The Book of Common Prayer
What do Episcopalians believe?
An outline of the faith of the Episcopal Church can be found in the Book of Common Prayer. (Click on the link and navigate to the page called “The Catechism.”) This outline is designed for study, discussion, and reflection rather than rote memorization.
In addition, it is important to note that for Episcopalians, there are three important elements of spiritual life:
- Our study of scripture, God’s word.
- Our ability to reason — a gift from God that helps us continue to grow and learn more about our relationship with God and all God’s creation.
- Our traditions of worship that create opportunities of unity with one another through shared experiences of worship — hearing God’s word, praying, and celebrating the gift of the sacraments — together as Christ’s body in the world. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is our shared form of worship, binding together all in the Episcopal Church. The BCP is written in the language of the people to include all who seek God, coming together for worship, prayer, and reflection.
What is “liturgy?”
Liturgy is the church’s public worship of God. The term is derived from Greek words for “people” and “work.” In the Episcopal Church, public worship of God is the work of the people. The life of Christ active in the church by the Spirit is expressed through liturgy. New Song’s services come from Enriching Our Worship, which features language rich with imagery that invites all to enter into the Word of God. Click here to read a sample portion of our service. Our liturgy is a joyful collaboration of many, which is an expression of the unity of all who participate.
- Liturgy expresses the church’s identity and mission, including the church’s calling to invite others and to serve with concern for the needs of the world. This important work of the people is an embodiment of the whole church and a pathway toward becoming the Body of Christ together.
What is “the Church Year?”
The Church Year is divided into seasons, beginning with with the start of the season of Advent and ending with the close of the season of Pentecost. Click for the 2011 liturgical calendar or the 2012 liturgical calendar.
