CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY
"This is what God’s kingdom looks like: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry and they said yes. And there’s always room for more.” - Rachel Held Evans
WHAT WE BELIEVE
A church without walls because Love knows no barriers
We seek, name and celebrate God's boundless love and invite everyone to More. We strive to become good news to our neighbors, specifically through companionship, collaboration and interactive worship.
Epiphany is an Episcopal Church, which is the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our beliefs are best stated in the Nicene Creed (see below) and the Baptismal Covenant. In the Baptismal Covenant, we promise, with God's help, to:
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Continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers
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Persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord
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Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ
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Seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves
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Strive for justice and peace among all, people, and respect the dignity of every human being
We use the Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Common Lectionary, and we observe the traditional liturgical seasons.
A few of our inspirations...
As we pray, worship and proclaim the Good News together, we also seek out our neighbors with whom we may promote justice, peace and love, no matter our differences.
In the process, we become a church that’s trying to be good news to those around and within, a laboratory of the future church, a community of humble collaboration with our neighbors.
"In the essentials, unity; In non-essentials, liberty; In all things, love"
- Written in 1617 AD by Archbishop of Split (Spalato) Marco Antonio de Dominis
The Nicene Creed (c. 381 AD)
(See more here)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
All Are Welcome
We consider Christ the center of everything. Christ commands us to "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:26-28). We don't choose our neighbors, and that means we don't choose who we love, we must love everyone who comes to us as Christ loves them: unconditionally and totally. We think God's Unconditional Love is more important than the societal divides imposed on us, whether in politics, gender, sexuality, economics and the like. Regardless of faith journey or commitment, regardless of where you are on politics or on the sexuality or gender spectrum, we will make room for you here. It doesn't mean we agree on everything, but it does mean we will respect and care for each other.