What We Believe
“In him you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 368).
As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ. We believe that, in Jesus, we come to know God—God’s mercy, God’s justice and, most of all, God’s love. In him, we come to learn that God’s deepest hope for us is that we love God and love our neighbors. We live out God’s hope a little differently than some faith traditions in that we begin with worship and prayer, especially common prayer, rather than beginning with a set of doctrinal statements. We believe in a concept called “lex orandi, lex credendi,” that is, our prayers form and shape our beliefs and those beliefs form and shape how we live. Therefore, along with the Bible, our central document is The Book of Common Prayer, which defines worship rather than doctrine as a unifying principle. We call it “common prayer” because we pray and worship together; our worship is communal, that is, it is something to be shared. Therefore, you can go into any Episcopal church on any Sunday and hear the same lessons and celebrate the Eucharist in basically the same way. You can feel right at home.
We believe that God’s grace, made visible in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, form us as Christ’s Church and sustain us so that we may continue the work of God’s kingdom that Christ Jesus started. In Baptism we have been united into Christ’s Body and called to be the hands and feet and voice of Christ in the world. Sunday after Sunday we approach the altar and receive his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist not only for solace but also for strength; not only for pardon but also for renewal.
Scripture, reason and tradition help us to ever deepen our relationship with God through Christ Jesus so that we too can be a sign of God’s grace to the world. As we pray for the world that God so loves, our growing awareness of the world’s deep needs compels us to reach out in compassion and care. In worship, we find our own role in Christ’s mission and ministry.
In our communal life of faith and worship, we affirm the participation of all Christians. We believe God created both male and female in God’s image and that in baptism both women and men are given rich spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church. Therefore, women can have any role in the Episcopal Church that men can, including deacons, priests and bishops.
Here at St. Edmund’s Church, we welcome and affirm all persons into our community as equal recipients of God's grace. We believe that everyone, regardless of race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation may fully partake of the sacraments and spiritual benefits of faith given to us by God as signs of that grace.
(adapted from St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church, Bartlett, TN)
As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ. We believe that, in Jesus, we come to know God—God’s mercy, God’s justice and, most of all, God’s love. In him, we come to learn that God’s deepest hope for us is that we love God and love our neighbors. We live out God’s hope a little differently than some faith traditions in that we begin with worship and prayer, especially common prayer, rather than beginning with a set of doctrinal statements. We believe in a concept called “lex orandi, lex credendi,” that is, our prayers form and shape our beliefs and those beliefs form and shape how we live. Therefore, along with the Bible, our central document is The Book of Common Prayer, which defines worship rather than doctrine as a unifying principle. We call it “common prayer” because we pray and worship together; our worship is communal, that is, it is something to be shared. Therefore, you can go into any Episcopal church on any Sunday and hear the same lessons and celebrate the Eucharist in basically the same way. You can feel right at home.
We believe that God’s grace, made visible in the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, form us as Christ’s Church and sustain us so that we may continue the work of God’s kingdom that Christ Jesus started. In Baptism we have been united into Christ’s Body and called to be the hands and feet and voice of Christ in the world. Sunday after Sunday we approach the altar and receive his Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist not only for solace but also for strength; not only for pardon but also for renewal.
Scripture, reason and tradition help us to ever deepen our relationship with God through Christ Jesus so that we too can be a sign of God’s grace to the world. As we pray for the world that God so loves, our growing awareness of the world’s deep needs compels us to reach out in compassion and care. In worship, we find our own role in Christ’s mission and ministry.
In our communal life of faith and worship, we affirm the participation of all Christians. We believe God created both male and female in God’s image and that in baptism both women and men are given rich spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church. Therefore, women can have any role in the Episcopal Church that men can, including deacons, priests and bishops.
Here at St. Edmund’s Church, we welcome and affirm all persons into our community as equal recipients of God's grace. We believe that everyone, regardless of race, gender, nationality or sexual orientation may fully partake of the sacraments and spiritual benefits of faith given to us by God as signs of that grace.
(adapted from St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church, Bartlett, TN)
The Baptismal Covenant
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the
prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever
you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all
people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God’s help.