Why are your ministers called priests?
The word priest is an English derivative of the word “presbyter” or “elder.” For traditional Anglicans then the term “priest” simply means pastor. It indicates one who has been ordained as a shepherd and spiritual leader of the congregation.
Why do you ring a bell during communion?
Throughout History, church bells have called God’s people to Worship. The Communion bells serve the very same purpose. They alert the congregation that the bread and wine are being set apart for Communion and thus call God’s people to prepare their hearts to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Why do you bow and cross yourselves during the service?
Bowing and crossing one’s self are not necessary or required by the Anglican faith. However, many of our members gladly participate in these expressions of reverence. The practice is based on the Biblical teaching that worship is never merely a private matter. Rather our inward faith is always to include a corporate expression and a public witness. Thus bowing and crossing simply give an outward and corporate expression to the inward reverence of Christ. In other words, our outward posture and actions witness to the inward and unseen activity of our hearts.
Why do your priests wear robes?
The minister’s robes serve two purposes. First they indicate his office. He is one who has been trained, examined, and approved by the Church to shepherd the congregation. Second the robes make worship uniform. As such, they draw attention away from the individual leader and focus it on Christ.
Do you pray to saints?
No. We pray to and worship God alone.
Why do you use candles, crosses and other symbols in worship?
First, let us begin by saying that the Anglican tradition firmly rejects all superstition and all reverencing of things. We worship God alone and look to Him only for our help.
The symbols we use are just that, they are symbols. As such, they function as teaching tools that point to and remind us of various truths found in Scripture. Beyond this instructional function they have no value or power. Their use in worship is based on the holistic way that God has created us and the holistic way that He instructs us throughout the Bible. Thus we find that Scripture not only prescribes preaching but it also makes use of songs, visual aids and symbolic actions to communicate the good news of the Gospel. One has only to look at the Sacraments, the miracles, the decorations of the Temple, or the Old Testament feasts to find the multidimensional way that God addresses His people. As such, our worship endeavors to confront the whole of man with the Gospel, be it his mind, heart, eyes, or ears. In turn, man is expected to respond to God and serve Him with his whole being in every facet of his life.
May I take Communion at your church?
The Lord’s Table belongs to all believers not to any one denomination. Therefore, if you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you genuinely repent of your sins, and if you are a baptized member in good standing of an evangelical church, then we welcome you to the Lord’s Table and rejoice to share this time of fellowship with you.
What is the Book of Common Prayer?
During the Middle Ages, the Bible and all church services were in Latin. As such, they were inaccessible to the majority of God’s people. During the Reformation the Church insisted that both the Bible and the worship services be in the common language of the people. Therefore, just as various translations of the Bible insure that Scripture is in the language of the congregation, so too the Book of Common Prayer insures that the worship service is in the language of the congregation and that it is accessible to all its members.
In the Book of Common Prayer you will find the various services used by the church on different occasions (e.g. Sunday morning worship, weddings, and funerals). You will also find a calendar of Scripture readings for the year, family devotions, and the 39 Articles, which provide a statement of the major beliefs of our denomination. All of these are provided that you may fully and actively participate in the worship of God.
Why do you take Communion every week?
The witness of Scripture and the earliest records of Church history indicate that God’s people partook of Communion at least every Lord’s day. During the Middle Ages the Roman church corrupted this practice. They denied God’s people Communion except once a year and even then the people were given only the bread but not the cup. The Reformation sought to correct this grievous error and return to the universal practice of the New Testament and early Church. Theologically, weekly Communion rests on the same ground as weekly preaching. God has commanded His people to keep the Sabbath by gathering every week to worship, teach, and fellowship with Him. Therefore, just as we do not partake of the Lord’s Supper without first hearing God’s Word, so too we do not gather to hear Scripture without being drawn by its instruction into fellowship and communion with God.
What do I have to do to join the church?
If you are interested in joining the church or have any questions about our services, please let the priest know. For those who are baptized members of an evangelical church, membership is by transfer of letter and conformation. For those who are not baptized members of an evangelical church, membership is by profession of faith, Baptism, and confirmation.
