St. Martin of Tours Welcomes You

“We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.” Every Sunday, our worship services include readings from the Bible along with passages from the Book of Common Prayer. Every week, we recite the Nicene Creed, which offers a foundation for our beliefs.

 

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. Amen.



Sacraments

Our Anglican tradition recognizes sacraments as “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace.” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 857) Holy Baptism and the Eucharist (or Holy Communion) are the two great sacraments given by Christ to his Church.

  • Baptism: spiritual birth into Christ’s mystical body through water. You are baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; and sealed as Christ’s own for ever.

  • Holy Eucharist or Communion: as you partake of the bread and wine, you remember Christ’s death and resurrection. You embody Christ and go forth, following in his footsteps.

  • Confirmation: the adult affirmation of baptismal vows.

  • Reconciliation of a Penitent: private confession.

  • Matrimony: Christian marriage.

  • Orders: ordination to the diaconate, priesthood, or episcopacy.

  • Unction: anointing those who are sick or dying with holy oil.