We Are

Our Core Values & Identity &

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Core Values:

To glorify God in all we do, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church deeply values:

The Christian Faith – As witnessed to in the Holy Scriptures, passed on in the Apostolic and Anglican tradition, and confessed through the ages in the creeds.
Worship – Lively, joyful worship that welcomes all wherever they all in their faith journey in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition with excellent music and preaching that inspires, encourages and teaches.
Discipleship – Bringing as many people as possible into a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and enabling each of us to be transformed into a disciple of Jesus Christ through participation in the worship and ministries of St. Christopher’s.
Ministry - Ministering to those in spiritual, emotional or physical need by empowering them to transform their circumstances or their responses or both through Pastoral Care and Outreach programs designed to serve the St. Christopher’s church family and our entire community.
Stewardship – Teaching and practicing true stewardship of all that God’s has put into our keeping for the glory of God and the growth of God’s Kingdom.
Community - Providing a Christian home for persons and families seeking to experience and share Christian fellowship and covenantal community.

We are:

A worshipping, spiritually aspiring, and inclusive Christian family reaching out to all persons. We offer ourselves as joyful, caring people on our mutual journey with Christ.

A body of Committed Christians who encourage intellectual honesty and are dedicated to serving the needs of the entire person: spiritual, physical and emotional.

	The only requirement for membership in the Episcopal Church is baptism by water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church is open to all baptized Christians.
	Within the Episcopal Church there is a wide variety of views on current social issues - from the very conservative to the very liberal. We are not held together by opinions or views, but by our common worship and the respect we give to each person's individual conscience, as we are guided by the Holy Spirit and our understanding of the Gospel of Christ.
	Our worship is Biblically Centered, designed to remind us of the mighty acts of God on our behalf throughout history, to make God's presence an immediate and personal reality and to equip us to serve the world.
	We believe the Holy Scripture to be the word of God and to contain all things necessary to salvation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a Eucharist?

Eucharist is a Greek word which means "thanksgiving." That’s what we do on Sunday morning. Eucharist = Holy Communion = The Lord’s Supper. We celebrate and give thanks for the good things God has done for us. Communion at St. Christopher’s is open to all baptized persons. If you have questions about baptism or would like to be baptized, please speak with Mother Marty.

We receive communion in two kinds in the Episcopal Church. You will be offered a wafer of consecrated bread and a cup of consecrated wine. You may choose to receive either or both. You may dip your wafer in the cup or you may eat the wafer and drink directly from the cup when it is offered to you. You may indicate that you do not wish to receive either element by crossing your arms in front of your chest. If you choose not to receive the bread you will be offered a blessing.

We begin Eucharist with a hymn and few brief prayers. Two or three lessons follow, then maybe another hymn. Then the sermon, usually 7-15 minutes. We say the Nicene Creed and pray for those who need help. We confess our sins and receive assurance that God really forgives us. We exchange the Peace (we all shake hands; hugging is optional) Next, we pass the collection plate and present our offerings at the altar. Communion is next. All baptized Christians are welcome at the Lord's table in this church. We always finish with a hymn.

The service usually takes around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Our order of service comes from the Book of Common Prayer. Last revised in 1979, but first assembled in 1549, the Prayer Book gives us continuity with a broader Christian community that spans centuries and continents.

May I receive Holy Communion?

If you are a Christian and wish to renew your relationship with Jesus Christ, you are welcome to receive Communion. You do not have to be an Episcopalian to be welcome at the Lord's Table.

Is St. Christopher’s Protestant or Catholic?

Both. We trace our history back through the Protestant Reformation to the earliest church. As protestants, we believe that it is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we come to know God. We are catholic in the sense that we focus our faith on those things that have always been believed as the essentials of Christian faith and practice. And, of all the protestant churches, we retained the most elements of the ceremony and worship of the Roman Catholic Church. Our worship is centered on the Eucharist (Communion) every Sunday, we use wine (not grape juice), and our clergy wear vestments/robes. Unlike Roman Catholics, our clergy (bishops, priests, and deacons) are allowed to marry, we ordain both women and men, communion in Episcopal churches is open to all Christians, we rely most upon scripture in determining matters of faith, and our church is governed democratically.

How do I join St Christopher's?

For Episcopalians, life in Christ is a journey that begins at birth and extends beyond death. Some Episcopalians may have sudden experiences of God's grace that bring them to desire greater union with Christ. For others, the process may be quite gradual. Some Episcopalians may indeed have a sense of having been "saved" at a particular moment. Others, because they were baptized into the Church as infants, may feel that they were never "lost." The Episcopal Church marks the Christian journey with two rites: Holy Baptism and Confirmation. You may become a Baptized member of St. Christopher’s by being baptized, or, if you have been baptized in another tradition, simply by notifying the Rector of your desire to become a part of our worshipping community. Those who wish to enter most fully into the life of the congregation and the Episcopal Church do so through Confirmation (laying on the hands by the Bishop), or if already confirmed, through transfer of a letter of membership from the previous parish to St. Christopher's.

Where do my children go on Sunday morning?

Young children at St. Christopher’s are welcome at all of our services. Should you desire it, there is a nursery for infants and preschoolers, staffed by a professional caregiver. The Nursery is located above the Narthex and operates from 8:45 to 1:30 on Sunday mornings. Older children (six and over) are encouraged to join in the appropriate Christian formation program and to go to worship with their parents.

What if I need special prayers?

We offer a Healing Service on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and on the first Sunday of the month. In addition, the Rector is available by appointment and will be glad to meet with you either at the church or in your home to assist you in lifting your concerns to God. Please do phone the Church Office to arrange for an appointment or to let her know if you or a family member is hospitalized or ill. Do let us know also if you or a family member needs to be put on the Prayer List.