Sacraments

The Book of Common Prayer tells us that the sacraments are “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace.” The two central sacraments given by Christ in the Gospels, to his church, are Holy Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. 

Baptism

Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children, brings us in as members of Christ’s body, the Church, and makes us heirs to his everlasting kingdom. In the Episcopal Church, all people, of any age, are invited to receive the sacrament of Baptism. We believe that through the sacrament of Baptism, in the outward and visible sign of water, we receive union with Christ in his death and resurrection, are incorporated into God’s family, the Church, receive forgiveness of sins, and new life in Christ through the Holy Spirit. If you desire Baptism for yourself or your children, please contact Fr. Joshua. 

Holy Eucharist

The Eucharist is the principal act of Christian worship, celebrated on the Lord’s Day. The Holy Eucharist, also called Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Mass, is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection until his coming again. Episcopalians believe that the outward and visible sign in the Eucharist is bread and wine, which become, for us, the Body and Blood of Christ, given to his people and received by faith. The Book of Common Prayers admonishes us that before we come to receive communion, we should “examine our lives, repent of our sins, and be in love and charity with all people” (BCP, 860). All who are baptized are welcome to receive Communion in the Episcopal Church.

Beyond the two central sacraments commanded by Christ, The Episcopal Church teaches that there are additional sacraments, which, while not necessary for all believers, are visible means of grace for Christians nonetheless.

Confirmation

Confirmation is the rite in which a person expresses a mature commitment to Christ, and by prayer and the laying on of hands of a bishop, is strengthened in the life of faith through the Holy Spirit. The Book of Common Prayers teaches us that those who wish to be confirmed must have been baptized, sufficiently instructed in the Christian faith, be penitent for their sins, and be ready to affirm their confession of Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. If you desire to be confirmed, please contact Fr. Joshua for more information. 

Marriage

Holy Matrimony is the rite of the Church by which two persons “enter into a life-long union, make their vows before God and the Church, and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows” (BCP, 861). If you are interested in having your marriage officiated by Fr. Joshua, using the marriage rites of The Book of Common Prayer 1979, please contact the church directly.

Reconciliation of a Penitent

More commonly known as “Confession” Reconciliation of a Penitent is the process by which a person may confess their sins to God, in the presence of a priest, and “receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution” (BCP, 861). The ministry of reconciliation was given to the Church, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”