the Beliefs of sAINT mATTHEW’S AND THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Our Mission is simple: We want to grow as God’s Family by providing meaningful and varied worship services, adult and youth Christian Education, and Christian outreach into the broader community.
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The Episcopal Church stands in unity with nearly every Christian tradition on the basics of our shared faith: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.” The Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed contain a summary of our faith. Worship at Saint Matthew’s follows the 1979 Book of Common Prayer which you can find in our pews or access online. The Episcopal Church is unique in that it retains the ancient traditions of Christianity while embracing modern theology and contemporary understandings of the human person. The Episcopal Church today is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a diverse association of churches that make up the largest protestant denomination in the world.
The Episcopal service is broken into two main parts. The Liturgy of the Word and the Holy Eucharist. The liturgy focuses on different prayers and the confession along with the lectionary or Bible scriptures. Our liturgy follows a three year cycle meaning if you attend church every Sunday for three years you will have read 99 percent of the Bible. The Eucharist also known as Communion or the Great Thanksgiving is the act of consecrating and giving and then receiving bread and wine according to Christ’s command.
ABOUT THE LECTIONARY
The Sunday Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2024, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2023 was Year A.
The Bible translation used is The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission. The readings have been emended to provide context and clarity for public reading in conformance with the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer.
The collects and the Psalms are from the Book of Common Prayer. The collects use the contemporary wording.
Sacraments of the gospel
The Great Sacraments of the Gospel: Baptism and Eucharist, are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace. Grace is God’s favor toward us, unearned and undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens our minds, stirs our hearts and strengthens our wills.
Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church and inheritors of the kingdom of God. We at Saint Matthew’s take our baptismal covenant seriously - we firmly believe in the importance of this sacrament in the lives of families and individuals.
We offer this sacrament to our current congregation members and their immediate family. What does that mean for you? It means that, if you have been attending Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church regularly for at least four months and are actively involved in giving of your time, talent and treasure, then you or your family member would be eligible for baptism at Saint Matthew’s.
The intent of this policy is to keep and uphold the sanctity of the promises made by our congregation during the liturgy, which asks the entire congregation to make solemn promises to the newly baptized and their family to uphold and sustain them on their Christian journey.
Saint Matthew's offers Baptism at least five times a year. Traditionally these are the Feast of the Holy Name, the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints Day and often the Feast of Saint Matthew.
We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Those looking to receive a mature commitment to Christ may be interested in our youth or adult confirmation class.
More information on Baptism in the Episcopal church may be found on page 858 in the Catechism in the Book of Common Prayer.
Holy Eucharist
The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament commanded by Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death and resurrection, until his coming again. In the Episcopal Church we live into the theology that Baptism is full initiation into the Body of Christ and therefore part of the extended family that is the Church. This means that once you are baptized, you are able to receive Communion. We do offer an optional children's Communion class for those looking to feel more comfortable with the practice of receiving Communion. Adults looking for further education are encouraged to consider our confirmation or Episcopal 101 classes.
The Eucharist is the Church’s sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present. Christ’s body and blood are present in the sacrament of the Eucharist and received by faith.
Additional information may be found in the Catechism, page 859 in the Book of Common Prayer
Other Sacramental rites
These differ from the two great sacraments of the Gospel because they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are, though still means of grace.
Confirmation
Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop.
In keeping with the Episcopal tradition of confirming one's faith in community with other believers, Saint Matthew's offers confirmation and inquirer's classes throughout the year where Fr. Colville explains confirmation and answer questions you ask about everything else. All sessions are held in the SMEC Chapel. Each class is complete in itself, but different questions will lead to different information shared.
Ordination
Several parishioners of Saint Matthew’s have embarked on the path to ordination over the years. Please contact us for more information if this is your future path and walk with Christ.
Marriage
We are an open and welcoming community of people at Saint Matthew’s, and we welcome all into our parish family! We believe in the sacredness of marriage between two consenting adults. We offer the sacrament of the blessing of a marriage to our current congregation members. We are required by National and Diocesan Canon Law to conduct pre-marital counseling sessions in advance of any marriage service.
If you are interested in discussing the church blessing of your marriage and what that means in your life, please follow the link below and Fr. Colville will be in contact with you.
Reconciliation of Penance
This is more commonly known as confession. This is the rite which those who repent of their sins may confess them to God in the presence of a priest and receive forgiveness. The confession occurs every Sunday during our Sunday service both in person and online.
Unction of the Sick
We love lifting you up in prayer. The first Sunday of each month we offer laying on of hands following each service.
Additionally, simply call or email Debby to be added to our prayer list or request a pastoral visit.
480-899-7386
