Q: What is the Book of Common Prayer? A: The Book of Common Prayer, or the BCP as we lovingly call it, is the official book of worship of the Episcopal Church. While the Bible contains the Word of God, or as the official church glossary defines it: “Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and …
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Q: What is Christian Formation? What is Godly Play? A: The Episcopal Church explains that formation is “lifelong growth in the knowledge, service, and love of God as followers of Christ…informed by Scripture, Tradition, and Reason.” (Source) That is to say, it’s not just Sunday School, though children’s Sunday morning lessons are part of it for …
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Q: What is a Canon? A: “Canon” has a variety of meanings in the Episcopal Church, with one being especially salient during General Convention. Canon law is the list of rules by which the church is guided and governed, and national canons are changed by a meeting of the whole church at General Convention. This …
Q: What is a Children’s Sermon? Wait, what’s a Sermon? A: Children’s sermons emphasize animating the essential messages of scripture through appealing to human senses, rather than the more typical intellectual appeal in general sermon. During children’s sermons at St. Francis, all children are invited to come to the front of the sanctuary and sit …
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Q: What is Sacrament from the Reserve? A: Sacrament from the Reserve is administration of communion by a deacon to a congregation when a priest is unavailable, using consecrated bread and wine. It is customary to keep the consecrated elements in a tabernacle or an aumbry or covered with a veil on a table or altar. A lamp …
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Q: What is General Convention? A: The national legislative body of the Episcopal Church. It consists of a House of Bishops, which includes all active and retired bishops, and a House of Deputies, which includes four lay persons and four clergy from each diocese, each area mission, and the Convocation of the American Churches in …
Q: What is a collect? A: Pronounced “KAHL’-ekt,” a collect is “a short prayer that ‘collects’ the silent prayers of the people and consists of an invocation, a petition, and an ascription of glory to God. The collect of the day immediately precedes the reading of the lessons in the Liturgy of the Word in …
Q: What is a “narthex?” Is that just Missouri-speak for “northex” the same way “forty-four” is pronounced “farty-far?” A: Narthex is an architectural term and is indeed correct! It is not a Missourization of “northex.” Narthex: An entry space, foyer, or anteroom of a church between the door and the nave. The term is from …
Q: What is an Anthem? A: In the secular world, an anthem is associated with identity, often either national or collegiate. We hear the national anthems of world-class athletes during the Olympics and our own anthem at the beginning of big events. But in the liturgical world, an anthem is Choral setting of sacred vocal …
Q: What is the Meal Care Ministry? How can I help? How can I get help? A: In coordination with our Pastoral Care Team, the Meal Care Ministry provides meals to members in St. Francis’ community. This could be during or after an illness or significant life event. The Ministry Team coordinates who needs meals and …
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