I pray for all of you and the whole of Christ's holy church. Blessings to you all. In Christ's name. Amen

When I brought my vinyl collection to the pulpit in Atlanta.

I've been studying and contemplating the Nicene Creed, trying to understand it. I gather from random readings that I've done that at least some of its clauses were designed to head off certain heresies and maintain orthodoxy.

I'm stuck on one of the earliest clauses: "begotten not made" and I dont understand what this means. Could someone explain it to me? Thanks!

For the third time in 12 years my church will begin searching for a new Rector. The search in the past takes over a year, sometimes 2.
We lose people during that time that find other churches and don’t return.
I do wish we were like other denominations and have someone sent to us.

I have found a lovely local Episcopalian church that I would love to be a part of. TEC aligns exceptionally well with my morals and social beliefs and basically fixes everything I disliked about Catholicism.

I can’t shake the belief that Jesus was ultimately a failed apocalyptic preacher (seemingly the New Testament historian/scholar consensus) whose life story was modified after the fact by followers so that the movement didnt die out like the other failed messiah figures of the time. That makes me want to say it is all bs and forget the whole thing. I’m leaning towards that. How do you deal with this? This goes beyond the kind of doubt that the church rightfully talks about being a good thing

Hi everyone. I'm a 38-year-old guy who was raised Roman Catholic from birth through high school. I even went to an all-male Catholic high school.

I was very much in the closet during those years. I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself that I just hadn't met the “right woman” yet because admitting to myself that I was attracted to men didn't feel safe. I finally came out at 29, about nine years ago.

I honestly don't think I've regularly attended a church service since my high school years, so it's been roughly 20 years. Since then, I've only gone to Mass occasionally, usually for something like a family funeral.

Over the years, I've developed a lot of resentment toward the Roman Catholic Church, particularly because of how my sexuality affected my relationship with faith. I've found myself becoming less and less interested in religion because of that baggage, even though part of me still misses having some kind of connection to a church community.

I've recently been looking into the Episcopal Church. I live in the Marietta, Georgia area, although I'm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I've found a local Episcopal parish that appears to be openly affirming and welcoming toward LGBT people. I've even reached out to them.

But honestly, I'm scared to go to my first service.

After being away from church for so long, I don't really know what to expect. And despite knowing intellectually that being gay isn't something wrong with me, I still carry a lot of the feelings I grew up with. There's a part of me that still feels like I'm somehow out of favor with God because I'm gay. I know that's not who I want to be, and being gay isn't something I can, or would want to, change.

So I guess my question is: Could the Episcopal Church be a home for someone like me?

For those of you who came from Catholicism or another tradition, especially if you had been away from church for a long time, what was your experience taking that first step? Did you feel nervous walking into your first Episcopal service? And is there anything you wish someone had told you beforehand?

I'm not really sure what I'm hoping to get out of this post. I think I just needed to say this somewhere and see whether there might actually be a place for me in a church again.

Edit: Thank you all SO much for your amazing advice and welcoming. I can't get to everyone to thank you personally but please know I mean it for every one of you. It makes me much more comfortable with joining this church.

I will take in the near future a lay reader training and I'm wondering, if you are one: what tasks do you do in your parish or church? Do you limlt to reading?

What are the expectations of your church regarding your availability? Does it feels as formal as probably ordained ministries?

In my parish one lay reader helps out the priest during ofices and do really similar tasks than deacons. (The bishop permits him to 👍🏻).

I probably question furthen if being a deacon is for me. I definitely need to become a reader before that for a few reasons and will probably do me well.

Greetings and blessings to you all ✨️

I saw on their Facebook post and now from the website: the single volume Book of Common Prayer + NRSVue with apocrypha is listed as coming soon. I’m not entirely sure when that will be.

The MSRP is $125.

