Reformed Episcopal Church Puns

There are many Calvinists in the Church of England and other provinces like Australia.

Where can I find a decently priced print copy of the latest Reformed Episcopal Church USA Book of Common Prayer? I found the PDFs but would like a physical copy of the book. Thanks

Any reason why an evangelical or traditionalist should remain in the Episcopal Church and not leave and go to the ACNA or other group?

I currently live in the US, but I'm considering moving to Canada for a job. Does anyone know what the big differences between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada might be?

Is the 1962 BCP the equivalent to the 1979 BCP? How much is SSM still an active fight in the Canadian Church? What does the Canadian church look like from an ethnic + cultural diversity perspective? Are there other differences that might be surprising?

If it's helpful, I'm in the Diocese of Massachusetts now, and I'd be looking at Vancouver / Diocese of New Westminster. Thanks!!

Hello, Ive finally gathered the courage to go to my local episcopal church this sunday , I was born into the church of christ but was shunned for coming out as a lesbian and liberal . Its been a few years now and I have a bit of anxiety entering churches now , I dont want to make an idiot of myself what do I wear? Where should I sit ? What can I expect a service to look like ? I really would be thankful for any encouragement or insight!

I’m just curious about the churches relationship to Calvinism and if there’s Calvinists within the church.

Hello all,

I went to St. Marks Episcopal Church in Columbus today, and I absolutely loved it. Idk, I just felt completely welcome, and the Sanctuary (it's called something else but I am not sure what) was beautiful, and the music was beautiful, it was like nothing I'd really experienced before. I grew up with rock band contemporary Christian music, and it was never really my thing. Idk, the choir and hymns felt so much more real and authentic. I felt closer to God there than I had felt for years. And the Reverend was really wonderful, she was very welcoming and answered all of my questions.

I grew up fundamentalist baptist, and then went to an evangelical church that is basically a cult, I can always go into that another time if people are interested. I stopped believing in God and became a pagan for 4 years. It felt empty, like my rites meant nothing, now I know that I was missing God, and I was looking for Him in all the wrong places. I came out as transgender and my aforementioned baptist family responded very hatefully. And while I have reconciled with some of them, it further drove me away from Christ.

I just wanted to talk about it with someone. I've felt spiritually empty, and now that I have found God again in TEC, I just can't wait to go back next Sunday. I'd love to talk with people, so feel free to reach out.

Thank you for reading. :)

A thought occurred to me just now.

If I've read one thread like this, I've read hundreds. Namely, the posts by inquirers worried that they are going to be judged, are going to be rejected, are going to be ignored when they walk in our doors. That they cannot ask questions, have doubts, or simply can't talk to the person in the next pew over. Or pick up the phone and call the rector.

The common theme in all these? There's an apparent lack of trust, one that has been gained from their past experiences in other churches.

Which leads to my question. How have other denominations so damaged their followers? How have they cowed or outright abused their flocks so that simple acts of inquiry, fellowship, and moving towards God are so intimidating? Where is the freedom that comes in our love of Christ? And why isn't that being taught throughout Christianity?

I don't know if there's an answer to this question. All I know is that we seem to be a body of people who have fled other traditions that apparently do not act in love and support.

Thoughts?

When I dabbled in Catholicism it was nice that I was able to go to mass any day of the week I wanted, either at my home church or any other church.

At least in New England, daily mass doesn’t seem like much of a thing in the Episcopal Church.

Can anyone relate? Can I do anything else to help “fill” this void so to speak?

Went to the Episcopal church again today, even though I desperately did not want to get out of bed so early, and I enjoyed it much more this time than last. I'm not entirely sure why, since the service was pretty much exactly the same, but I connected with the sermon better and wasn't as bothered by the scripted prayers. There was still no communion because they don't have a permanent priest, but next week they'll have a visiting priest and he'll do communion, so i'm excited about that. There was also an announcement about the possibility of getting a part-time priest who would be there on Sundays and feast days, which will be good because it will mean no more sermons read off of a website and regular communion happening.

I think maybe I just need to give it some time to get used to the style of worship. I grew up in a Church of Christ, which is very sedate and serious, and then transitioned to a Baptist church, and then to Lifechurch, and then to no church, so my experiences have been varied, but none of them were liturgical, so it's a new thing for me. The rhythm isn't something I'm familiar with. I'm used to a time of worship where you sing hymns either with no music or with a band, followed by a very long and boring sermon, and then a meal, and this is very much not that. A lot of standing and sitting and kneeling and repeating and call and response, and a much shorter sermon. It's hard to find God in all the rites and rituals, but I know They're there, and today I was able to tap into that space a little better.

We're going back tonight for their Jingle Jam, whatever that is, and hopefully we'll be able to socialize a little and get to know the members better. They have a coffee hour after Sunday service, but we keep missing it. I've really liked their vibe when they come around and greet us during the service, but I haven't really gotten to interact with them much yet.

Anyway, all this to say, it might be a good fit after all. I'm going to keep going for a while and see what happens.

So to clarify I'm a very "low church" type. I was raised Catholic and rejected it and didn't want another Catholic-like church in liturgy though I respect the Episcopal Church's social progressivism. I go to a progressive

However...I'm in Boston now for a music event tomorrow. And I realized I can attend a truly historic church: the one where Paul Revere started his famous ride! I saw it tonight and it is beautiful. And really worshipping in a historic place like that kind of thrills me. The church itself is also a sort of museum so it'll be cool to check out later.

So if I'm in the area around 11 I probably will. I don't usually attend such "liturgical" churches but this is hard to pass up!

