|
|
|
The Episcopal Church |
 |
| The Episcopalian, or Anglican, style of Christian worship has deep roots in Scripture, tradition and reason. It is based on the services from the Book of Common Prayer, which was originally composed in 1549 and has been updated many times throughout its history. It was intended to be just what its title implies; a way for everyone in the Body of Christ to worship communally and equally together. The BCP is full of passages of scripture, historical creeds, and strong theology; it inspires us to worship God not only with our hearts, but also with our minds.
The Episcopal Church in the United States is part of the 80 million member worldwide Anglican Communion, a fellowship of churches sharing historic roots with the Church of England.
|
Like all Anglican churches, the Episcopal Church is distinguished by its standing in both Protestant and Catholic traditions, its insistence that people be able to worship in their first language, their use of a Book of Common Prayer, and their reliance on Scripture, Tradition, and Reason in interpreting God’s revelation to humanity.
The Episcopal Church is made up of between two and three million worshipers in about 7500 congregations across the United States and a few related dioceses outside the United States. “Episcopal” means “bishop” in Greek, and the Episcopal Church is governed in part by its bishops.
Locally, we are one of the 141 congregations in the Diocese of Chicago (founded in 1835) which spreads across the Northern third of Illinois. Our chief pastor is the Bishop of Chicago; our Cathedral Church of St. James is located in Chicago.
|
| Book of Common Prayer |
|
The Book of Common Prayer shapes the Church’s worship, which in turn, defines the church. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we respond to scripture, we offer intercessory prayer, and we share a meal. Every time the Eucharistic community gathers we act out the church’s ministry to care for all God’s children, so that we can be restored to unity with God and one another in Christ.
Celebrating baptism in the context of the Sunday Eucharistic gathering further underscores the meaning of membership in the church. When we make the baptismal promises in the midst of the rite, we recall our responsibility to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
Worship in the Episcopal Church is a dynamic and animated experience that invites us to bring all we are as earthly beings into God’s presence. As we engage all our senses and sensibilities in the act of worship, we are formed in God’s image and drawn into a life of abundance among God’s children.
The great thing about using the Book of Common Prayer is that one can follow along through the entire service and know what’s going on, worshipping with the same prayers as everyone else around you. This helps ease any fears one might have at visiting a new church. Both those from the extremely liturgical traditions and those from the more “free-worshipping” traditions often find themselves right at home. Virtually every work and action in an Episcopal service is symbolic for something in Christianity, so one’s mind should never be bored! |
| Diocese of Chicago |
|
The Diocese of Chicago is a community of 50,000 Episcopalians engaged in Christian work and worship from an Anglican perspective in Northern Illinois. The diocese looks to the Rt. Rev. William Persell, Bishop of Chicago, for its pastoral and spiritual leadership, to its various committees and 13 Episcopal Charity agencies for action on social needs and concerns, and to the clergy and lay leaders of its 137 congregations for expanding the church’s witness.
Diversity and community are the hallmarks of the Diocese of Chicago’s congregations. All cultures, colors and faith perspectives make up this mosaic, whose character and calling is best experienced through the witness of our lives.
|
| Links |
|
To find out more about the life and work of the Episcopal Church, visit the Chicago Diocese website at www.epischicago.org and the national church website at www.episcopalchurch.org.
|
|
|
|
