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VISION STATEMENT
Episcopal Church of the Ascension is an inclusive, diverse and welcoming community dedicated to proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ through celebration of the Anglican tradition of liturgy, music, fellowship and outreach. We are committed to expanding the awareness of God's presence in the lives of everyone. We seek to reach out to all in our neighboring community with missions that witness to and celebrate our ever-growing faith in Jesus Christ. We hope to become a light revealing to the world that diversity within Christ's Body deepens our experience of God and enriches our Christian Journey.
Anglicans
trace their Christian roots to the early Church, and their
Anglican identity to the Church of England and other Episcopal (or
Anglican) Churches. In the 17th century and beyond, Anglicanism
was established during colonization in the
United States, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Asia and Latin America. The
Anglican Communion has over 70 million members in 161 countries.
Anglicans speak many languages and come from different races and
cultures. The churches are autonomous, but they are also unified
through history, theology, worship and their relationship to the
ancient See of Canterbury. Anglicans uphold the Catholic and
Apostolic faith. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the
Churches are committed to proclaiming the good news of the Gospel
to all creation, through Holy Scripture and the Catholic creeds,
and is interpreted in light of Christian tradition, scholarship,
reason and experience.
By baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a person is made one with Christ and received into the fellowship of the Church. This sacrament is open to children as well as to adults. Central to worship for Anglicans is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, also called the Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper or the Mass. In this offering of prayer and praise, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are recalled through the proclamation of the word and the celebration of the sacrament. Other important rites, commonly called sacraments, include confirmation, holy orders, reconciliation, marriage and anointing of the sick. |
