Christian Education and Discipleship

The following Christian Education and Discipleship Ministries serve as an integral part of St. Philip’s parish life.

· The Sunday School: 

A strong basis for Christian education for all children. Our official curriculum is called “Godly Play”.  Children meet for Christian Education during the worship service; then join their parents in church for the Eucharist.
Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m.

· Music Ministry: 

The music of the Church is indispensable to the effectiveness of its ministry. Both traditional hymns and uplifting spiritual music are included in our worship services. Both the Sanctuary Choir and Men’s Choir are comprised of enthusiastic individuals who enjoy singing and dedicate their music to His praise and glorification.  Rehearsals: Sanctuary Choir - Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.;  Men's Choir - the fourth Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m.

The Sacrament of Baptism

· Prerequisite Education to Receive The Sacrament of Baptism: The Episcopal Church recognizes any person baptized by water in the name of the Holy Trinity, regardless of the denomination. This is considered a “once and for all” sacrament. A pre-baptismal conference with the Rector is required before an infant or adult baptism can be performed. This conference is for candidates, parents, godparents and relatives of the person being presented. It is designed to answer questions regarding the Sacrament of Baptism, as well as to nurture the spiritual growth of the participants. The Sacrament of Baptism is generally performed during the context of a regular Sunday worship service. For further information, contact the church office.

Confirmation Class

· Prerequisite Education to be Confirmed or Received: Confirmation is a mature, public reaffirmation and celebration of the vows made at the time you were baptized. Candidates for Confirmation must attend a series of classes, which serve as preparation for the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and new membership in our parish. Confirmation classes consist of units on prayer, the Old and New Testaments, the Church Year and its correspondence to the life and ministry of Jesus, the Creeds, the Sacraments, and the history, structure, and mission of the Church. For further information, contact the church office.

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Increase Your Knowledge of the Episcopal Faith

What is an Episcopalian?

The Episcopal Church maintains that the Holy Scriptures are the ultimate rule of faith. Its symbols of doctrine are the Apostles’ and the Nicene Creed and the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, with certain modifications to fit American conditions.

The Episcopal Church is a member of a worldwide fellowship of Churches known as the Anglican Communion. These Churches share the heritage of the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury is regarded as the spiritual leader for the 70 million Anglicans throughout the world.

The ministry of the Episcopal Church is of three orders: Deacons, Priests, and Bishops. The system of organization includes the parish, the diocese, the province, and the General Convention. Parishes are led by a priest in cooperation with a vestry or mission council (board), and are made up by lay people who are also considered ministers of the Church. Parishes elect delegates to Annual Diocesan Conventions and in turn, the Diocesan Conventions elect both clergy and lay delegates (The House of Deputies) to the National General Convention. The General Convention, the highest ecclesiastical authority in the church, consists of the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies and meets in session every three years. The ecclesiastical head of the church is the presiding bishop, elected by the General Convention. The National Council, set up in 1919, is delegated by the General Convention to administer all the organized missionary, educational, and social work. The church has almost 2.5 million members in the United States, of which approximately 14,000 are ordained.

· The Church Year – The Episcopal Church observes the traditional Christian calendar.

o The season of ADVENT, during which we prepare for Christmas, begins on the Sunday closest to November 30. CHRISTMAS season lasts twelve days, after which we celebrate the feast of the EPIPHANY (January 6), which reflects upon the manifestation of Jesus.
o LENT, the forty days of preparation for Easter, begins on Ash Wednesday. EASTER season lasts fifty days, concluding on the feast of PENTECOST.

· Colors of the Church Seasons – Color plays an important part in the designation of seasons and feasts in the Episcopal Church. Each church season has a specific color associated with it.

o ADVENT – is purple (the color of preparation and penitence), Marian Blue (in honor of Mary) or violet.
o CHRISTMAS – is white (the color of celebration).
o EPIPHANY – is green (the color of growth; growth of the gospel message from Jew to Gentile – re: the three Wise Men).
o LENT – is purple.
o EASTER – is white.
o The season after PENTECOST – is green (for the growth of the church).
o PENTECOST SUNDAY and ORDINATIONS – are red to signify the presence of the Holy Spirit.

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· List of frequently used terms that apply to our order of service, the vestments, and the Episcopal faith.

o ACOLYTE – A lay person who assists priests during services.
o ANGLICAN – The worldwide communion of autonomous churches in communion with the Church of England.
o APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION – The unbroken line of our bishop’s spiritual heritage to the first apostles of Jesus.
o BISHOP – Chief minister (servant) or chief pastor (shepherd) serving a number of local churches that make up a diocese.
o BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER – The primary guide for Anglican worship since 1549. Commonly called the “prayer book,” and abbreviated as the BCP, the Book of Common Prayer is a collection of classic and contemporary prayers, devotions, services and psalms designed to allow the entire Church to worship in common union. Two-thirds of the prayers and responses in the Book of Common Prayer are taken directly from the Bible.
o BREAD – One of the two elements of communion, signifying to us the Body of Christ. As Scripture reminds us, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)
o CANON – Priest appointed to serve at the Bishop’s church in a senior capacity.
o CANONS – The written rules governing church policy, structure and procedure.
o CANTERBURY – The top diocese in the Church of England, and by tradition, the entire Anglican Church.
o CATHEDRAL – The bishop’s headquarters.
o CELEBRANT – Priest who consecrates the elements at Holy Communion.
o CHALICE – Cup for consecrated wine.
o CHURCH OF ENGLAND – The official name of the original Church in England, the Anglican Church. During the reign of king Henry VIII, the Church, in England, broke formal ties with Rome and became the Church OF England. Sometimes referred to as the “C of E”.
o CIBORIUM – Vessel in which consecrated bread is kept.
o COLLECT – A short prayer that contains an invocation, a petition, and a pleading in Christ’s Name (in that order). Normally used to refer to the prayer near the beginning of the Eucharist that precedes the lessons.
o CROSIER – Staff carried by the Bishop symbolizing the Good Shepherd.
o CRUCIFER – Person carrying the processional cross.
o CURSILLO – A Spanish word meaning, “short course”. Cursillo (pronounced “cur-see-yo”) is a contemporary popular movement of Christian renewal in the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Cursillo experience begins with an intense, profound, and often life-changing weekend retreat, and continues with periodic small group gatherings and special devotions.
o DEACON – The first order of ordained ministry. Evangelism and service are hallmarks of the deacon’s ministry.
o DECALOGUE – The Ten Commandments.
o DIOCESE – A number of local congregations with a bishop as its chief pastor.
o EUCHARIST – Greek for Thanksgiving. The principal service is the Holy Eucharist (same as Holy Communion).
o HOST – The bread or wafer consecrated at the Eucharist.
o LAY PERSONS – (or Laity) Members of the church who are not ordained clergy.
o PRIEST – Chief ministers in a congregation.
o RUBRICS – Instructions noted in italics in the Book of Common Prayer.
o STOLE – Narrow scarf worn by a priest; a deacon wears the stole across the left shoulder.
o VERGER – A lay person appointed by the Dean to maintain the orderly and proper procession, and decorum during services.

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