Christ Church is part of the Diocese of Connecticut, one of 120 dioceses in the Episcopal Church in the United States. We are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion which traces its roots back through the Church of England to the Apostles.
First is the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, written by humans but inspired by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Old and New testaments of the bible contain the essence of Christian teaching and help us to know God's will, revealed supremely through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Second, members of the Episcopal Church use Reason to explore and comprehend God's works and to penetrate the full depths of God's truth. The Church does not control interpretation and practice. instead, it offers the guidance of the Scriptures with help of the clergy and the Christian community, tempered by response to sincere prayer.
Third, our Tradition expresses the way the corporate community has developed through the centuries under guidance of the Holy Spirit. Through tradition we share the experiences of Christians of every era and preserve the prayers, liturgical practices, and music which has sustained the faith over time. Tradition is the persistent, public expression of faith which not only preserves the faith but actively transmits it. Tradition lets us celebrate the essential truth of Scripture as tested and affirmed with continuity and consistency.
We summarize our faith through Creeds which we share with all Christendom. The Apostles' Creed comes from the second century Church in Rome and the Nicene Creed was developed by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD to clarify Church doctrine.
We believe that God is three persons. God the Father is the infinite, good, omnipotent creator. God the Son, Jesus, is the joyous union of God and human being. His life, death and resurrection set us free from bondage to sin and death. God the Holy Spirit is the power of God moving within us and empowering us with His gifts in mysterious and unexpected ways.
Worship is our corporate, joyous response to God's love. It is an expression of our hope for salvation, a chance to praise God and receive strength and forgiveness, and a way to share our faith and lives with other believers. We worship in accordance with the Book of Common Prayer. The large print in the book is the actual service. The rubrics, or directions for the service, are found in the smaller print. Generally, we stand to sing. We sit to listen to the Word of God when it is read and preached ( except that we stand for the Gospel ). We kneel, sit or stand to pray - all of which are historical ways to offer prayer.
All baptized persons may become members and all confirmed adults are voting members. If you are coming from another Episcopal Church, we will request a transfer from your former church. If you come from another Christian tradition or do not have a previous church affiliation, we will direct you as to the appropriate steps. For information about church membership or any of the activities offered by the church, contact the church office at 734-2715.
All Christians are called to ministry through their baptism and each person within the community is called to contribute to the corporate life. The Vestry and council structure at Christ Church provides a broad-based people resource allowing effective integration of the multitude of talents found in the parish.
Vestry members are elected to a three year term by the confirmed members of Christ Church at the annual meeting in January. The Vestry is responsible for overseeing matters of finance and ensuring that the physical plant is maintained. The Senior Warden, appointed by the vicar, heads the Vestry. The junior Warden is responsible for maintainence of building and grounds.
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