Acolyte

An acolyte (literally, companion, or one who helps) is the person who assists in the service by carrying the cross and other special pieces, and especially by helping the priest or deacon prepare the altar for communion. To get a bird's-eye view of how the various pieces are prepared, click here.

Altar

Literally a table of sacrifice, the altar is the main focal point of the worship service. Offerings are brought to the altar to be given over into God's service. The bread and wine for communion are consecrated, or blessed, on the altar.

Amen
This is something Episcopalians say often, and aloud. It means, yes, it is so! We use the word at the end of prayers as a way of saying "yes" to God in that we accept God's will is best for us, and that God knows what we need before we do. Episcopalians believe in hearty Amens, but generally use the word as a group. For instance, you will probably not hear someone in the congregation say Amen in the middle of a sermon. 

Anglican
You may have heard of the Church of England. This is where the Episcopal Church began. When people left from Great Britain for North America, they brought their beliefs and ways of worship with them. During the Revolutionary War, however, being part of the English Church became a political issue. Thus, Americans developed their own brand of Anglicanism and called it the Episcopal Church. (See below.)

Aumbry

Baptized

Bible
The Bible is a collection of books that have been used by the Christian Church throughout the centuries, and recognized as the holy scriptures (see below). Episcopalians take the Bible seriously, but do not take it literally. We understand that what was the norm or culture in one society is not the norm for us today, and that in order to understand what the Bible is saying to us we must first understand the context in which a particular passage was written. The Bible, or Scripture, is one of the foundations of faith in the Episcopal Church. We think it is important to study the Bible, to learn its meaning and to apply that meaning to our lives today.

Blessèd
This is holy, sacred, without blemish, worthy of praise, honorable above all else. This is one way we address God (see below), for God is all these things. 

Blessing
A blessing is something which comes from God; something very good indeed. As Christians, we recognize that God knows what is best for us before we do ourselves. Blessings can come in the form of physical things -- like money, clothing, unexpected gifts -- or spiritual things, such as a stronger faith, greater courage for our spiritual journey or a deeper love for those around us, among other things. Spiritual blessings are the best, of course. They often come in the form of people who make our lives more joyful and make our loads easier to bear. You'll hear someone say, from time to time, "You are such a blessing to me!" or "God has truly blessed me with a friend like you." To an Episcopalian, people are God's flesh-and-bone physical presence with us, because the Holy Spirit, the very breath of God, is within each person.

Blood of Christ In the sharing of the wine with you, the Chalice Bearer will say, "The Blood of Christ, shed for you." This refers to the fact that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, he did indeed bleed, and the spiritual quality of that death for the forgiveness of your sins and mine is now in this wine. This is called the Real Presence (see below). You may hear some Christians talk about being washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus is also referred to as the Lamb of God). In the St. Michael's Window you'll see the angel Michael standing beneath the Lamb of God, Jesus, as a warrior.

Body of Christ There are two meanings attached to this phrase. The one used in the Eucharist, or Communion, service is similar to the Blood of Christ. As the priest presses the wafer into your hand, because that wafer has been acted upon by the Holy Spirit in the Eucharistic Prayer (see below) it is now spiritual food for you. It does not, however, lose its physical properties of being bread. While it remains physically bread, it has now taken on the spiritual qualities of holy and everlasting food.

The second meaning of Body of Christ refers to the Church -- whether it's the world-wide church or a single parish like Christ Church. Actually, Christians are all members of the Body of Christ and this begins at Baptism. One way to think of this is that you will see God in each member of the Body of Christ.

Book of Common Prayer
This is the red book you'll find in the rack in front of you when you sit in the pew (see below). It contains the words we say (and sometimes sing) during the service. There are also prayers, Psalms, a daily guide for reading the Bible, a guide for Family or Individual Devotions. Your web minister is now in the process (September 2004) of adding the Prayer Book (that's the short name for it) to this website in the Document Library.

Bulletin This is the folded paper booklet which gives you the outline for what you're going to do throughout the service. If you're new at this, don't worry if you can't keep up. The best thing to do is to ask someone near you for help. We're always glad to help and once you've been through the service a few times, you'll no doubt be ready to go it on your own. But keep in mind, sometimes the entire congregation misses a cue!

