FAQ

Frequently Asked (or Anticipated) Questions

Are you one church or two? How does that work?

So what are we? Episcopalian? Lutheran? Luther-palian? Well, some of us are members of the Episcopal Church, and others are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Some even identify as something in between! What is most important is that we are all Christians.

Technically speaking, we are two congregations from two denominations, each having its own governing boards, bylaws, and finances. But in practice, we function as one community, sharing a building, worship, clergy, ministries, and fellowship.

Our partnership is possible thanks to “Called to a Common Mission,” an agreement of Full Communion adopted between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1999. Part of why it works is that Episcopalians and Lutherans are very similar in both belief and practice. We came together because so much of what we believe is the same, and the little bit that’s different doesn’t keep us from being able to worship and do ministry together. God has called us to important work in Centralia and beyond, and we are blessed to be able to do that work together.

What are Episcopalians?

The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the Church of England or Anglicanism (think of the recent coronation of King Charles III). The English church was separated from the Pope in the 16th century, and thus became an independent national church. After the American Revolution, the Anglicans living in this country organized as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA, now known simply as the Episcopal Church. Since the word “Anglican” was associated with England, it would cause an obvious marketing problem, so they called themselves “Protestant,” to indicate that they were not Roman Catholic, and “Episcopal,” meaning governed by bishops. The Episcopal Church is considered a constitutive member of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes 42 national or regional churches that trace their history to the Church of England, and to the universal church from which it spawned.

Worship is paramount for Episcopalians, who hold that it is in our worship that our belief is expressed. We value the traditional forms of worship and governance that we have inherited from the undivided Church of the early centuries. We believe that all of the baptized, both clergy and laity, take part in the mission and ministry of the church. Episcopalians are committed to respecting the dignity of every person as made in the image of God, and thus advocating on behalf of the poor and oppressed as a way of sharing the love of God with the world.

What are Lutherans?

The Lutheran tradition is named after Martin Luther, a German priest and monk who challenged certain corruptions in the late medieval church. While Luther’s intention was to reform the existing church, not start a new one, opposition from both church and political leaders led to a movement known as the Protestant Reformation, which spawned a number of independent Christian denominations that exist to this day. Luther’s direct influence was particularly strong in Germany and Scandinavia, whose churches came to be known as “Lutheran,” though their preferred term was “evangelical.” Lutheranism was brought to the United States by immigrants from those countries. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed in 1988 as a merger of several Lutheran church bodies.

Lutherans place their hope in the justifying grace of God through Jesus Christ. That is, we are “justified” or “put in right relationship with God” purely as a free gift from God. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. Instead, because God loves us and has saved us from sin and death, we are therefore moved to share that love with all people. Lutherans place special importance on Holy Baptism and Holy Communion as particular moments in which God’s grace comes to us in the fullest way. Lutherans also cherish the belief that all people have a vocation— a calling from God through which they serve God, God’s people and God’s world. We are blessed to be a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which works to care for the poor and hungry in this country and around the world.

I’m not either one. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we invite you to take part in our community and worship with us. There are unique and beautiful ways that our church traditions draw us closer to God and each other as the body of Christ, and to the people of our community and the world. If you are interested in becoming a member, then we will have a conversation about which congregation you would like to “officially” join.

What is the history of your congregation(s)?

St. John’s Episcopal was formed in 1858, and the current building was built in 1924. Redeemer Lutheran was formed in 1920 and used to be located at 4th and Cherry. In 2017, Redeemer voted to sell their building and began worshiping at St. John’s. In 2018 both churches put together a formal agreement by which they would share in worship, ministry, and mission.

What do you believe?

Our shared faith is best expressed in the three great Creeds of western Christianity: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. This includes belief in the Holy Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Jesus, his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins, the Holy Spirit’s presence in the Church, the sacraments, Christ’s return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and eternal life. By and large, this is the common heritage of Christians in all times and places.

Beyond this, you can find beliefs more specific to our two traditions by looking at the historic texts that have defined our churches. For Episcopalians, this is mainly the Book of Common Prayer (1979), which includes a catechism and a section of historical documents. For Lutherans, the main confessional documents from the 16th century are collected in a volume known as the Book of Concord. Online versions of both books can be found on the Links page. (Both also include the three aforementioned Creeds.)

What do you believe about the Bible?

Both of our traditions have a high regard for Scripture, which we believe to be uniquely inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), the primary way by which God speaks to us today, and the highest standard of authority in the church. The Bible is not just a single book, but a collection of various writings, genres, and authors that span a period of centuries. So like any text, the Scriptures have to be interpreted. Ultimately, the true interpreter of Scripture is the Holy Spirit who inspired it. To discern a correct interpretation of a biblical text, we often look to other parts of the Bible, as well as the broad tradition of interpretation and Christian doctrine.

What is the Nicene Creed?

