What is the Episcopal Church?

St. Anne’s is affiliated with the The Episcopal Church In The United States.

The Episcopal Church finds its roots in the Church Of England, and is thus a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. During the sixteenth century, the Church of England, under Henry VIII, broke ties with the Church of Rome. From that time, except for the reign of Mary, the Church of England has been established as a separate communion from Rome. We still consider ourselves as part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church as affirmed in the Nicene Creed, but we find our authority in scripture, tradition, and reason, rather than in the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Episcopal Church in the United States is divided into geographical areas called a diocese. Each diocese is overseen by at least one bishop. Within each diocese there are missions (small churches that rely on diocesan support) and parishes (self sustaining congregations).

St. Anne's Episcopal Church is a parish in the Diocese of Fond Du Lac, which is one of three dioceses in Wisconsin and covers the northeastern third of the state. The others are headquartered in Milwaukee and Eau Claire.

A glossary of Episcopal and Anglican terms

Some of the following are common to other Christian denominations. Some are specific to the Episcopal Church and its rich history and roots in the Church of England.

Acolytes - Laypersons (often young people aged 11-18) who assist in a variety of ways in worship processions and at the altar along with clergy and lay eucharistic ministers (LEMs).

Altar Guild - A group of laypersons who are charged with the care and cleaning of all that goes on the altar (bread, wine, cloths, chalices, etc.) and with the decoration of the church (flowers, candles, vestments, etc.).

Anglican - simply means English; a term indicating the English origins of the Episcopal Church. Sometimes seen in the expressions Anglican Church or Anglican Communion—both of which terms simply indicate any national church which derives from the Church of England.

Apostles Creed - The ancient baptismal confession of the Church.

Archbishop of Canterbury - the presiding bishop of the Church of England; sometimes acknowledged by American Episcopalians as the honorary spiritual head of the entire Anglican Communion.

Bishop - A successor of the apostles; the chief pastor of a diocese.

Book of Common Prayer (BCP) - Originally published by the Church of England in 1549, it is the collection of liturgies authorized for use in the Anglican/Episcopal Church. In the Episcopal tradition, we employ "liturgical prayer" instead of making up our own, as a sign of the truth that worship is common to the people and belongs not to an individual, but to the entire faith community. Nearly all services in any Episcopal Church will be printed in this book. See http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/ for more information.

Chalice - The large, often silver cup from which the wine is served during the Eucharist.

Collect - A brief prayer that “collects” or sums up the petitions of the people.

Communion (or Holy Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper) - The Christian sacramental meal, the Eucharist.

Confirmation - A mature public affirmation of the faith and commitment to the responsibilities of one's Baptismal vows, and, the laying on of hands by the bishop (see BCP, 412ff.); Sacramental act whereby, through the laying on of hands by a bishop, the strengthening gifts of the Holy Spirit are bestowed on those affirming their commitment to Christ made in Baptism.

Creed - A statement of the basic tenets of Christian faith that is said in unison by the congregation and clergy.

Crucifer - a person in a religious procession who bears the cross and who leads the procession into the church.

Deacon - An ordained minister whose voluntary ministry focuses on the bridge between the church and the wider world. In the liturgy, the deacon's main functions at the Eucharist are to read the Gospel, (in some churches to lead the Prayers of the People), prepare the gifts at the Offertory, assist with the administration of Communion, help with the ablutions, and dismiss the people.

Diocese - A geographical designation of a collection of Episcopal parishes under the direction and guidance of a bishop.

Episcopal - Of or pertaining to a bishop; we are called Episcopal because we have bishops.

Epistle - Generally, a letter, and for Christians those books of the New Testament such as Ephesians, Thessalonians, Colossians, etc., that were written as letters to congregations to encourage and shape them in their faith.

Eucharist - Also known as Holy Eucharist or Holy Communion; the sacrament of the blessing and partaking of the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection and his ongoing presence at work among us. “Eucharist” literally means thanksgiving.

Godly Play - The experiential Sunday School curriculum that is used at many Episcopal churches.

Homily - A short sermon.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) - Members of the congregation who are trained to assist at the altar as Chalice Bearers, and to carry consecrated sacraments from the Eucharist to homebound parishioners.

Lector / Reader - A person who reads one of the lessons (selected readings from the Old and New Testament) during Sunday services.

Liturgical Year - The cycle of seasons of the church year, including, in order, Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost (see specific definitions of each one).

Liturgy - The set words of the service. From the Greek, meaning "the work of the people."

Maundy Thursday - An evening service before Easter that commemorates the last supper of Christ and his disciples.

Morning Prayer - a morning worship service without communion; now this service has generally been replaced by a eucharistic or communion service.

Narthex - The entrance hall of the building, also known as the foyer.

Nicene Creed - A doctrinal confession of the basic tenets of the Christian faith formulated by a council of bishops in response to doctrinal controversies in the 4th century.

Open communion - Anyone of any age who seeks God may take communion, compared to some other traditions that mandate that one be of a certain age or status in order to receive communion.

