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Thank you for visiting! We are enriched by your presence with us, online but especially in person. As you continue your journey, please remember Saint Andrew’s as a place of rest, restoration, and reunion with your Creator. And please know that, above all, you are welcome here.
 Saint Andrew’s is a parish in the Diocese of West Missouri, one of 110 dioceses that make up the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
The Episcopal Church is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with 70 million members in 164 countries. We are a community of Christians bound together by our belief that Holy Scripture contains the very core of all Christian faith. Through the many ancient, as well as modern, stories that connect us to Jesus and his teachings, we discover daily God’s hope and call to us in our life together.
We live out these core beliefs through:
 • worship and church programs
• seeking God’s love together in study and prayer
• reaching out to the community
• sharing our story with others
• giving of our means and talents to the greater purposes
of God’s work
 The Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer includes a variety of ancient and modern prayers and worship services for occasions when the whole community gathers or for individual use. The Book of Common Prayer allows everyone to participate, reminding us that each person is an important part of the worship experience, whether the service is a joyful celebration or a solemn occasion. It is a guidebook for daily Christian living.
It might seem odd to label our prayers to God as “common.” But in this case, “common” means anything but ordinary. Instead, by “common,” we mean that these are the prayers we say together, or “in common,” when we worship as a community.
Our Book of Common Prayer, last revised in 1979, was originally compiled by Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer in 1549. Today, Anglican churches in countries around the globe each use a Book of Common Prayer in their own languages, reflecting the ethnic and cultural diversity of the larger Church.
Celebrating God’s Presence
In our worship, we celebrate God’s presence with us through water, bread, and wine.
Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that through water we are united with God. We call this Baptism. The Episcopal Church believes that we become brothers and sisters in God’s family through baptism in any Christian denomination.
Jesus shared bread and wine with his first followers and is with us today in this family meal we share known as Holy Eucharist. Through it, we receive the forgiveness of our sins and a strengthening of our union with God and one another as we remember Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Any baptized person is welcome and encouraged to share in this meal.
Our Beliefs
We believe there is one God who – as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – creates all things, redeems us from sin and death, and renews us as the children of God. As Episcopalians, we renounce sin and evil, and we promise to follow Jesus Christ alone as our Savior and Lord. We believe the mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. This is why the Church exists.
A more complete outline of the faith as understood in the Episcopal Church can be found on pages 845-862 of The Book of Common Prayer.
The Sacraments: Experiencing God
In the Episcopal Church, we take part in certain regular acts of worship. These are called sacraments, outward and visible signs of God’s inward and spiritual grace. The two primary sacraments are Baptism and Eucharist. Other sacraments include Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent, Unction (anointing for healing), and Ordination.
We believe that God is actively present in the world and in us. In the sacraments, we come to know God’s presence and favor toward us. Through the sacraments, which are freely given to us by God, our sins are forgiven, our minds are enlightened, our hearts are stirred, and our wills are strengthened. These sacraments are contained in the liturgies found in The Book of Common Prayer.
Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament by which we, God’s children, are made members of Christ’s Body, the universal Church. At baptism, we publicly renounce Satan, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, just as new Christians have done since the earliest days of the Church. We are baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and we are welcomed officially into the fellowship of believers, our Church family. In the Episcopal Church, a person can be baptized only once.
As the means of incorporating people into the Body of Christ, baptism is also the rite by which people are admitted to Holy Communion. It is appropriate that baptisms take place during a celebration of the Eucharist at which the Body of Christ, represented by a worshipping community, is present. The policy of Saint Andrew’s that baptisms must be public reflects the parish’s commitment to these teachings of the Church.
Holy Eucharist
Holy Eucharist is the re-enactment of the Last Supper of bread and wine that Jesus shared with his disciples before his death on the cross. Jesus commanded that his followers celebrate this meal for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection, until he comes again. When we do, we receive forgiveness of our sins, strengthening of our union with Christ and each other, and a foretaste of the banquet of the Kingdom of Heaven. In various traditions, the Eucharist is also known as Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Mass, or the Divine Liturgy. All baptized people are welcome to share in this holy meal of Christ’s body and blood.
Confirmation
In confirmation, a baptized person who has been instructed in the Christian faith makes a mature, public commitment to Jesus as Lord; renews his or her baptismal promises; and is commissioned for ministry by the laying on of hands from a bishop.
