Faith in Action

Welcome to Grace Church

About Grace Church

Believing in God’s Word and Spirit

Established in 1855, Grace Church is an Episcopal community of faith. Through worship, music, fellowship, education, service and stewardship, we strive to deepen our connection with God and each other. In all we do, we try to exemplify the words of Jesus: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Looking around our pews during worship, you will notice we come from many different backgrounds and cultures. Our community includes people from different parts of North and Central America, as well as from Africa and the Caribbean Islands. Some people were brought up in church, while others had little church experience before finding their way here. We welcome everyone at Grace, regardless of race, culture or sexual orientation. No matter your background or where you are on your spiritual journey, we believe Grace is a place where you will feel comfortable and be able to seek a deeper relationship with God and others.

Christ-focused

“In him you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 368).

As Episcopalians, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and both our worship and our mission are in Christ’s name. In Jesus, we find that the nature of God is love, and through baptism, we share in his victory over sin and death.

The Bible

“Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 236).

It is our foundation, understood through tradition and reason, containing all things necessary for salvation. Our worship is filled with Scripture from beginning to end. Approximately 70% of the Book of Common Prayer comes directly from the Bible, and Episcopalians read more Holy Scripture in Sunday worship than almost any other denomination in Christianity. (See Revised Common Lectionary(link is external) of readings.)

Book of Common Prayer

“It is a most invaluable part of that blessed ‘liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,’ that in his worship different forms and usages may without offence be allowed, provided the substance of the Faith be kept entire” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 9).

The Book of Common Prayer is a treasure chest full of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations, but it is also the primary symbol of our unity. We, who are many and diverse, come together in Christ through our worship, our common prayer.

“Sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 857). Besides baptism and the Eucharist (Holy Communion), the church recognizes other spiritual markers in our journey of faith. These include: Baptism (full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church), pp. 297-308, Book of Common Prayer Confirmation (the adult affirmation of our baptismal vows), pp. 413-419, Book of Common Prayer

Communion (the sacrament commanded by Christ for remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection), pp. 333-336, Book of Common Prayer Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession), pp. 447-452, Book of Common Prayer Matrimony (Christian marriage), pp. 422-438, Book of Common Prayer Orders (ordination to deacon, priest, or bishop), pp. 510-555, Book of Common Prayer Unction (anointing with oil those who are sick or dying) pp. 453-467, Book of Common Prayer These help us to be a sacramental people, seeing God always at work around us.