Bulletin Insert
This is something you'll want to keep handy. It's a white sheet inside your bulletin. It contains the Collect (a prayer said about seven minutes into the service, that sets off the theme for the day) and all the readings from the Bible. Some people read along silently. Others like to sit back and just listen. But you will want to keep your insert handy for the Psalm, so you can participate in the reading.

Catechism
A catechism (ca'.de.ki.sm) is a statement of what we believe in Q & A form. You can find the Episcopal Catechism in the Document Library. You will not be asked to read it or memorize it in order to become a member of the Episcopal Church. As you grow in your faith, you may find it helpful when you have questions. 

Chalice Bearer
A chalice is the cup of wine that is brought around during Communion. The Chalice Bearer carries the cup from one person to the next. They are very good at knowing whether you want a sip of wine, whether you'd like to use intinction, or whether you prefer not to receive the wine. They wear robes, or vestments, so that their clothing does not detract from the work they are performing in the service. Their vestments don't set them higher than others. They mark them as servants.

Chapel
This is a sort of small version of a worship space. A chapel has an altar, candles and chairs, and it's generally a quiet place, suitable for prayer and meditation. Christ Church has two chapels. Schultz Chapel is the larger. We hold many of our small group gatherings there, as well as the Centering Prayer group. There are art displays on various themes, such as Advent, Lent, (see What We Believe: The Church Year) and water. 

The Transcept (tran'.sept) Chapel is behind the choir seating, beneath the East Window. It is used for monthly quiet services such as the Taizé service.

Christian
Those who so long ago followed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior were called Christians, often to their demise. Today Christian groups are many and varied, but they still have one Lord and one Savior. The Episcopal Church celebrates that fact. We seek to be a unifying force for the building up of everyone's faith. 

Church
Most often referred to as a building, the Church is the people of God. Spiritually speaking, the Church includes the Church Triumphant, those who have died in faith and are now closer to God on their spiritual journeys; and the Church Militant, we who are alive in faith on earth. But don't let the word "militant" fool you. In spiritual terms it simply means that the Church is working at building faith in its current members while it seeks out new members so they, too, may enjoy the benefits of a joyful and fulfilling journey here, and eternal life in the presence of God.

But there is a cost to being part of the Church. When there is injustice, it's up to us to point it out and try to right it. Where there is poverty, it is up to us to try to ease that burden. Where there is hunger, we are to feed. Where there is loneliness, we are to be companions. Where there is darkness, we are to bring light. Where Christ is not, it is up to us to pour out his love and grace.

Clergy
This is the same as being ordained (see below). We refer to all ordained people as clergy. The opposite of that is lay people (again, see below). These are people who are not ordained.

Coffee Hour Episcopalians sometimes joke that coffee hour is the eighth sacrament. It's just that we think getting together to talk and laugh and keep up with each other's lives is important. That's what coffee hour is about. There is caffeine-free coffee, juice and water for those who aren't into the "real" stuff. And there's usually some tasty treats to go along with the conversation. As guests, you will be encouraged to share some time with us in coffee hour so we can get to know you a little bit better. There's no pressure. We just like being sociable.

Commission
This is the term Episcopalians apply to the major committees in the parish. For instance, there is the Christian Education Commission -- those people who work on setting up Sunday School and Adult Education; there is the Pastoral Care Commission -- those who work at seeing to it that we have people to visit our hospitalized and homebound members and friends. Commissions meet about once a month and report to the Vestry (see below).

Communion
This is another term for Eucharist (yu'.kar.ist). It is that point in the service when the bread and wine, the spiritual Body and Blood of Christ, are shared by the people.

You'll also hear of something called the Anglican Communion. This is the loose federation of church bodies throughout the world who are affiliated with the Church of England. For instance, Desmund Tutu, former Archbishop of South Africa, is part of the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is also part of that group, but it's decision-making power is here in the United States, not in England.

