Making First Visit To Episcopal Church Tomorrow

[jturpin4]

Hey everyone at STR! I am making my first visit to the Episcopal Church tomorrow! About a month or two ago, I visited the Catholic church with my friend and really enjoyed the service, but I don't really agree on the Papacy. Tomorrow is my first visit to the Episcopal Church and I am really excited and nervous as well. Is there any recommendations that you, as Episcopalians, can give me? Would you recommend Rite I (8 am) or Rite II (10 am)? I recently talked to the priest (I think they are priests) and he said that the Rite I has no music and shorter attendance and usually older people. Can you tell me what I should and shouldn't do in the Episcopal Church?(communion, etc.) If you want to join the church, do you go through a "catechumen" stage like the Catholics? How long does that usually last? Thank you all and I look forward to replying after my church visit!

[pmcleanj]

Unless you are truly committed to Elizabethan english, go to the Rite II service at 10:00. You're right, we do have priests (we also have ministers who aren't priests, but with any luck people will keep things simple for you until you've at least had a chance to worship with us once.

Have you been baptized? Baptism is the rite of initiation into the life of the church. It doesn't have to be an Episcopalian baptism. Just any Christian baptism with water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If you have, then you're already part of the church and can be a full member, including taking communion, right away.

If you aren't baptized, you generally should not take communion and will need to go through a catechumen stage of some sort to receive instruction and be baptized. The time for baptism classes varies; count on about three months but it could be more or less.

If you are baptized but not confirmed, you may receive confirmation as part of being received into the Episcopal church. If you are baptized and confirmed, but still want a formal ceremony of reception into the church, there is a "reaffirmation and reception" service that can be used in place of baptism and confirmation.

Most of all, though, come and enjoy sharing this time of worship with God and fellow believers! Welcome to the Episcopal church.

[karen freeinchristman]

Tomorrow is my first visit to the Episcopal Church and I am really excited and nervous as well.

:) Very best wishes to you! Let us know how it goes.

[Lel]

Best wishes and enjoy the service!

Just to note, pmcleanj certainly gave the proper actions for Episcopalianism in general, but there are variations. There are some more liberal dioceses, such as the one I was affiliated with for some time, where they allow anyone to partake of communion and baptize and confirm in the space of a few weeks. I found out quickly that many of the suggestions given here were good ideas, but were rather moot to my parish search as the parishes around here were quite different.

By the way, I loved the Rite I service, even though it was no music and older people and Elizabethan English. But that's also because I like ancient-style quiet services.

[Colabomb]

Best wishes and enjoy the service!

Just to note, pmcleanj certainly gave the proper actions for Episcopalianism in general, but there are variations. There are some more liberal dioceses, such as the one I was affiliated with for some time, where they allow anyone to partake of communion and baptize and confirm in the space of a few weeks. I found out quickly that many of the suggestions given here were good ideas, but were rather moot to my parish search as the parishes around here were quite different.

By the way, I loved the Rite I service, even though it was no music and older people and Elizabethan English. But that's also because I like ancient-style quiet services.
Me too.

I like a simple no frills 1928 BCP.

[gtsecc]

Rite 1 doesn't mean "no music" - you just happened to find a parish which does Rite 1 at 8AM with out music.

8 AM doesn't mean "no music" either, but it is commmon for parishes to hold an early service with no music.

My parish for example, only does Rite 1.
No Music at 8.
Full Choir at 10.