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"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken..."
These words from Ecclesiastes 4:12 are in a passage that
speaks of the strength and unity found in diversity. From the time of Christ, His
Church has always been a "cord of three strands." These three basic
expressions of Christianity have continued throughout the pages of church history.
Today, as never before, these three distinct expressions of faith are being braided into
one strong cord. By celebrating the best of the Church in history, and combining
that with the Spirit's renewing and regathering work, we can open the full deposit of the
Father's old and new treasures to His people.
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Historical
/ Sacramental |
From the beginning of the Church after the resurrection of
Christ, many men and women have faithfully served the one, holy, catholic and apostolic
Church (catholic: meaning in accord with the universal Church from the beginning).
From the richness of our historic heritage we are currently seeing a recovery of the
beauty and authenticity of the ancient liturgies, symbols of worship, and the regular
celebration of Holy Communion, which the early Christians observed weekly. While
some have looked at the early liturgies and called them "dead form," we have
found that forms are neither dead nor alive, but only true or false; it is people who are
either dead or alive spiritually. What we are discovering are true forms that
can be used by people who are spiritually alive!
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Evangelical |
As a precious possession of Christian faith, we hold to the
Holy Scriptures as the inspired, infallible Word of God and that they contain all things
necessary to salvation and godly living. We are committed to faithful reading,
studying, teaching, and preaching from the Bible as a wellspring for spiritual maturity.
We also embrace the Evangelical distinctives that underline the importance of a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a holy life, evangelism, and missions.
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Charismatic |
A distinguishing mark of the Charismatic Episcopal Church
is our openness to the work of the Holy Spirit. God's people have always been a
spiritually gifted people. From the apostles all the way through the modern
Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, Christians have been endowed with power beyond
themselves...from the Holy Spirit Himself. This means we not only allow, but
anticipate, His presence and working through His spiritual gifts, both in our worship and
daily acts of service.
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Blending
These Streams |
We believe God is doing something very special in our day.
In churches across our nation and around the world, He is removing religious
barriers and braiding together the three strands of the Church into one strong cord.
This is the commitment of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, where in our worship
and approach to faith, we are seeking to express all three elements together. We are
honored to be a part of God's great renewal in His Church!
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