The Episcopal Church is a mainline Christian church with core beliefs that are proclaimed in the Nicene Creed. The Episcopal Church is woven together with many diverse threads. We want to respect and celebrate our differences and learn more about God in listening to each other. The church is here to guide us in matters of faith, not to regulate or spoon-feed us. So, we accept the fact that even something as central as the Nicene Creed has generated debate about the Creed’s nuanced meanings through the centuries. As a result, our members reflect liberal, conservative and moderate beliefs. Some Episcopalians take a somewhat literal interpretation of the Bible while others take a more allegorical approach. We look to people to choose their own behavior but to be accountable for it. And we are here to love, support and respect each other in our faith journey.

No. The Episcopal Church has some similarities to the Roman Catholic Church, but it is very different. In fact, the Episcopal Church is a Protestant Church. We should look to history to gain some perspective. The Episcopal Church in the United States is a part of the Anglican Communion. The Anglican Church separated from the Roman Catholic Church not long after the Reformation began five centuries ago, when Protestant denominations began forming. But the Anglican separation was different from those of other Protestant churches. The Anglican Church took bishops with it, thus maintaining an unbroken line of Apostolic Succession, a line of ordination of bishops dating back to the first Apostles. In addition, we retained the three orders of ordained ministry (bishops, priests and deacons), the seven Catholic Sacraments, the historic Creeds and other church customs and beliefs as expressions of our faith. But we differ with the Roman Catholic Church on some points of theology, church administration and practice. We retain our Catholic roots while also having a strong Reformation heritage with our Protestant brothers and sisters. We are diverse, open. For example, we have open Communion. We have a greater voice in selecting our priests and bishops. We may be seen as a “bridge church” between Protestantism and Catholicism.

Every baptized Christian of any age is welcome to receive Communion in any Episcopal Church. All are welcome at the altar rail to receive a blessing or Communion. If you are not baptized and would like to be, please speak with a clergy person at St. Paul’s or contact the church office. Baptism is open to all!

St. Paul’s distributes Communion at the altar rail for those who wish to receive it and can comfortably walk there; otherwise, the priest will bring it to the pew. Each pew row is invited by an usher to walk in turn to the rail. At the rail, most people kneel but you also are welcome to stand. If you are not able to comfortably go to the rail, just let the usher know you would like to receive Communion at your seat. Persons choosing not to receive Communion may remain in their seat or come to the altar rail and cross their arms across their chest to receive a blessing from the priest. Persons choosing to receive Communion, whether at the rail or in their seat, should hold out their hands, with one open hand on top of the other, palm up, as the priest approaches. The priest will place a wafer in your hand. You may consume it then. If you choose not to receive the consecrated wine that will be offered in a chalice, you may return to your seat after consuming the wafer. You may also cross your arms across your chest if the chalice bearer approaches you. If you choose to sip from the cup of consecrated wine, you may do so when the cup is offered to you. Alternatively, instead of consuming the wafer immediately after it is presented, you may take the wafer in your fingers and slightly dip it into the cup of wine when it is presented to you and then consume the wafer before returning to your seat. The process may vary slightly at other Episcopal Churches. If you have a child whom you do not wish to take Communion, have your child cross both arms across the chest; the priest will say a blessing. Please know that all who love God, including children, are welcome to come to the Lord’s table and to receive Communion. If you are in doubt, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

We welcome all to be baptized at St. Paul’s. Normally, this happens on Sunday mornings at our worship service. There are five traditional feast days for a baptism: The Baptism of our Lord in early January, the Easter Vigil on the evening before Easter, Pentecost in the early summer and All Saints’ Sunday in early November, as well as the bishop’s visit. However, St. Paul’s welcomes baptisms on days outside these dates. Please contact the clergy or office if you would like more information and to schedule a baptism.

All are welcome to be married at St. Paul’s. You do not have to be a member of the church to be married here. As with all Episcopal churches, St. Paul’s follows the Book of Common Prayer for all liturgies, including weddings, and all weddings are officiated by an Episcopal priest. Please contact the church office or clergy for more information, including wedding policies and costs, and to schedule your wedding.

Persons already baptized in a Christian church, who attend worship regularly at St. Paul’s and provide financial contribution for the work and ministry of God through St. Paul’s are considered members of St. Paul’s. Persons not already baptized may request the sacrament of baptism after regularly attending church at St. Paul’s for a while. To become a confirmed member, if you are baptized and have not previously been confirmed by a bishop, you will be confirmed at the bishop’s next visit to St. Paul’s, having completed a regularly-offered new member and welcome class. Persons already confirmed by a bishop in a church other than the Episcopal Church may be received into the Episcopal Church in place of a confirmation by the Episcopal Church. The same course for new members wishing to be confirmed is required to be received, as well. For more information, please contact St. Paul’s clergy or the church office.

Yes. We suggest you park in the lot on the south side of the church in the designated accessible spots. There is a ramp from the lot to the church door at the covered driveway. An elevator is just inside the door; one floor up is the nave, or sanctuary.

If you wish to spend time in the church either for personal prayer or a tour, please call the church office.

All of those actions are intended to show reverence, and people have different ways of doing it. Some kneel, touching a knee to the floor, before taking a seat in the pews. Some bow when the cross passes by their pew. Some make the sign of the cross at certain times during the service. Some kneel and others are more comfortable standing. While the church suggests kneeling if able (or standing instead) at certain points, there is no requirement for any of those things; they are ways of worship that some people choose. If it helps you to worship God, feel free to participate, but none of those actions are required.

No. We’re glad you’re here and would be delighted to speak with you if you let us know you’re new. But we don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. That’s why we offer blue cards for people to fill out if they choose; just drop a completed one in the offertory plate. And please do introduce yourself to a member of the clergy after the service. We would love to meet you!