In the Episcopal Church we say both the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed in our worship.

The Apostles Creed dates from the early years of the Christian Church and was used as a statement of faith at Baptism. The Apostles Creed is included in the services of daily Morning and daily Evening Prayer that may be used both at church and in private devotions. It can be found in the Book of Common Prayer on pages 53, 66, 96 and 120 within these different services.

Apostles Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.  He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,  the holy catholic Church,  the communion of saints,  the forgiveness of sins,  the resurrection of the body,  and the life everlasting. Amen
The Nicene Creed was written in the year 325 by early bishops meeting in Nicaea (modern day Turkey). It is a statement that summarizes the Christian faith and is said in unison during services of Holy Eucharist (the reenactment of the Lord's Supper). It can be found on pages 326 and 358 in the Book of Common Prayer.

The Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made,  of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation  he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;  he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again  in accordance with the Scriptures;  he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,  and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,  who proceeds from the Father and the Son.  With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.  He has spoken through the Prophets.  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Celebrating God's Presence

In our worship service, we celebrate God with us through water, bread and wine. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us through baptism we are united with God. The Episcopal Church believes through baptism--in any Christian denomination--we become brothers and sisters in God's family. (If you are not baptized and wish to be, you may contact the church office for more information.) Jesus shared bread and wine with his first followers and is with us today in this family meal we call Holy Communion. Through it we receive strengthening of our union with God and one another as we remember Christ's life, death and resurrection. All are welcome and encouraged to share in this meal.