Confirmation
This is what's called a sacramental rite. It's one of five lesser sacraments (ordination, holy matrimony, confession and prayers for the sick) that are, as was once explained to me, available to all, helpful for some, required of none. Confirmation is the rite in which one who was baptized as a child takes personal responsibility for those baptismal vows. Those adults wishing to become part of the Episcopal Church may receive confirmation. Confirmation is one of the duties of the bishop. A period of preparation precedes confirmation.

Congregation

Creed
This is a statement of our basic beliefs about God. They have been around for centuries, and we recite them together as a group. The Episcopal Church is called a "creedal church" because it is built around the beliefs expressed in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. When you worship with us, you will be able to read one of the creeds and you will see the nutshell version of the Christian faith.

Cross The cross in Jesus' time was a torturous death. Today we wear beautiful crosses around our necks. At Christ Church you will see the large cross hanging from the rafters. There is also a large cross on the aumbry, behind the altar. These are focal points of our worship, and remind us of the price Jesus Christ paid, in his suffering and death, to take from us the punishment for our sins (see sin below).

Diocese
This is the geographical location in which Episcopal Churches are gathered into one group. Christ Church is part of the Diocese (di'.u.sis)  of Iowa. A diocese has a cathedral church, which is its bishop's home parish.

Episcopal
Literally, Episcopal (e.pis'.cu.pul) means bishop (or overseer). In other words, the Episcopal Church is built around the model of bishops overseeing individual parishes gathered into geographical locations. Find information on the national church body at www.ecusa.com

Eucharist
This is literally the "great thanksgiving." In this service we remember and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in his passion, death and resurrection (see below). As Episcopalians, we never remember Christ's death without remembering his resurrection as well. So it is in our lives -- there is tragedy and sadness, sickness and stress, but following is the resurrection. God always provides that light of resurrection.

Eucharistic Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer provides several options for the Eucharistic Prayer. In each option, however, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to breathe the spiritual life of the Body and Blood of Christ into the bread and wine. It is a rather lengthy prayer, acknowledging our human condition and God's plan of salvation. You will notice some people kneeling and some standing for the prayer. Again, those who are unable to do either sit in the pew.

Father
This is the term we use to refer to the first Person of the Holy Trinity (see below). God the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. In the Episcopal Church we realize that for some the experience of an earthly father is a painful or difficult one. But God our Father is perfect in his love for us. And because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we are now given the right, if you will, to consider this great and powerful Creator our "papa." When Jesus taught the disciples the Lord's Prayer, he addressed the prayer to "Our Father."

Forgiven
To forgive is to let go of the guilt. There is God's forgiveness, and there is human forgiveness. You've probably heard people say, "forgive and forget." For us, the forgetting part is virtually impossible. But for God, the forgetting is indeed accomplished. In fact, the Bible says, "As far as the east is from the west, so far have I (God) removed your sins (see below) from you." Now, that's forgiveness!

Genuflect
This is an action in which you lower one knee to the floor out of reverence. If you would like to try it, you might want to use one hand against the pew rail to balance yourself. Some people bend the knee rather than lowering it to the floor. Genuflecting is something some people at Christ Church observe. Others do not. This is a personal choice and decision.

God
We don't expect here to explain God. No one can fully understand or explain God because as human beings, our minds simply cannot comprehend perfection. What we do know about are certain characteristics of God. For instance, God is eternal. That means God has no beginning and no end. God is not bound by the laws of time, because God created time. God is almighty, in other words, all-powerful. There is nothing that is beyond the capability of God. God is perfect love. It is God's love working in us that teaches us to love others. We constantly strive for our love to be more perfect, closer to God's love. God is a spirit, yet in the Person of Jesus Christ, took on human form, remaining perfectly faithful and obedient to God, even to the point of death. God is all-knowing. There is nothing that happens in our lives that doesn't cross God's desk first. So why do bad things happen? Because they do. But God is always there to support us through the heartache; to build us up and carry us through the hard times; to comfort us in the deepest sorrow and grief. Yes, bad things happen, but then the resurrection (the new life).

In the Episcopal Church, we believe that God is at work in us and in the world in three Persons, the Holy Trinity (see below).

