Welcome to Our Parish
On behalf of our parish, we welcome you to the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist. Worship at St. John’s is offered according to The Book of Common Prayer (www.bcponline.org), the red book in the pew. The Prayer Book states, “The Holy Eucharist, the principal act of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day and other major Feasts, and Daily Morning and Evening Prayer, as set forth in this Book, are the regular services appointed for public worship in this Church.” Therefore, a life of prayer centered in the Eucharist and the daily reading and praying of scripture is a characteristic and goal of our parish. We hope you have a deep sense that we welcome you to this life of prayer.
St. John’s is also a member of the Diocese of Alabama (www.dioala.org), the Episcopal Church (www.ecusa.anglican.org), and the worldwide Anglican Communion (www.anglicancommunion.org). The Nicene Creed, which we will recite after the sermon, describes the Church as catholic. The Catechism (a summary of teachings) in the Prayer Book states that “The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end of time” (BCP 854). To be catholic is to be connected with the Body of Christ in all times and places, connected even with the communion of saints of all times and places. Paul’s description of the Body of Christ is particularly inspiring (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). We hope you have a deep sense that we welcome you to this mysterious connection in Christ.
St. John’s is, finally, a community whose goal is service in the name of Christ. One of Jesus’ most inspiring and challenging teachings is that his followers should not separate the love of God from the love of neighbor. In the Baptismal Covenant (BCP 305), we as a community promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons.” The Episcopal Center, on the grounds of our parish, is one way we try to live out this promise. It houses two non-profit organizations that are crucial to the health and well-being of our city and county: The Free Clinic of Decatur/Morgan County and Parents and Children Together (P.A.C.T.). Many people find that the deepening of their prayer life at St. John’s leads to a renewed commitment to people who suffer. Therefore, we hope you have a deep sense that we welcome you to a life of Christ-like service in our city and in the world.
If you would like more information about St. John’s, please contact the interim rector, the Reverend Michael "Corky" Carlisle at Corky.Carlisle@stjohnsdecatur.org or phone 256-353-9615.