Answer questions for those new to the Episcopal Church Prepare for Confirmation Refresher Course a mature commitment to Christ Receive strength from the Holy Spirit Through prayer The laying on of hands by a bishop Book of Common Prayer (BCP) p. 860 Baptized Instructed in the Christian Faith Penitent for sins Affirm confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord BCP, p. 860
Your gifts are important You have a ministry by virtue of baptism Church’s job is to support each other in living out that ministry Diverse group Traditional in way of worship Challenge you to grow in relationship to God and in serving your neighbor and God
Common Prayer: Prayer shapes believing. The Church is not held together by any confession other than the ancient creeds, worship is centered on a Book of Common Prayer. Incarnational Theology: emphasis on the sacraments and the Church as the Body of Christ in the world rather than as a group of the elect. Apostolic Faith: God in three persons, Jesus Christ as redeemer of the world, apostolic succession of bishops, the Scriptures of Old and New Testaments, the dominical sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist, use of the ancient creeds. Moderation: The via media, authority of Scripture, reason, and tradition. Scripture read as a whole and not in pieces.
Roman Empire organized around dioceses and bishops English system organized around monasteries and abbots. Incorporated Celtic spirituality that focused on the goodness of the created world and the cross. 397 a.d. Pope Gregory the Great sends Augustine of Canterbury to England. Augustine finds an established Christian church. Works to change to Roman model. Resistance to change is symbolized by dispute over calculating the date for Easter. English used older method. Issue was resolved in 664 at the Synod of Whitby. Roman way of calculating date for Easter prevails.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) Augustine Monk. Questioned the sale of indulgences. On October 31, 1517, Luther nails 95 Theses to the door in Wittenburg inviting discussion and debate. Luther challenged the authority of the papacy Vernacular Bible Universal priesthood Salvation is a gift from God, received only by true faith and repentance and not mediated by the church
An 18th Century Church - 3 liturgical centers: baptismal font, altar, and pulpit - throughtout the colonial period and into the 19th century the pulpit was the focus of the entire liturgy. 1st level was lay reader/clerk who led the singing and responses. 2nd level, rector read Scripture and to lead prayers. 3rd level rector preached his sermon. - auditory churches. Focus of worship was on reading and preaching. Every worshiper should be able to hear the readings and sermon. - pews were generally box shaped with plank seats. The high walls were for warmth. Churches were unheated, so worshipers brought foot warmers - the closer a family sat to the holy table or pulpit the higher their social standing - service lasted 75-90 minutes and consisted of Morning Prayer, the Litany, Ante-Communion (the 1st part of the Communion Office, ending with the Gospel), a sermon, and concluding prayers - no procession. - clergy wore white surplices, often changing during the psalm to black cassocks - no hymns - Communion administered at least 4 times a year. Priest would come down from pulpit and go to the altar and stand halfway turned to the congregation.
Early Nineteenth Century - remained auditory churches. But followed the Lutheran/Calvinist practice of grouping the pulpit, the altar, and the font into the chancel area. - pulpit continued to dominate
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