Gospels
In the Bible, there are four books written that tell the stories of Jesus' earthly life. They are called the Gospels, because the word gospel means "good news," and to hear the stories about Jesus and the salvation (see below) he brings is indeed good news! Matthew's gospel comes from the perspective of a devout Jew who was one of the 12 disciples that followed Jesus throughout his earthly ministry. Mark was a follower of Peter, one of the original 12 disciples. Luke was a companion of Paul, as well as being a physician -- that's why so many hospitals are called "St. Luke's." And John was also one of the original 12. John's gospel is different from the other three in that it tells stories which are not shared in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Grace
Grace is a spiritual term. It refers to the special favor which God grants to us as a church, and to us as individuals, without us having earned or deserved it. Often we pray for God's grace to accomplish a certain task, to keep us safe on a journey and, of course, to guide us on our spiritual journey. As Episcopalians, we trust that God hears our prayer and will indeed grant us that grace -- not because of anything we have done, but because God sees us and knows us in the context of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate and greatest grace.

Heaven
Episcopalians believe there is an "afterlife." We just won't tell you exactly what it will be like, because we don't know for sure. There are some popular beliefs -- harps and clouds, for instance -- that aren't in the biblical literature. We do know that in the gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to heaven to prepare mansions (some translations read "rooms") for us. This suggests that we will have a permanent dwelling in God's presence. And the Episcopal Church believes that the Eucharist (see above) is the preview of the banquet which will be our nourishment in heaven.

Holy
God is the only holy One. Holy means being perfect. We have scriptural records of angels in heaven singing, "Holy, holy, holy," to praise God. In the Episcopal Church, we refer to the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion because their spiritual power comes from our perfect God. Another term for holy is "divine." There is the human, and the divine -- human being imperfect and divine (or God) being perfect.

Holy Spirit
This is the third Person of the Holy Trinity (see below). The Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit, according to the creation story in Genesis, moved over the waters and brought order from chaos. For many, the Spirit is the feminine aspect of God, as the Holy Spirit is the life-giving agent in baptism, comes alongside us as a Comforter. In fact, in the Bible, the Holy Spirit is translated as "one who comes alongside."

Holy Trinity
Oh, such an impossible concept to comprehend, but what wondrous glory is there in the Holy Trinity. First of all, no one fully understands the Holy Trinity. But it is the way the Church throughout the ages has explained the work of God in our lives. The term "trinity" refers to three -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are three distinct Persons, yet one unified God. One way to think of this is that water comes to us in three formats -- solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (steam), yet it is always H2O. A very concise way to think of the Holy Trinity's action in our lives is to know that the three Persons act as One, not as a committee. There is never a two-to-one vote on how to express divine (or holy) love to us. God's love is always perfectly offered to us.

Hymn
A hymn (him) is a song sung in the church, something offered in worship to God. Many of the hymns we use come from the Middle Ages or earlier. There are two sorts of hymns -- doxological (those which offer praise to God) and didactic (those that teach us about the attributes and ways of God). The words tell about the characteristics and teachings of Jesus Christ and help us to express our faith. 

Not everyone at Christ Church sings along and many people feel their voices are not "up to par" because they can't hold a tune. But keep in mind that Francis of Assisi said God is more interested in the quality of your heart than with the quality of your voice. If you still think you shouldn't sing out in church, remember that the Holy Spirit (see above) will take the notes you sing and sound them perfectly and beautifully in heaven at God's throne! The Bible says, "Make a joyful noise!" 

Hymnal
This is the blue book on the rack in front of you. The hymnal contains all the music for the service, such as hymns and canticles (can'.ti.kls). A canticle is a piece of music written for a particular set of words in the service. Canticles are in the front of the hymnal; hymns follow about a fifth of the way from the front of the book. The bulletin (see above) will tell you which number canticle comes at which point in the service. You may find yourself juggling the Prayer Book and the Hymnal for a while. Or you may want to follow along as best you can until you learn the music by hearing it. That doesn't take long at all.

Intinction
Intinction (in.tink'.shun) is the act of dipping the wafer (bread) into the cup of wine during Communion. In this way, you receive both elements, but just a taste rather than a sip of wine. Some people, if they have a cold or feel an illness coming on, may choose intinction in order to prevent spreading their germs. But "catching" something is truly not an issue. The Chalice Bearer wipes the brim of the chalice and turns it slightly for each person, in order to prevent the spreading of germs. In addition, the chalice is made of gold (on the outside) and silver (on the inside) so that when wine passes over it, germs are destroyed.

Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Holy Trinity (see above). The name Jesus means that he will pardon us from our sins. The name Christ means "Messiah," or "Promised One." He was given the name Jesus at his birth. He was acknowledged as the Christ at his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The Episcopal Church teaches that Jesus was fully human while at the same time being fully divine (God). In other words, Jesus had free will, the ability to choose whether to obey God or not, and was tempted each and every day to disobey God's will for him. It is of tremendous respect, then, that we recognize that he was "faithful unto death," in other words, Jesus Christ chose to be obedient to God's will even to the point of allowing himself to die. It is that sacrifice, and the resurrection (being alive again) that we celebrate in each service.

Kneeler
This is the small structure at your feet, below the pew ahead of you. Pull it down to rest on the floor, and the padded part will be available to you for kneeling. When you're finished with the kneeler, lift it back into place and you are free to move about. 

Lay People
These are people who have not been ordained (see below). It is up to the lay people to carry on the work of the Church, not up to the clergy. The job of the clergy is to equip the lay people for their service. In the Episcopal Church, we consider that your everyday life, be it work, school, a stay-at-home parent, retired, is your opportunity for doing the work of the Church. And the work of the Church is to share the Gospel (see above) news about Jesus Christ and to share God's love, in whatever form that may take.

Lay Reader
This is the person that, during the service, reads the scripture lessons. The lay reader practices the passage beforehand to make sure they can pronounce the words correctly, and read it so it's interesting and meaningful, without being overly dramatic. Lay readers are careful not to read too quickly so people have trouble keeping up, or too slowly so that people get bored and have trouble staying on task with the reading.

Miracle
This is something God does that does not follow natural laws. There are many records of miracles in the Bible. Today, we witness miracles as well. You have no doubt heard of healing miracles in which doctors or medicine worked far, far beyond expectations, perhaps to the point of being unheard of. Oftentimes miracles come as a result of prayer, and sometimes the prayer request is repeatedly brought before God over a period of months or years. Episcopalians believe in perseverance in prayer; in other words, we continue to pray, even in the darkest hours.

Nicene Creed
This is the creed, or statement of our beliefs, used in the Eucharist (see above) service. Whereas we use the oldest creed, the Apostles' Creed, in the baptismal service, we use the Nicene Creed in the Eucharist. The Nicene (ni.seen') Creed speaks more to the work of the individual persons of the Holy Trinity (see above). In the Episcopal Church, we say the creed as a unified group, using the term "we believe" rather than "I believe."

Offering This is the part of the service in which the ushers (see below) come down the aisles with offering plates. Some people place cash, checks or envelopes containing cash or checks into the plate. Others don't put anything in. No one is ever looked down upon or judged for not putting something in the plate. Our guests are, indeed, asked not to contribute. We prefer to serve them and welcome them as honored guests. When the ushers are finished with the collection of gifts, they bring them to the acolyte (see above) for presentation at the altar. At this point in the service, the funds are offered to God for blessing, that they may be used wisely in carrying out the work of the Church.

Ordain
This is one of the sacramental rites (see Confirmation above) in which individuals who have been trained and chosen by the Diocese (see above) are set apart for a particular service in the Church. There are three levels of ordination. The first is Deacon (see above). Another is the priest (see below). And the third is bishop (see above). An ordination service is a time of great celebration by the congregation and the family of the person being ordained.

Parish
This is the term we use in the Episcopal Church to refer to the local church body. A parish does not cover a particular geographical location. For instance, we have two Episcopal parishes in Cedar Rapids -- Christ Church and Grace Church. One is further east, one is further west. People are not restricted to attending the parish closest to their residence.

Pew
This is the bench on which individuals in the congregation (see above) sit. The pews (peuz) at Christ Church are not padded, but then we don't sit in them for very long at a time. People are free to move from the pew, for instance to use the restroom, at most any time during the service. There are certain times, however, when it is considered inappropriate to leave the pew or move about. One is at the reading of the Gospel (see above). Another is during prayers.