The Prayers of the People - A series of intercessory prayers on behalf of the church, the world, family and friends, those who have died.  An intercessor leads the prayers and members of the congregation offer their own as well.

Presiding Bishop - The elected episcopal head of the Episcopal Church in America; the chief administrator and spiritual head.

Priest - A person called to serve and minister to a congregation as its practical and spiritual leader, who is ordained by the Episcopal church and authorized to perform sacred rites and rituals. Only a priest (or Bishop) can celebrate the Eucharist. In the Episcopal faith, both men and women may be ordained priests. Priests are also allowed to be married.

Rector - The priest in charge of a parish.

Rite I and Rite II - Rite I and Rite II are two forms of liturgy for celebrating Holy Communion.  Rite I is a more pentential liturgy similar to that found in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (the latest version before the 1979 revisions).  Rite II is a more contemporary form created for the 1979 revision, in use at St. Ann’s.

Sacrament - A sacred rite such as Eucharist, marriage, or baptism.

Sexton - The word "Sexton" is believed to be derived from Latin for "someone who looks after the sacred objects.” It is the Anglican term for the staff member in charge of church maintenance.

Shrove Tuesday - The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. To be "shriven" of your sins is to confess and be absolved. A pancake and porkie dinner has been a tradition at St. Anne’s and other Episcopal parishes; it is said to derive from the habit of using up fat and fattening foods before the Lenten season.

Vestments - The outer robes and capes that clergy wear and whose colors follow the seasons of the church year. White is the color for major festivals such as Christmas, Easter and All Saints Day; red is the color of Palm Sunday, Pentecost, and the Feasts of Martyrs; green is the color for "Ordinary Time," such as Epiphany; and purple is the color of Advent and Lent, although blue is common in Advent as well and unbleached linen is acceptable for Lent.

Vestry - At St. Anne’s, 11 members of the congregation who have been elected to serve with the rector as the governing board of the parish.

Vicar - A vicar is the priest in charge of a parish or mission that is supported financially from the outside, while a rector is the priest in charge of a self-supporting church.

Wafer - the bread part of the Lord's Supper; often an unleavened, thin cracker; sometimes the wafer is imprinted with a cross; some wafers are large, being several inches in diameter.

Warden, Junior - One of two vestry members chosen to serve the parish in a special capacity. The tasks for a junior warden vary from parish to parish, but often involve buildings and grounds.

Warden, Senior - The other of two vestry members chosen to serve the parish in a special capacity.  Although the duties vary widely due to local canons, or by-laws, in most cases the Senior Warden is viewed as the "top" elected lay person in a parish.

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Sacraments of the Episcopal faith at St. Anne’s

A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace or favor. It is important to note that this grace, or favor, is grounded in God’s love for all people and all creation. We do not earn God’s grace, it is simply the case that God loves us.

We believe that sacraments are not simply symbols, but signs that are used by God as a means to communicate grace and life to the world.

Baptism - Baptism is the sacrament by which we receive adoption as children of God, made members of Christ’s body, the Church, and made heirs of the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed.

Eucharist - Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is the sacrament commanded by Jesus for the continual remembrance of his life, death and resurrection. It is a communal meal where we are nourished with the life of God and empowered and invited to serve the world in sacrificial love. Eucharist comes from the Greek word, “eucharisteo” which means “To give thanks.”

Many in our parish are new to the Episcopal Church and are not exactly sure how to receive communion according to the Anglican tradition. As in many things in our tradition, there are few absolutes. The most important thing for us to remember, however, is that we are receiving the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, not a wafer and a sip of wine.

The communion rail in our church is designed for kneeling, and that is one of the postures that is appropriate for receiving communion. Kneeling implies devotion and humility. Standing, however, is not necessarily discouraged, though. What if an infirmity makes kneeling difficult? Then by all means, stand. Standing to receive communion also has precedent in the ancient church.

When the priest, deacon, or lay eucharistic minister distributes the body of Christ, there are really only two good options for receiving. One is to place one hand on top of the other with palms up so that the bottom hand is supporting the top hand. Keeping your hands level ensures that the host stays where it is placed and also makes it easier for the minister to present the host to the communicant in a dignified manner. Receiving the host in this manner communicates our attitude toward the sacrament in a symbolic way. By allowing the minister to place the host in our hand while we wait prayerfully, speaks of receiving a gift. The second way of receiving the host is simply to open one’s mouth, allowing the minister to place the host gently on the tongue.

If, for some reason, the person coming to the altar railing does not wish to receive communion, but would like a blessing, simply cross your arms across your chest with a hand on each shoulder. This would also be the posture to choose when the chalice is presented if you do not wish to receive from the cup.

After the communicant has received the body of Christ, there is the option of receiving the blood of Christ from the chalice. It is important to note that it is not necessary to receive both the body and the blood to have a full and complete communion. If you receive only in one kind, either the host or the cup, it is a full communion.

