At various places in our website, you may see a curious link like this: (what's a "baptismal covenant"?)
We Episcopalians like to use strange words sometimes. You may be wondering what a "baptismal covenant" or a "mitre" is. We answer those curious questions here. Click a term at left to read its definition.
BAPTISMAL COVENANT
Our baptismal covenant is a promise we make to God that outlines how we strive to live our lives as Christians. It is a gauge by which we measure how we are living our Christian life and faith. We renew and reaffirm this promise from time to time as Episcopalians, especially when we participate in the sacramental rite of Confirmation when we commit to living our life as Christ taught us. [top]
EPISCOPAL
"Episcopal" comes from the Greek word episcopos that means, very simply, bishop. So to say we are "Episcopal" then, means to say we recognize the authority and spiritual leadership of bishops. The Episcopal Church is divided into governing regions called dioceses, each with at least one bishop. Within each diocese, there are many congregations, each led by a priest. The bishop of a diocese may be assisted by a deacon assigned to assist a particular congregation for a time. Each congregation is governed by a vestry made up of laity (the "people in the pews"). Bishops are elected by priests, deacons and laity; priests are called by the laity after a vestry vote. [top]
LITURGICAL SEASONS
Advent: The first church season of the Christian church year that starts at the fourth Sunday before Christmas and runs through Christmas Eve. The word means "coming," and is appropriately a time of expectation and reflection on the gifts God has given each of us in our lives and His ultimate gift, His son, Jesus.
Christmas: The second season of the Christian year that runs from Christmas Day, December 25, through January 5. This is the season during which we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Epiphany: The second church season of the Christian year that starts on January 6. This season reflects on the occasion of God being revealed to the world in the person of Jesus Christ, lasting until Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
Lent: Lent, a word that actually means "Spring," refers to the 40-day period immediately before Easter when Christians prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, ending when Holy Week begins. This is a time of self-examination, prayer, fasting and self-denial. Christians typically engage in additional reading and meditation on God's holy Word during this time of spiritual reflection. Historically, Lent was a period of preparation for Baptism, although baptisms are now celebrated throughout the church year.
Holy Week: This solemn week focuses on Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), the celebration of the Last Supper and his arrest (Maundy Thursday), and finally, his death on the cross (Good Friday).
Easter: The day of our Lord's Resurrection from the dead. Allelujah! Easter actually starts at sundown on Saturday after Good Friday and lasts 50-days. During the 50-day period immediately following Jesus' death and resurrection, He appeared to many and the apostles gathered together in the Upper Room.
Pentecost: On this "fiftieth day," the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and they began speaking in the tongues of the various peoples of the world. This is considered the birth of the Christian Church and the start of its mission to the world. The day of Pentecost is also known as "Whitsunday."
Season after Pentecost: This season focuses on the ways the Church fulfills the Great Commission, calling Christians to grow in discipleship and spread the Good News. This is the longest season of the liturgical year, running from May until the beginning of Advent. [top]
NICENE CREED
Our statement of belief, found on Page 358 of the Book of Common Prayer. Our prayer book contains all of our services, for individuals and groups, for all occasions marking the celebrations of life from baptism to burial. It contains many, many prayers and the catechism, or outline of our faith. [top]
VESTMENTS
Mitre: Distinctive hat by the bishop on ceremonial occasions, symbolic of his/her office.
Staff: The staff carried by the bishop is symbolic of his role as a shepherd of the faithful.
Alb: Long-sleeved tunic, from the Latin tunica alba. Alba means white, so these tunics are white or off-white. Albs were typical street clothing in ancient days, and are worn today by clergy and laity serving on the altar to cover the street clothing of those wearing them and to conform to the practices of the ancient church.
Chasuble: An ornate circular garment with a hole for the head, worn by clergy only during the Eucharistic service. It is the descendent of a first-century unisex coat. The chasuble is always worn with a stole.
Stole: Originally, stoles were like long kerchiefs worn to wipe sweat or clean a table upon one was about to eat. Clergy would wear a stole when preparing the altar for services, and over time they became ceremonial clergy vestments. [top]
VESTRY
The vestry is comprised of lay people ("the people in the pews") who are elected by the congregation to govern the local church by making fiscal decisions, planning programs and calling clergy. [top]
VIA MEDIA
We strive to emulate Jesus Christ. We affirm the Nicene Creed as our statement of belief. We believe the Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation. We believe that all who have been duly baptized with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit are Christians, regardless of what church they were baptised in. All baptised Christians are welcome to receive Communion at our table. We acknowledge that Holy Scripture must be understood within the context of its origins and traditions of interpretation, as well as with the mediation of reason and the Holy Spirit. [top]
VICAR
There are different types of congregations. One, a mission, is one that is partially supported by the diocese. The priest in charge of a mission is a vicar, the diocesan bishop is the rector, and the vicar represents the bishop. The term is derived from the Latin vicarius, "substitute." A parish not partially supported by the diocese is considered independent, and the priest in charge is called a rector. [top]
CATHOLIC & PROTESTANT
We are catholic (little 'c') in that we are members of Christ's one church. We are protestant in that we do not recognize the universal authority of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). The Episcopal Church is a province of the Anglican Communion, a loose federation of 39 mostly geographic provinces who all recognize the Archbishop of Canterbury as our spiritual leader. [top]