Praise
People are praised at work, school or home for doing a good job. God is offered praise, however, for being God. Another way to think of this is that God does not sit in heaven, "out there somewhere," looking down at us. God is right here among us, working within us and around us to demonstrate perfect love and shower us with grace (see above). That is why God is worthy of praise. 

Priest

Psalm
In the Bible, King David and others wrote prayers, laments and praises to God. These are gathered in the book of Psalms (salmz). The Psalms are a very forthright communication with God in the context of a close relationship. That's why they are important in the Episcopal Church and read at every service. Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury (this is in England, during the reign of Elizabeth the First, at the English Reformation) (and no, there will not be a test later), wrote the first Prayer Book and translated the Psalms from the Latin language which the Roman Catholic Church was using, into English. It is that translation which is the basis for the Psalms we use in the Episcopal Church today.

Prayer
Prayer is a holy and powerful experience. It is connection with God in a most personal way. And there are many ways to experience prayer. Individuals can use pre-written prayers, such as are in the Prayer Book, or express their own. As a community of faith, we pray together in worship experiences. God always answers prayer. It is our duty, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, to be faithful in prayer, to pray for others, to pray for the world, and to pray for our own needs. Nowhere in the Bible does it say, "God helps those who help themselves." We must pray.

Processional
This is a grand part of the service in which the processional cross, the torches, the acolytes (see above), the clergy (see above), the choir, the Chalice Bearers (see above) enter the worship space. The congregation stands for the processional, as we are all coming out of our daily routine into a sacred and holy time together to be with God. It is customary to bow from the waist as the processional cross passes you.

The Recessional is at the end of the service. This is a time in which we prepare to go back out into the world, carrying with us the strength from the Eucharistic (see above) experience, from hearing the Bible read, from hearing the sermon preached, from praying the prayers and speaking the Creed (see above). We don't leave our faith at the door. We head out with our ministry (service to God and to others) made more alive and more exciting.

Reason
This is the third of the foundations of faith for the Episcopal Church -- Scripture (see below), Tradition (see below) and Reason. Reason is the intellect God has given us to understand, to question and explore, to learn, to make sense of, or to decide to accept on faith. The Episcopal Church does not expect anyone to accept teachings simply because the priest or someone else in authority says so. The Bible says to work out your own salvation (see below). It is indeed up to the individual to seek out and understand what their faith means for their lives.

Rector

Reformation
The Reformation was a period during the early Renaissance in which there was upheaval in Europe and in Britain concerning the political and theological (see below) practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It was a time of great division in the Church, a time of much bloodshed as well. But from it came new life -- things like worship services in the peoples' language rather than in Latin -- which very few people understood; offering everyone the wine in the Eucharist (see above) rather than the bread alone; a new energy in the lay people (see above) to grow in their understanding of faith and of what God's plan of salvation (see below) was for them.

Reserve Sacrament

This is the portion of bread and wine which has been consecrated, or blessed, during the Eucharistic Prayer (see above) and is set aside in the aumbry (see above) for use in lay eucharistic ministry. Because these elements of bread and wine now contain the spiritual attributes of the Body and Blood of Christ (see above) they are to be used rather than thrown away. The Reserve Sacrament is also used in what's called a Deacon's (see above) Mass. A deacon cannot pray the Eucharistic Prayer over the bread and wine, but may celebrate a shortened version of the Eucharist (see above) by using the Reserve Sacrament.

Resurrection
This one-time event accomplished three days after Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was buried, is now a universal event for all Christians. Resurrection (re.zur.rek'.shun) means coming into a new life. When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning, the physical, flesh-and-bone, fully human Jesus Christ who had been born and died, was spiritually and physically new. The Episcopal Church teaches that when we are baptized, we die to this world and are re-born, or given resurrection and new life. Thus, we don't need to be afraid to die physically, for we know on the other side our God is waiting for us in a new and exciting way. We also know that when painful, sad, hurtful, horrible things happen in our lives, God is waiting with a resurrection for us. It may be in this life. It may be in the next. But we know that resurrection is there.

Sacrament
A sacrament is a holy act, in which God works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit (see above). The Episcopal Church has two Gospel (see above) (or commanded by Jesus in the Gospels) sacraments. They are Baptism and Holy Communion. (See above for both.) A sacrament involves physical, outward signs and spiritual, inward blessings. In baptism, for instance, the physical, outward sign is water. Among the spiritual, inward blessings is new life and entrance in the eternal Church. In Holy Communion, the outward and visible signs are the bread and wine. The inward, spiritual blessings are forgiveness (see above) of sins (see below), strengthening of our faith and a preview of the banquet God has waiting for us in heaven (see above). 

There are lesser sacraments, called sacramental rites (confirmation, holy matrimony, ordination, confession and prayers for healing) which are not commanded by Christ in any of the Gospel stories, yet they have been practiced by the Church throughout the centuries. Here is an example of where Tradition (see below) comes in as a foundation of faith for the Episcopal Church. Each has outward, visible signs and inward, spiritual blessings. See The Catechism for an explanation of each.

Salvation
Literally, the word salvation means wholeness, healing to wholeness. The salvation plan God has for us is that we are forgiven (see above) of our sins (see below) and made new again, to love God and each other in a more perfect way. This plan of salvation culminated in the death, burial and resurrection (see above) of Jesus Christ (see above). When we are baptized, we take on that wholeness God intends for us to live in. As Christians, we want others, our friends and loved ones, to live in that wholeness as well. We also reach out to strangers to meet their needs with God's help, be it hunger, poverty and want, or loneliness, so that we may honor God by providing what we can for those in need, thus sharing God's love for them in tangible ways.

Second Coming
The Bible says that Jesus Christ will come a second time (the first time was at his birth, celebrated at Christmas), at which time everyone will recognize him as Lord and God. This may be a difficult teaching to understand. Episcopalians generally realize we don't know when that will be, nor do we know exactly what it will be like. We simply do not want to be so complacent that should it come in our lifetime, we are unready to greet him and celebrate his return. That is why we are constantly encouraged to be faithful in daily prayer and meditation, to focus on serving God and serving God's people, so that we can in fact celebrate Jesus' coming in our hearts daily.

Sermon This is a short (at Christ Church, about 12 minutes) talk on the theme of one of the Bible readings of the day -- usually the Gospel (see above) reading. The point of the sermon is to make us think about what the passage is saying to us today, about how we can better live out our faith in what we do and what we say, in how we love ourselves and others. The sermon is normally delivered by a priest or deacon, but can be delivered by a lay person (see above) designated by the Rector (see above).

Scriptures
This is another term for the Bible (see above). You may hear references to "sacred scriptures" and "holy scripture," because Episcopalians believe God was at work in those who carried on the oral traditions, wrote them down, transcribed and translated them. The Episcopal Church recognizes the Apocrypha (books of the Catholic Bible, but not used in most Reformation Churches -- Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.) as extra-canonical. In other words, these books are helpful in understanding God and what it means to live a Godly life, but are used sparingly in worship.

Sign of the Cross
This is the physical action one takes at several points during the service and in daily life, according to personal preference. In the service, it is used at the opening sentence, the "resurrection" phrase of the Nicene Creed, the pronouncement of the forgiveness (see above) of sin (see below), the Sanctus' line "Blessèd is he who comes in the Name of the Lord," prior to and after receiving Communion, and at the final blessing (benediction). 

Sins
A sin is a failure to obey God's commandments. In the Gospel stories, Jesus Christ says that the greatest commandment is to love God will all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. The Bible teaches, and we all know from first-hand experience, that no human being is without sin. Jesus Christ, however, being fully human, did perfectly obey God's commandments even though he was daily tempted not to. The Episcopal Church does not want to focus on sin, so much as on forgiveness (see above) and on praying for grace (see above) to make the right choices. As Christians, we are forgiven and free to live an abundant life of joy in that forgiveness. Joy then translates as love for self and for others.

Son
This is the reference to Jesus Christ (see above) as the Son of God. The Catechism says that Jesus, the Son of God, "is the only perfect image of the Father, and shows us the nature of God." We can look to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospels (see above) for examples of how we can love God and love our neighbors as ourselves.