The Nicene Creed, which we recite as part of our Sunday worship, is an ancient statement of belief produced by the universal church in the 4th century. It was put together by two church councils, originally as a way to reject false and unscriptural teachings. Later it became common to recite it in worship as a summary of the Christian faith. It affirms the beliefs that are most essential to Christianity.

You say the word “catholic” in the Nicene Creed. Why?

We are used to hearing the word “catholic” as referring to the Roman Catholic Church, but the word has a much broader meaning. It literally means “according to the whole,” and is often translated as either “universal” or “complete.” Thus when we refer to “one holy, catholic, and apostolic Church,” in the Nicene Creed, we are talking about the universal church, i.e. all Christians in all times and places.

What is your worship like?

Both congregations worship together on Sunday mornings at 11:30am. Every Sunday we gather to celebrate the Eucharist (or Holy Communion) together. Like many Christians, we follow an ancient pattern of worship called a “liturgy.” “Liturgy” literally means “the work of the people.” Worship isn’t something we watch or something the leader does alone. Worship is something we all do together. The basic structure of Christian Liturgy (which has been used at least since the 2nd century) is like a great dinner party. First, we Gather. We greet one another, check in, and allow our hearts and minds to follow our bodies in arriving for worship. Next, we hear the Word. Just as you sit in the living room to tell stories and catch up, in worship we tell God’s stories and make them our own. We read from the Bible and hear a sermon, in which God’s grace is proclaimed and made real for us today. Pretty soon, it is time for the Meal. Ordinary bread and wine, consecrated with the Word of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, make for us a feast – the Body and Blood of Christ. Finally, it is time for the Sending. Like those long goodbyes with good friends, we are blessed and sent forth into the world.

Why is your worship so formal?

If you are unfamiliar with liturgical worship, our service can seem quite formal, even rigid. But as you become more familiar with it, it will seem less so. Part of the formality comes from our desire to worship in a reverent and orderly manner (see 1 Corinthians 14:26-40). It also is the result of using time-honored prayers and formats that come with the liturgy, which allow us to worship in ways that are intentional, thought-out, and theologically sound.

Many of us actually find the formality of the liturgy to be liberating. When we enter into worship, it’s okay if we’re not “feeling it” emotionally, or are even a bit distracted, because the corporate worship of the church carries us along and helps us get into the right mindset.

What is the Book of Common Prayer?

The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) is the official liturgical book of the Episcopal Church, containing the forms and directions for various kinds of church services. The first edition was produced in the Church of England in 1549—the first time that public worship was in English instead of Latin! The book went through subsequent editions in England, and was further revised (multiple times) for an American context, as has also been the case in other parts of the Anglican Communion. The current BCP of the Episcopal Church was finalized in 1979.

Here at St. John’s/Redeemer, our liturgy is mostly taken from the BCP, but we add some elements from the Lutheran tradition, especially in terms of music.

What’s with all the fancy decorations, candles, vestments, etc.?

When we worship God, we want to bring our best to him, and to “worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 96:9). Having special vestments (clothes worn by the priest and assisting ministers) and decorations set apart for that purpose helps us to do this. It also helps remind us that we are coming into God’s holy presence, into sacred time and space.

Why do you call your pastor a priest?

The English word “priest” is a shortened form of “presbyter,” which means “elder” in Greek, and is one of the terms used for church leaders in the New Testament. This term is used in the Anglican tradition (and some Scandinavian forms of Lutheranism) to designate a particular office of minister that is distinct from bishops and deacons.

By the way, the word “pastor” is Latin for “shepherd,” another common biblical image for leadership in the church.

What do you believe about communion?

We believe that when the bread and wine are consecrated at the altar, Christ becomes truly present in the bread and wine in a unique way, such that they are now his body and blood. Both of our traditions have somewhat different ways of thinking about this, but the bottom line is that it is a mystery that can only be seen with the eyes of faith. This means that when we receive the consecrated elements, we are receiving nothing less that Jesus himself, in his full divinity and humanity, for the redemption of our souls and bodies.

Why do you celebrate communion every week?

Given what we believe about Holy Communion, also called the Eucharist (meaning “thanksgiving”), we regard it as the highest act of Christian worship. It is, in a sense, a re-enactment of the whole mystery of our salvation, commemorating the death and resurrection of Christ. Moreover, we believe that receiving Communion frequently provides us with spiritual nourishment—much like eating regular meals gives you physical nourishment.

Can I receive communion?

All baptized Christians, from any denomination, are welcome to receive, and guidance is provided in the bulletin. Receiving the sacrament assumes that you are repentant of your sins and actively following Christ. If you don’t intend to receive communion, you can still participate by coming forward for a blessing, which you indicate by crossing your arms over your chest. If you wish to receive communion but are unable to walk forward, please let an usher know, and we will bring the sacrament to you.

What should I wear?

On any given Sunday you may see neckties and dresses as well as shorts and sweatshirts. Whether you like to dress up or are more casual, just come as you are.