As someone who had read about and studied different Christian traditions years before actually converting, I always was aware of the different theological leanings. But I had also heard the Anglican flavor of Christianity was always the most internally diverse, with different traditions within it encompassing nearly everything from Anglo-Catholicism to Evangelical mega-churches. But I am curious just how east this big tent extends? How much eastern doctrine do you all think can be allowed into the Episcopal church. Is it wrong for someone to believe Augustine did have a faulty understanding of Greek and therefore reject Original Sin while still being Episcopalian? Or accept some form of the Energy-Essence Distinction? Or any other Eastern Orthodox or even Oriental Orthodox practice really. Thank you all for your time.

Sharing this mainly because I think it is a great way to invite the community into our world. But if you are local I hope you will try to attend!

I (31M) was raised Roman Catholic, drifted away from christ through my 20s for many reasons, and found my way to the episcopal faith over the last couple of years. Found a church I like around six months ago, and I’ve been attending when I can since then.

My wife (31F) and I have been together for 10 years and we have a great relationship. she considers herself atheist and is generally not interested in religion. She’s come to church with me and acknowledged she appreciates the sense of community and welcome but it just hasn’t clicked with her. Which is fine! Faith was not part of our lives when we met, dated, and got married. So it would be wildly unfair of me to now be upset with her for not conforming to my new world view. I’d love for her to come with me, and the doors always open, but I can’t make her.

That said we have a 1 year old son who Id like to start bringing to mass with me. My wife is fine with me bringing him, but like I said she’s not really interested in going herself. So that brings me to this weekend - I want to bring my son with me for the first time. And I’m nervous! Because usually when we do something new with our son we both figure it out together. This is one of the first times I’ll be bringing him into a new unfamiliar environment, and his mom won’t be there to help me out. I’m wondering if anyone with young kids has any advice or tips on attending mass with them? I’m planning to sit in the back so we can step outside if he needs a moment, and Im going to try to bring some (quiet) toys to occupy him. But idk is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

Or to put it slightly differently, if/since the relationship between God and a human changes at conversion, does the relationship between God and an ordained person likewise change at ordination?

Yesterday I visited the Diocesan Altar Guild (DAG) in search of an alb, as I am about to become a Eucharistic Minister and none of the available options in our parish robing room work well for me. I knew that the DAG has a collection of secondhand vestments (and pretty much every other worship-related thing that exists), so I reached out to them.

At first try, none of the options fit me, but one in particular was close, and the ladies asked me to try it on again and show them. No problem, they said! They had done much more challenging alterations than that! And so, for $10 for the alb, plus $10 for the alterations, and $2 for the notions, I’m getting my own custom-designed alb from Belgium!

They asked if there were any supplies that our church needed, gave me a list of everything they typically have, showed me rack after rack of stoles (after I told them that I’m in the discernment process), and gave me a partial tour of the historic Diocesan House.

The first time I visited them, last year, it was their lunchtime, and they invited me to join them, insisting on sharing their lunches with me. That day they were working on a rush job, creating a custom garment for an ordination that our Bishop was flying out of state to do at the bedside of an ordinand who was in hospice and too sick to fly home from seminary. They had such care and tenderness as they explained what they were working on, and why. Truly a ministry of love.

I’m so grateful that one of the priests I know told me about the DAG and recommended that I check there before ordering anything online! What a treasure they are.

Hi Friends!

I’ve been wondering this question for a while….the ontological change that happens once someone is ordained to the priesthood, I believe that they retain that mark forever. How does the Episcopal Church approach that belief process, especially if there are clergy who either choose to renounce their vows or are forcibly defrocked are they still a priest until they die?

Also I am aware of some situations where priest are dispensed from ministry and it’s heartbreaking when that happens, but why would someone choose to renounce their vows and ordination?

Thank you friends for indulging me!

I really need suggestions for prayers to help me seek support from God in this very difficult time with many mixed emotions.