Holy Matrimony
Holy matrimony is Christian marriage, in which a woman and a man enter into a lifelong union by making their promises before God in a worship service, where they also receive God’s grace and blessing to help them fulfill their vows. For more information on premarital preparation and weddings at Saint Andrew’s, click here.
Reconciliation of a Penitent
While private confession of sins is not a requirement in the Episcopal Church, anyone may request the sacrament of reconciliation and receive the assurance of God’s forgiveness. Confessions are always made in private and kept in the strictest confidence.
Unction
Unction is the act of laying on hands or anointing with holy oil for those who desire God’s grace for healing of all kinds – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Ordination
Ordination is the sacrament whereby God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit to those who have discerned a call to the ministry of deacon, priest, or bishop. The service always includes the laying on of hands by a bishop.
Cornerstones of Faith:
Scripture, Tradition, and Reason
In the Episcopal Church, we consider the cornerstones of our faith to be Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.
Scripture
Scripture is the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The 39 books of the Old Testament contain the story of God’s love from the time of creation to the period just before the birth of God’s son, Jesus Christ. The books contain God’s laws as given to the Hebrew people. The 27 books of the New Testament contain Christ’s teachings, the accounts of his life as told by his followers, and writings from the beginning of the Church. Within an Episcopal worship service, Scripture is read in the lessons, the Gospel (the teachings of Jesus), the Psalms (poems from the Old Testament), and other prayers. About two-thirds of The Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Old and New Testaments.
Tradition
We are not Christians in isolation but are part of a living faith that spans 2,000 years. Tradition is the embodiment of our experience as Christians throughout the centuries. The heart of our tradition is expressed through the Bible, the Creeds (statements of faith, written in the first centuries of the Church’s existence), the Sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist, and the ordained ministry commissioned by Christ for his Church. Our tradition is expressed with many voices, among which are a variety of worship styles, languages, cultures, architecture, and music. Our tradition encourages this diversity. We seek to value the life and story each person brings to the community of faith. As in a multi-textured tapestry, each person’s offering is woven into the life of the whole, making it stronger and more beautiful.
Reason
All of us, with God’s help, make decisions about how we use Scripture and tradition in our lives. A personal relationship with God allows us to realize God’s purposes for us and to celebrate the gift of our lives. The gift of reason, as a complement to Scripture and tradition, leads us to seek answers to our own questions and to grow spiritually. When we approach God with faith seeking understanding, it strengthens our faith and enables us to grow as children of God.
The Creeds: A Summary of Faith
The word “Creed” comes from the Latin word credo, which means, “I believe.” In the Episcopal Church, we say both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed in our worship. Because we are a community of faith, we openly declare our beliefs and in this way unite ourselves to Christians past, present, and future.
The Apostles’ Creed dates from the early years of Christianity and was used as a statement of faith at baptism. The Apostles’ Creed is included in the daily offices of Morning and Evening Prayer, which may be used both in public worship and private devotions. Here is the text of this creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
The Nicene Creed was written in the year 325 by early bishops meeting in Nicaea (in modern-day Turkey). It summarizes the Christian faith and is said in unison during Holy Eucharist. Here is the text of the Nicene Creed:
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.
Do we have to believe everything in the creeds? A relationship with God is a personal journey and also one we share with others in this community of faith. The creeds clearly state the beliefs of the Church, and we recite them as we join with those around us in the process of discovering our own relationship with God. So it’s not easy to answer this question with “yes” or “no.” What is most important is that we take part with fellow seekers in the lifelong journey of faith.
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These notes provide an introduction to the following week's readings, drawing on a range of contemporary religion scholarship including the Jesus Seminar. They are prepared by the Revd Dr Gregory Jenks, an Australian Anglican priest and religion scholar, and published by the FaithFutures Foundation. To receive these notes direct to your own email address free of charge, simply email the Foundation and identify yourself as part of our Parish group subscription. More information and sample copies are also available from the Foundation's web site. |
Doubts or questions?
It’s not unusual to have doubts and questions when considering something as awesome as your relationship with the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of the universe. In the Episcopal Church, we encourage questions. There are many groups, classes, and forums available where you can discuss questions with other seekers. The clergy of Saint Andrew’s are eager to help you find the answers you need. To contact one of our clergy, simply click his/her name below:
Father Fred Mann
Father John Spicer
Mother Anne Hutcherson
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