Welcome to the Episcopal Church!

At St. Paul’s, we are a community that actively shares the love of Jesus Christ with each other, with our community, and with the world.  We invite you to join us and share in our practice of God’s reconciling love.

What do Episcopalians believe?

We believe that nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  As Christians we seek to follow Jesus Christ, believing that it is God who creates all things, redeems us from sin and death, and renews us as the Children of God. 

The Episcopal Church does not have a formal document stating our beliefs, but our prayer together gives shape to our beliefs.  Worship is a way to respond to the ineffable mystery of God, who is always beyond our full comprehension.  Rather than speak about God, we relate to God in prayer.

 During the time of historic reformation, many European churches wrote confessions or statements of belief; in England, church leaders issued a Book of Common Prayer that allowed for a middle way between Roman Catholic and Protestant leanings.  That book, revised through the centuries and grounded in Scripture, still frames our services of worship. The Episcopal Church is one of 44 “common prayer” churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion, derived from the Church of England and in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.  

 The church traces its connection to Jesus’ first apostles through the historic succession of bishops; this pattern emphasizes our connection to the historic and universal church.  Bishops are a symbol of unity, but the mission of the church is shared by all Christians: lay persons, deacons, priests and bishops.  That mission is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, as we pray and worship, proclaim the Gospel, and promote justice, peace, and love.

What about the Bible?

We read aloud from the Holy Scriptures in corporate worship each time we gather.  The texts we use—a collection of poetry, stories, laws, letters, and more—were written for the worshipping community over hundreds of years, and collected into what we know as the Bible after the church had begun its mission.  Thus from its start, the Bible has been interpreted by the church, and that interpretation continues, guided by tradition and through the Holy Spirit.  The church affirms that the Old and New Testaments contain all things necessary for our salvation, and that God’s Word is at work among us.

We hear Scripture in worship, surrounded by prayerful expression of thanksgiving, repentance, and acceptance of the call to participate in promoting God’s justice, peace, and love.  

What if I have doubts or questions?

Then you’re on the right track!

The church is a place to continue to grow your spiritual, physical, and intellectual connection to God and to the world.  Most Episcopalians are comfortable with contemporary science—which seeks to explain how things are—while accepting the theological truths of the faith, which seek to answer why.

The church does not offer absolute answers to the difficulties in our lives, but gives us a firm grounding in prayer and worship from which to experience God’s faithfulness to us.  Grounded in Scripture and using the gifts of tradition and reason, we seek to do God’s will and to proclaim the triumph of God’s love in the world.

What’s next?  Where do I go from here?

-        Faith takes practice; that is, you might worship here several times before it feels natural or right.  Give yourself permission to feel off-balance for a while as you begin to worship.

-        Spend some time with the Book of Common Prayer (available in most bookstores, or you can always peruse a copy in the church pews).  There are poetic psalms, devotions for individuals and families, and beautifully written prayers for different seasons of life.

-        Call the church office, and set a time to visit with our priest, who can listen, explore questions with you, and help you find the right way to share your gifts and nurture your spirit in this community. 

-        Volunteer in one of our many mission opportunities and experience the church as a servant community.  As someone once said, “a church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.” 

-        Visit www.episcopalchurch.org and www.DioMS.org to see what’s happening in the whole Episcopal Church and throughout Mississippi. 

-        …and keep coming to worship with us on Sundays, letting yourself be formed by Word and Sacrament, as your faith seeks understanding.

Know that you are welcome

You are welcome to visit, to worship with us regularly, and to become an Episcopalian if you wish.  You are welcome to sit in our quiet sanctuary during the middle of the day and seek the presence of God.  You are welcome to join in one of our outreach ministries, or drop in for a Bible study.  You are welcome to find yourself part of a community that stands in awe before the mystery of God, and responds by sharing the love of Jesus Christ with one another, and with our world.

 This is not an official statement of The Episcopal Church, but draws on resources including “An Outline of the Faith,” The Book of Common Prayer (1979), Episconet, www.episcopalchurch.org, and Welcome to the Episcopal Church, by Christopher Webber.