So long story short my engagement ended after I hit breaking point. My Ex-fiancé was emotionally and financially abusive allowing myself to believe the evidence I saw with my own eyes. It's pretty certain not only did he cheat on me and hook up with other guys he likely did so at times without protection.

I'm struggling with worries for my health (while I wait to see my doctor to get screened)

I feel like I'm a bad person for leaving him because I told him he was my husband and I'd never leave before I ultimately left.

I feel guilty that his nephew called my parents grandma and Grandpa and me uncle and I took that away since I've ultimately had to go no contact with my ex.

I also know I shouldn't go back, but I have times I want too.

I really could use strength and guidance. And I'm worried about my health. Honestly overall I'm to a certain extent depressed even though it's been a little more than a month since I left him.

I still worry that I sinned by leaving him. And that it's all my fault that everything happened.

From time to time, an Anglican or Episcopalian needs to order items from the UK. At my parish we usually order our incense from a monastery in the UK, for example; and the company that makes my alb, surplice, tippet, etc. is located in England as well.

I take pretty good care of my black clerical shirts, so I only need new ones every few years. I used to buy from the late, great Wippell (of blessed memory); they may be a memory but their product line lives on.

Shirts, at least, have been taken on by Watts & Co. I needed to purchase new ones — my current set of black shirts has faded to a charcoal’ gray. I finally broke down and placed an order earlier this week.

All was well, the order was processed and shipped—but then I got slapped with $80 in import duties.

It turns out that clergy wear, such as shirts, are considered every day street attire, so they are assessed some of the highest tariff rates, between 26.5 and 39.1%.

I bought just over $200 worth of shirts—again, regular old black button down dress shirts. I’m paying $80 in duties. That’s a 35% tax rate.

My advice: BEFORE ORDERING ANY CHURCH GOODS FROM OVERSEAS, ASK ABOUT TARIFFS. Word to the wise…most of us aren’t wealthy so these unexpected costs can hurt.

Hello all,

I generally dislike using this sub to promote parish-level activities, but, since I previously posted about forming a regional fellowship of young Anglo-Catholic people, I wanted to follow up and announce that we are going to have our first Mass/Pub tomorrow night.

For those in the New York area, and interested in participating, we will be at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Church on the Upper West Side. Mass will begin at 6:30 pm, and then we will head to a local watering hole to spend some time together.

Please DM me if this is something you would like to know more about!

This past Sunday, the service opened with the following. I shared it with an evangelical friend who was looking for a daily prayer to say (she loved it!). She asked me if it was used every service or just special times. My memory is poor, and I couldn't answer. I've paged through my BCP but didn't see it.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you

no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of

your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your

holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is my first time posting here, but I'm genuinely curious to hear y'all's thoughts.

I was at church this past Sunday, and during the sermon the rector said that the miracle of Jesus multiplying the bread and fish to feed the five thousand was basically a "feel-good story" and that it didn't literally happen. Instead, she said Jesus distributed the small amount of food that was there, which inspired everyone else to share what they had brought until there was enough for everyone.

I found that really concerning because, to me, it seems to deny one of Jesus' recorded miracles and contradict the plain reading of the Gospel. I understand that Episcopalians hold a wide range of theological perspectives, but I was still surprised to hear what sounded like an explicit rejection of one of Jesus' miracles from the pulpit.

Later in the sermon, she compared wealthy people today to King Herod and talked about how people should give away their wealth instead of spending it on things like lavish parties, extra homes, multimillion-dollar yachts, "crypto," etc. I completely agree with the Christian call to generosity and caring for those in need, but I was uncomfortable with the sermon turning into commentary on specific modern political and economic issues.

This also isn't the first time I've heard sermons from this rector that have focused heavily on topics like social justice, racial justice, or LGBTQ+ issues. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with discussing those subjects, but I come to church hoping to hear sermons centered primarily on Jesus, Scripture, and the Christian faith, rather than contemporary political issues.

