Our services are most often from The Book of Common Prayer, which is the traditional service book of the Anglican Church. You can expect a lot of opportunities to participate by reciting prayers together with the rest of the congregation, singing the hymns together, and coming forward to receive communion or a blessing. However, you are also welcome to just sit and take it all in. Participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Many of us were in your shoes not that long ago.
When you arrive you will be greeted by a member of our welcoming team who will hand you the bulletin and service book.
We have a wheelchair ramp outside and a large accessible bathroom in the basement. We have also just installed a chairlift inside the church. If you need any accommodations be sure to let our welcoming team know! We are happy to help.
We have toys and activities for children available, and we have a Sunday School class that runs during the service every first Sunday of the month. Children are absolutely welcome in church.
There is always a coffee time in the hall downstairs after the service. Everyone is welcome to join us for coffee and some light refreshments. On certain Sundays throughout the year we may have a larger meal or potluck after the service.
There are many things that are compelling about being an Anglican, but here are three of them: the bible as the only infallible rule of doctrine, a personal relationship with Jesus and his saving work as the only means of salvation, and the apostolic faith preserved in our community.
The Bible
Anglicans like other protestant churches believe in the Holy Bible as the ultimate authority in our search for an authentic relationship with Jesus. This means we look to the scriptures to guide us along our way and see them as God's living word--active, and sharper than a two-edged sword. Anglicans treasure the scriptures deeply and their public reading forms the bulk of our worship. At each service you will encounter readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Epistles, and the Gospels.
Many Anglicans participate in a practice called "The Daily Office" or more simply, "Morning and Evening Prayer". This method of devotion is structured around reading the scriptures systematically throughout the year and can be done privately or together with others.
Faith in Jesus
As Anglicans we believe each person needs a personal relationship with Jesus. This relationship which we call faith is the means by which we accept Christ's saving work for us. Namely, his death on a cross bearing the punishment for our sins, his resurrection from the dead through which he destroyed the power of death and secured for us everlasting life, and his sending of the Holy Spirit to accompany each one of us on earth.
There is no other name under heaven by which a person can be saved.
The Apostolic Faith
Anglicans trace the beginnings of their faith back through the reformation, through the medieval church, and to the time of early Christianity. We maintain the two sacraments that Christians have practiced from the very beginning, namely Baptism and Holy Communion. Our church is also structured just like the early Church was, with a bishop as our pastor and congregations in fellowship with one another throughout our diocese.