Receiving from the chalice can be awkward, but doesn’t need to be. Some active cooperation from the communicant is welcome and helps the chalice bearer. Keeping your head level or slightly tilted back, allows the chalice bearer to see clearly where the chalice is to be presented. The communicant can also take a gentle hold of the base of the chalice with fore finger and thumb and help guide the chalice to the lips. The communicant can also use the other hand to help control the tilt of the chalice as it is being administered. This takes a little practice. The chalice bearers are instructed not to allow the chalice to leave their grasp, so don’t try to take control from the chalice bearer, simply try to provide some gentle guidance.

Intinction is the practice of having the host partially immersed in the chalice so that the consecrated wine touches the host. The first and most highly recommended way to intinct, and the way in which our Bishop suggests, is to leave the host on the palm after receiving it, and allow the chalice bearer to take it from you, intinct the host in the chalice, and then place it on the tongue of the communicant. Chalice bearers will also allow you to intinct the host yourself, but please be very gentle and careful. It is not necessary to fully immerse it. Parents may assist younger children in the process by guiding their hands.

As for children receiving communion before the age of first-communion instruction, it has been the general practice in the Episcopal Church that baptized children of any age may receive communion. It remains the parent’s determination, of course, and the child will receive a blessing in lieu of the sacrament if that is what the parent indicates. But if a child is at the altar railing and begins to show a desire to receive communion like their parent or siblings, and the parent or guardian does not intercede, the child will receive the host.

Reconciliation - Reconciliation is the sacrament of healing and forgiveness. When we depart from the will of God in serious ways, people are hurt and our relationships are injured, not just with each other, but with God as well. Reconciliation takes seriously the implications of all our thoughts, words or deeds and calls us to live lives that bring life and light to the world. When we fail to be faithful to the Spirit, God extends to us the grace of forgiveness as we seek to amend our ways. Reconciliation is the sacrament whereby we acknowledge our difficulties in fidelity and receive God’s assurance and grace to continue striving to live in love toward God and our neighbor.

The Rite of Reconciliation - Episcopalians are not bound to make a “confession.” We are bound, however, to seek to lead a life free from sin, and, as it asks in our baptismal covenant, “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” (BCP p.304). We are not dictated as to how that repentance should look ritually. It could be at the Eucharist during the general confession, it could be in your room in the quiet of a sleepless night, it could be to a loving friend or spouse.

However, the rite of reconciliation — the act of confessing one’s sins to a priest or bishop, and receiving the gift of absolution — is a full sacrament in the Episcopal faith. To allow a priest to pronounce God’s forgiveness in unequivocal terms is a gift that will be of tremendous spiritual benefit to any soul who is earnestly seeking to respond to the call of Jesus.

If you would like to review the rite, there are two in the prayer book. They are on p.447 and 449. As it says on p.446, “The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken.”

Confirmation - Confirmation is the sacrament whereby a mature and informed decision to follow Christ is made. We receive grace and the empowerment of the Spirit to live lives that are courageous and generous toward God and all people. At St. Anne’s, confirmation classes are available to students of high school age through the Youth Ministry. Confirmation ceremonies, with an annual visit by the bishop, typically takes place annually in late spring for those who have fulfilled the prescribed course.

Holy Matrimony - Christian marriage is a solem and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the Canons of this Church.

A priest or a bishop normally presides at the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, because such ministers alone have the function of pronouncing the nuptial blessing, and of celebrating the Holy Eucharist.” (Book of Common Prayer p. 422)

If you would like to be married at St. Anne’s, one of the parties must be a member, or have significant family ties to the parish. It has been past practice to require that the couple engage in a course of pre-marital counseling.

Ordination - Ordination is the sacrament whereby the Church recognizes the gifting of certain individuals by God for special service to the world and the Church. We recognize three ordained orders within the Church: Bishops, Priests and Deacons.

Annointing of the Sick - Unction, or anointing of the sick is a sacrament that brings healing to body, mind and spirit. It is administered during a special service, or whenever the need is apparent. Blessed oil is used to anoint an individual, and the minister prays for God’s healing grace.

Rite of Christian Burial - The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief un-Christian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.

A funeral in the Episcopal tradition has basically two alternatives made up of various elements. The individual or family may choose to have a funeral service that is composed of just the Burial Office. This means that there would be no Eucharist or Holy Communion incorporated into the service. The Burial Office is composed of hymns/psalms, readings from Holy Scripture, prayers for the family and deceased, and a commendation that takes place in the church. Following the service in the church, there is a short service at the grave side called The Committal.

The second option includes all the elements of the first, but has a Eucharist or Holy Communion service incorporated into the funeral. This is the most meaningful alternative for a person whose life has been lived within the Church and is recommended as the norm when planning a Christian burial. The Eucharistic service proclaims powerfully the victory of Christ over death and the assurance of eternal life. It is also the pinnacle of Christian worship, offering hope and the sacramental presence of Christ at a time when we need to be especially aware that life has "changed, not ended."

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