Spiritual
We live in a hectic world, full of demands and pressures, and it's so difficult to center ourselves or find true peace. Perhaps that's what it is to be on a spiritual journey -- to learn day by day what it means to find that peace in your life. For the Christian, knowing that peace is knowing God, and to understand God according to what Jesus Christ and other Church leaders have taught us about God. A spiritual understanding is an inner, sometimes unexplainable thing -- combining personality, intellect, past experience and the personal experience of God at work in one's life. 

Theology
This is the study of God. What an undertaking! Yet Christians are about that task every day. Reading and meditating on the Bible (see above) is one tool to grow in an understanding of God. Another is to gather with other Christians in worship, for there are things God teaches us in a community setting that we cannot learn alone. At Christ Church we have several small groups which gather regularly. The relationships which develop in a small group are another unique way in which God is at work within us to help us understand. We know we will never fully understand God, yet there is true joy, comfort and challenge in working at it day by day.

Tradition
This is the second of the three-pronged foundation of faith in the Episcopal Church. The others are Scripture (see above) and Reason (see above). Tradition involves the teachings and practices of the ages (not necessarily "this is the way we've always done it here and this is the way we're always going to do it!" That's not Tradition. That's stubbornness.), including the understanding of worship, the importance of devotion to prayer and Bible-reading, the commitment to love God and our neighbors, the way the Sacraments (see above) are carried out in an orderly and Godly manner. 

Tradition does not mean, however, that we automatically accept the understanding of the scriptures that was prevalent in another century, that was based on their culture and context; it does not mean that we take the Bible literally, word for word, as having come directly from God rather than having come from God through the limited mind and understanding of human beings; and tradition does not mean that we do not change our worship materials from time to time, or struggle with issues set before us in which we can meet the needs of the worshiping community.

Usher
The ushers will greet you at the main entrance of Christ Church and hand you a bulletin (see above). Their task is to help the congregation (see above) find a seat, have the materials necessary to worship, move them about in an order manner for Communion. At Christ Church you are not "ushered out." In other words, at the end of the service you are free to move about. The priests and deacon will be at the back of the worship space to greet you. You will also notice an usher walking slowly up the side aisle of the church. They are counting all who are in attendance.

Vestry
This is the name of the governing body of the parish. The Vestry is led by the Senior Warden (also called the Rector's Warden) and the Junior Warden (also called the People's Warden). You may think of the Vestry as the Board of Directors for the congregation. Commission (see above) chairs report to the Vestry on a monthly basis. The Treasurer also reports to the Vestry. Our website contains pages to read Vestry meeting minutes, meet Vestry members and direct questions and comments to the Wardens.

Via Media
This is one of the few Latin terms you'll ever hear in the Episcopal Church! During the reign of Queen Elizabeth the First in England, there was great upheaval between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. There had been years of power struggles, of destruction of sacred property, of bloodshed and religious persecutions. Finally, it had to come to an end so that the people could be at peace once again. That's where the Via Media comes in. It literally means "The Middle Way." This is the great compromise in which the English Church decided that individuals were free to believe what they wanted, but they would worship together using one format. That was the beginning of the first Book of Common Prayer (see above). It was also the beginning of the mindset of peacemaking which is so prevalent in the Episcopal Church. We uphold the individual's right to their beliefs, while they in turn respect the rights of others; yet we worship together as one body. 

Worship Community
This is the term we use for the congregation (see above) which is present for a worship service (see below). In a broader sense, the entire parish is a worshiping community, because whether in the building or away, all are part of the Body of Christ and members together in that Body.

Worship Service
Whether on a Saturday, Sunday (morning and sometimes in the afternoon) or mid-week (Wednesday morning), Christ Church has many opportunities to "attend church." For those who are in the hospital or homebound, a service is brought to them, for the Bible says that "where two or more are gathered in [the Name of Jesus], there [he] is in the midst of them." The Episcopal Church encourages people to attend worship often, as there are opportunities to be strengthened in faith and to grow for that next leg of the spiritual journey that cannot be had on one's own. Attending worship is truly a service to God and to each other.