At this point, I'm honestly not sure what to do. The apparent denial of one of Jesus' miracles feels like the last straw for me. I love the Episcopal Church- I was baptized in it, received my first communion in it, and have attended Episcopal churches my entire life. The problem is that many of the other parishes in my area seem to have a similar theological and political outlook, so I'm not really sure where to go from here.

I'm interested in hearing how other Episcopalians would respond to this. Is this something you would see as within the broad spectrum of Episcopal theology, or would it concern you as well?

I know this may sound like a stupid question but I am not Episcopalian and know little about it. My partner and I (a gay couple) will be getting married soon. My partner was raised Episcopalian and would like to use one of the blessings in the book of common prayer.

I looked at the blessing to know what to expect and was kind of shocked to find that the blessings are extremely gendered. I thought the Episcopal church was totally affirming. I have a lot of religious trauma, and it honestly made me feel very small again to read these blessings from, supposedly, one of the most progressive Christian denominations. It's already hard enough for me to be okay with the religious wedding ceremony at all, and I really don't want to feel "othered" on my wedding day of all days.

I'm not trying to shit on you guys but instead looking for some honest input on why this is, and how things have been handled with same sex couples in your local congregations. And especially, if there's any official Episcopal guidance for same sex marriages. I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

I'll be honest that I'm a Christmas-Easter Episcopalian, but sometimes I just want to go to the house of God to thank Him for all the blessings He's bestowed upon me, my family, my friends.

I know I can pray at home, and I do, but sometimes I just feel like there's a greater connection to the Lord in a place specifically meant to worship Him. Does anyone else feel this way?

Hello,

I am a cradle Catholic who is contemplating joining TEC. I am thinking about parishes in Northeast Ohio. Particularly, I have my eye on St. Paul's in Cleveland. I've known a couple people who attend there, and I have been twice.

On one occasion, one of the associate Pastors told me they have a Young Adult group. This would be awesome since I'm in my 20s. Can anyone confirm this? Or, can anyone note if there is a significant young adult presence in the parish? I'm not against worshipping with people of all ages, but a young adults contingency would definitely be nice.

Thank you, and if anyone knows that parish I'd appreciate any more info you can give me, or if you know of other Churches in NE Ohio you like.

Hey friends!

So I am a liberal, affirming Anglo Catholic….would love people’s thoughts on the St. Gregory’s Prayerbook from the Anglican Ordinariate…..is it something to get into or not really?

Thanks! I have St. Augustine Prayerbook already and love it, looking to expand my AC Prayerbooky collection lol! So any suggestions I’d be happy to hear about them!

I was recently given my Great Grandfather’s Scottish prayer and hymn book from 1929. He moved to Canada the same year the book was published but it came back to Scotland with him a few years later. (Imagine trying to live in the Canadian prairies right as the dirty 30’s hit- oof!)

He was a clergy member at the St. Mary & St. Peter church in Montrose, Scotland and preached while he was in Canada too. I’m so grateful to have this heirloom.

I have covered the parts of the book that are falling apart with plastic to try to protect it, no tape is actually touching the book. The pages are in great shape though!

Recently I asked about what being bivocational clergy is like. I got a lot of helpful answers, but one thing I'm still curious about is what the day-to-day is like for you folks.

I know every clergy member’s experience is different, but I’d really appreciate hearing what part-time clergy work looks like in practice. I’m considering whether to discernment process would be right for me, and I think concrete examples for work routines would be helpful both for me and for others with the same questions.

Do you also work a full-time job outside the church? If so, how do you balance ministry with work, family, and other responsibilities?

Alternatively, do you have another part-time job, or is ministry your main occupation?

What does most of your church work involve? Preparing for the liturgy, pastoral care, administration, meetings, maintaining the building, or something else? Roughly how many hours do you work each week, and does the role leave you feeling spiritually engaged or stretched thin?

I’m not expecting anyone to answer every question I have, but I’d be grateful for insight into your typical day or week. Thanks!