As an Episcopal Church, worship at St. Andrew's is centered on Scripture and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), and follows the various liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. Our services are come-as-you-are: wear the clothing you're comfortable in, come with your joys and sorrows, with your hope and your hopelessness, with your gifts and your burdens, come for solace and for renewal. Come and find yourself forgiven and loved. We are seekers We seek to know God’s love, to love and be loved by others, and to love ourselves.We seek freedom from the many forces — sin, fear, oppression, and division — that pull us from living as God created us to be: dignified, whole, and free. We seek abundant life overflowing with joy, peace, generosity, and delight. Life where there is enough for all because we all share with abandon. A life of meaning, given back to God and lived for others. We seek Jesus, who has the power to change lives and change the world.
Book of Common Prayer The Book of Common Prayer is a devotional, teaching, and liturgical resource for individuals and congregations, and as Anglicans it is the primary symbol of our unity. Since the publication of the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, we have defined ourselves as those who, though diverse, come together in Christ through our worship and our common prayer.
Worship We gather in community weekly to thank, praise, and dwell together with God. We hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, give thanks, confess, and offer the brokenness of our lives and of the world to God. As we break bread, our eyes are opened to the presence of Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are made one body, the body of Christ sent forth to live the Way of Love.
The Bible The Anglican tradition holds that "The Bible contains all things necessary for Salvation." The Book of Common Prayer includes the Psalms, and large portions of the prayers and liturgies it contains are directly taken from passages of the Bible. At each worship service we have extensive Bible readings following the plan of the Revised Common Lectionary.
The Creeds Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God. While we will always have questions about God, the Church, and our own faith, we use two foundational creeds during worship: the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. In reciting and affirming these creeds, we join Christians across the world and throughout the ages in affirming our faith in the one God who created us, redeemed us, and sanctifies us.
Sacraments We practice Baptism and Eucharist (Holy Communion) as the two sacraments instituted by Christ. We define “Sacraments” as “Outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace,” and the altar is God’s table, not ours, and everyone is welcome here for communion or a blessing. Any baptized Christians may take communion in the Episcopal Church.
Our Baptismal Vows We seek through our worship, study, and fellowship to help each other live out our baptismal promises: To proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ; to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves; to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.
