The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church is rich in history and has its roots with the Church of England. The church's traditions are somewhere in between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
The following link is the official website for the Episcopal Church.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index.htm
The following link gives some great information about the history of the Episcopal Church.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/newsline_119483_ENG_HTM.htm
The Most Reverend Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori is the twenty-sixth Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. She is chief pastor to the Episcopal Church's 2.4 million members in 16 countries and 110 dioceses, ecumenical officer, and primate, joining leaders of the other 38 Anglican Provinces in consultation for global good and reconciliation. Jefferts Schori was elected at the 75th General Convention on June 18, 2006 and invested at Washington National Cathedral on November 4, 2006.
Diocese of North Carolina
The Right Reverend Michael B. Curry is the Bishop of North Carolina. The diocesan offices are located in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information click here.
The Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is a collection of all the worship services that we as Episcopalians follow. The prayer book in its present form was published in 1979 and it is what governs our worship. The book describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the different sacraments in the Church along with requirements and gives the main guidelines for the Episcopal life.
The Liturgical Year Explained
The liturgical year is divided into seasons throughout the year in which we as Episcopalians celebrate and recall the life of Jesus Christ. The year begins with Advent which prepares us for the birth of Christ. This season lasts until Christmas Eve and ends with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
Lent is the season of penance and preparing for Easter which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday which marks the beginning of Easter. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday recall the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples, his death, burial and resurrection from the dead. The Easter season continues for seven weeks and culminates with Pentecost which celebrates the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles after the Ascension of Jesus. The rest of the year is known as Ordinary Time.
The altar hangings and the vestments the priests wear reflect the current place in the liturgical calendar. Green is associated with Ordinary Time. Violet is used on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent. White is worn from Christmas Day until the Baptism of Jesus, the Easter season and Holy Thursday. The priests also wear white for weddings and baptisms. Red is worn on Pentecost, Palm Sunday, the Passion of the Lord and confirmations.
The following link serves as a reference for the liturgical year that includes readings and feast days on a calendar - http://www.io.com/~kellywp/
Acolytes are an important part of our worship, serving and assisting the celebrant and other priests at the altar, as well as adding to the reverence and importance of the procession.
St. Andrew's is in the process of revitalizing and increasing the size of our Acolyte program. Interested individuals from 4th grade through adulthood are welcome to participate.
Over the years, St. Andrew's has been the recipient of many beautiful liturgical items donated as gifts and memorials; these include banners, bells, crosses, censers, and other items. Acolytes enjoy using these items in processionals and in the service.
Music is a vital part of the worship experience at St. Andrew's, and the tradition of providing quality music programs here is long-standing. Members of the Choir offer their musical gifts first to the glory of God, as a means of enhancing the worship experience, and to provide leadership and support to congregational singing. The St. Andrew's Choir is made up of approximately 20-25 voices.
The Choir is a part of the 10:30 service most Sundays during the year. The Choir also sings at special services, including Christmas Eve, some funerals, and during Holy Week.
Chalice Bearers at St. Andrew's are licensed by the bishop to assist the clergy in serving the consecrated wine at the services. Some of our chalice bearers also serve as Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs). They visit our homebound parishioners who are not always able to attend services due to physical limitations. If you are interested in learning more about this important ministry in our church, please call the office.
An usher at St. Andrew's has a rewarding and enjoyable ministry. It is a great way to get to know members and visitors to our church by meeting people as they enter for services on Sundays. Ushers assist worshipers when they arrive at church helping them to feel comfortable with the service and liturgy by answering questions and passing out bulletins. They represent the congregation when they bring the money offerings, other donations and the bread and wine to the altar during the service. They are available to support those who come forward to receive the sacrament. After the service they walk through the pews to make sure that all books and papers are where they belong. Ushers and greeters are the face of St. Andrew's and work to make a wonderful first impression.
In the Episcopal Church, worship is the center of our lives together, not only a gift from God, but a gift to God, and the expression of our redemption and reconciliation as the Body of Christ. Worship in the Episcopal Church is liturgical in form - the word "liturgical" means "work of the people". At St. Andrew's, the people participate in worship in many ways.
The Mission of the Worship and Music Committee is to facilitate and coordinate all groups responsible for the physical, musical, and liturgical aspects of worship, so that all congregants may be inspired, moved, even transformed through encountering the holy in worship.
The purposes of the Worship and Music Committee include:
- Fostering clear communication among parishioners, clergy, and worship teams
- Soliciting, assessing, and implementing suggestions from parishioners, clergy, and worship teams regarding the many aspects of worship at St. Andrew's
- Coordinating duties among the worship teams
Groups and programs under the "umbrella" of the Worship and Music Committee are as follows: Choir, Altar Guild, Ushers, Sound Technicians, Acolytes, Ben's Bells, and Children's Chimes.
The St. Andrew's Altar Guild is made up of dedicated women and men who prepare the Lord's table for our Sunday services and services during the week. The group also helps with baptisms, weddings and funerals. The St Andrew's Altar Guild is made up of 4 teams and each team serves around 4 times a year, with 2 teams serving together for Christmas and Easter. Our meetings during the year are in September, December, March & June. Come and join us in this wonderful and fulfilling ministry.
Our library has books, magazines and audio/video materials for adults, teens, and children. Materials cover a wide range of topics such as church history, reference, current events, spiritual growth, world religions, parenting, fiction and self-help. Located near the Parish Hall, the library is open anytime the church is open. Come in and browse our shelves, relax in our comfortable chairs or borrow materials through our self-serve check-out process.
The Greeters have the most fun ministry at St. Andrew's! The purpose of our greeters is to enhance and support St Andrew's philosophy of being a warm and welcoming church, especially to visitors and newcomers who are looking for a church home. Each team of greeters volunteers one Sunday a month to welcome all who are attending, ask visitors to sign the guest register, to enjoy fellowship at the coffee hour with us after church, and to help with special needs.
We do not have meetings, but do give a little 'training' to those who volunteer to help one Sunday a month.