I was raised in a conservative non-denominational Christian family and grew to deeply dislike religion because I thought my mother’s views (which I disagreed with) represented Christianity in general. I was forced to go to church as a kid; I never enjoyed it, and I found no meaning in it. As I got older and gained more progressive views, I decided I was no longer Christian. I identified as atheist for many years. Recently, I’ve been exploring religion for myself and re-examining my relationship with Christianity. I started to realize that there are different ways of interpreting the faith that are more in line with my views. So today, I decided to go to the Episcopalian church in my college town. I can’t quite express the joy I felt as I sat in the pews and realized that I actually wanted to be there. Everyone was welcoming and kind, the entire service felt so alive and beautiful to me, I couldn’t believe this was possible. The sermon was thought-provoking and meaningful. I met some wonderful people there as well, other students in my year. So I’m going to go again next week and probably every week after that. It’s only the beginning of my rediscovery of faith, but I’m so happy I found this church.

Tomorrow I'll be attending my local Episcopal church for the first time, after a lot of research, and if you feel like sending up a prayer for me, I'd really appreciate it. That it will be a good fit for me. That I'll be able to commune with God there, and, equally important, that I'll find community there among the congregation. That I'll connect with the style of worship and the message. That I won't feel the way I've felt at most other churches throughout my life: bored, frustrated, uncomfortable, disengaged, insulted, disrespected, etc.

I already know that they're affirming of LGBTQ+ people and that they're involved in social justice work in the community, which is why I'm going there even though I'm not sure their worship is for me. They're the only church in this town that fully embraces and accepts me for who I am, that I know of, and the only one that won't alienate me with their stances on other human rights issues. These things are very important to me in a faith community. And it's important to me to have a faith community, preferably outside of the internet, and since I can't reliably make it right now to the UCC or Mennonite church to see if they'd be better for me, this is the best I can do.

I'm nervous about it, not for any social anxiety reasons, but simply because I want so badly for it to be a good fit.

Like it says in the title, I'm a trans woman seeking out a new avenue for my faith. As a bit of background, my family is Lutheran (ELCA) and I was baptized as such at a young age (and eventually confirmed). I did attend Catholic school for 9 years which has left its own mark. Basically I'm looking for a trans-affirming Episcopal church and wondering if such a thing is possible (I see lots of LGBT+ affirming spaces but IME the emphasis is usually on the LGB aspect of the acronym). Does such a place exist? (Additional context, I'm in NYC, so I'm guessing the answer to this q is yes but thought I'd put it to the more experienced among us)

I’m gonna start this off with just saying I have no idea why I’m posting this.

I’m going back to an Episcopal Church on Sunday. I left during Covid as they closed their doors but the Catholic Church stayed open. I never got confirmed Catholic but I was pretty solidly into it. Wouldn’t say rad trad as Latin mass wasn’t my thing but I was up there. Left because I theologically disagree with purgatory. Bounced around a few non denominational churches and here I am.

I’m much more politically moderate now than when I originally went to an Episcopal Church, I was much more liberal then. I’ve asked God to open my mind to other ideas/situations that may make me uncomfortable.

I want to take it much more seriously this time around. Before I went to church on Sunday and that was that. Once I started attending the Catholic Church I was much more serious in my devotions. Bible reading, rosary, adoration, etc. I also disparaged the Episcopal Church quite a bit online and in person. And for that I ask for forgiveness from God and from you, my brothers and sisters.

This time, as a much more mature Christian, I will take this more seriously. Spend more time in Bible studies and in private devotion. I ask for your prayers of support.

This turned out way longer than I expected but thank you for reading.

But I sometimes chuckle to myself and wonder if I am in the fandom interpretation of Christianity. I’m alright with that. I see a lot of parallels with some of the subcultures of popular fandom.

My name is Renn, I am a nonbinary, pansexual, 22 year old. I was born and raised in the Catholic Church and my family are all still strong Catholics. As time has gone on I have become uncomfortable with the social climate of the Catholic Church and have begun going to my local Episcopal Church instead. Unfortunately my family is against all other religions besides Catholicism and have begun to “remind” me that I am Catholic. I am so incredibly uncomfortable in the Catholic Church and have had multiple anxiety attacks while trying to go to mass. I don’t want to be Catholic anymore, I am planning on being received into the Episcopal Church and not telling my family. I have tried to talk with my family about the issues I have with the Catholic Church and I am immediately yelled at and told that I am on the path to sin. Obviously this had made me feel like I had ruined my relationship with God for many years. I felt that I could no longer enjoy Gods presence in my life because I was a sinner. I felt even worse because I knew that despite feeling like a sinner I was not going to back down from my beliefs. Now I’m forced to keep my conversion a secret out of fear. I had lost the feeling of peace and joy and love when going into a church, the first time I attended an Episcopal service I was able to feel that again after 12 years without it. It was amazing, and every time I go to service I feel it again. I suppose I am writing this to just look for reassurance that I am not a sinner. That God loves me no matter what.

So to clarify I'm a very "low church" type. I was raised Catholic and rejected it and didn't want another Catholic-like church in liturgy though I respect the Episcopal Church's social progressivism.

However...I'm in Boston now for a music event tomorrow. And I realized I can attend a truly historic church: the one where Paul Revere started his famous ride! I saw it tonight and it is beautiful. And really worshipping in a historic place like that kind of thrills me. The church itself is also a sort of museum so it'll be cool to check out later.

So if I'm in the area around 11 I probably will. I don't usually attend such "liturgical" churches but this is hard to pass up!