Beliefs

As Episcopalians and members of All Saints,’ we believe first and foremost in God, who loves us all no matter who we are, and where we are on a spiritual journey.   We have a number of core beliefs that unite us together as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement.

The Bible

Our faith and its’ practice are centered in the Bible, or the Scriptures, which we believe to be the Word of God, “… our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, and containing all things necessary for salvation.” The Scriptures are the primary authority and guide for our faith and the way we live our lives.

The Book of Common Prayer

In addition to the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer is a primary symbol of our unity, consisting of devotional and teaching resources for us individually and communally. It is our “guide to worship and devotion,” for it “frames our worship life, our faith and belief, and our daily relationship with God.” Two-thirds of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from both the Old and New Testaments.

The Creeds

“The Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God.” In openly declaring the two major statements of our faith — the Apostles’ Creed used at Baptism, and the Nicene Creed used at the Eucharist (communion), we affirm our belief in the one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who created, redeemed, and sanctifies us, respectively.

An Outline of Faith

The “Catechism,” in our Book of Common Prayer, is an outline or summary of our Christian faith which can be used to instruct others in the faith. The Question and Answer form of the Catechism is helpful for those who have questions about the Christian faith or are new to the faith.

The Sacraments

Our Book of Common Prayer tells us that Sacraments are “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ…”. We understand Baptism and Holy Communion to be the primary sacraments in our journey of faith, while recognizing five other sacraments – Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Ordination and Unction – as additional spiritual aspects to living out our faith journey.

Our Purpose

We believe that our purpose as a Church is demonstrated in five areas: