WHAT IS AN ANGLICAN?

Anglican worship is defined by two commitments: To the authority of the Holy Scripture (the Word of God) and to the Holy Sacraments. Together Word and Sacrament point us to Jesus Christ and, in doing so, work to shape us into a faithful Christ-centered community.

The way we express this worship is known as the Liturgy. The framework of the Anglican worship experience is defined by the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-nine Articles – both of which point back to the authority of the Holy Bible and articulate foundational principles of the Anglican belief and practice throughout the world.

Far from empty ritualism, Anglican worship involves the active participation of the whole person: our mind, body, and soul. Everything you will see and experience in a service – the prayers, the symbols, and the actions – all invite us to share in the good news of God’s salvation found in Jesus Christ. The reading and teaching of the Holy Scriptures (the ministry of the Word) prepare us for the culmination of our service, which is the receiving of Holy Communion (also referred to as "the Lord's Supper") - the Body and Blood of Christ.

Sources: 
- To Be A Christian, An Anglican Catechism  (by the Anglican Church in America Catechesis Task Force)
- The Anglican Communion   anglicancommunion.org
- Anglican Church in North America   anglicanchurch.net
- GAFCON   gafcon.org
- International Diocese   idio.net 

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the Apostle Paul wrote:

‘All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’

Paul was making it clear to his young protégé that although written by men, the words in Scripture do not originate from the human heart.  Rather, they were inspired and directed by God’s Holy Spirit and written down for our understanding.  Since God is sovereign and incapable of error, so is His Word. It contains the key principles and teaching for mankind to be fully ‘equipped’ to know and follow God’s perfect will.

Although God has given humans many ways to discern matters of faith (such as the historical witness of the church) we believe that Scripture is the higher, ultimate authority - and the unchangable standard for the Christian life.  It is the final court of appeal for doctrine because it is His revealed will. All the foundational documents of Anglicanism, the Thirty-Nine Articles, The Book of Common Prayer and the sermons we preach are founded upon on this supreme authority.

Sources:
- To Be A Christian, An Anglican Catechism  (by the Anglican Church in America Catechesis Task Force)
- The Anglican Communion   anglicancommunion.org
- Anglican Church in North America   anglicanchurch.net
- GAFCON   gafcon.org
- International Diocese   idio.net

In the Gospel of Luke (chapter 22, verses 15-19-20), Jesus shared the final Passover meal with his disciples just hours before His death.

And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Also known as The Lord’s Supper or Holy Eucharist, Holy Communion is one of two sacraments that Jesus commanded His Church to practice after His departure (the other being Holy Baptism). A sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. God gives us the sign as a means whereby we receive that grace, and as a tangible assurance that we do in fact receive it. In the Lord’s Supper or Holy Eucharist, we hear the Law read, hear God’s good news of forgiveness, recall our baptismal promises, have our faith renewed, and receive grace to follow Jesus in the ways of God’s Laws and in the works of his Commandments.

At the culmination of an Anglican service, all baptized Christians are invited to come forward and receive the bread and wine, distributed by the clergy.

Sources:
- To Be A Christian, An Anglican Catechism  (by the Anglican Church in America Catechesis Task Force)
- The Anglican Communion   anglicancommunion.org
- Anglican Church in North America   anglicanchurch.net
- GAFCON   gafcon.org
- International Diocese   idio.net

The Anglican Catechism is a helpful text for articulating our beliefs.  It says:

You need to be clear from the beginning that God creates human beings for intimacy with himself; but no one naturally fulfills this purpose. We are all out of step with God. In Bible language, we are sinners, guilty before God and separated from him. Life in Christ is, first and foremost, God taking loving action to remedy a dire situation...

God the Father calls us to himself through God the Son. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). As we come to the Father through Jesus Christ, we experience the unconditional and transforming love of God...

It is (therefore) by grace that we are saved.  God wants to reconcile you to himself, to free you from captivity to sin, to fill you with knowledge of him, to make you a citizen of his Kingdom, and to enable you to worship, serve, and glorify him now and forever. (1 John 5:11-12; 1 Corinthians 5:19; Ephesians 2:19; 3:19; Colossians 1:9)

Sources:
- To Be A Christian, An Anglican Catechism  (by the Anglican Church in America Catechesis Task Force)
- The Anglican Communion   anglicancommunion.org
- Anglican Church in North America   anglicanchurch.net
- GAFCON   gafcon.org
- International Diocese   idio.net