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VISITORS' GUIDE We're glad you're here
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WELCOME TO THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. JEROME The Parish Church of St. Jerome welcomes visitors to every worship service. We look forward to greeting you personally, and we hope that the answers to these frequently asked questions will help you feel at home. We're glad you're here!
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH IS THIS? St. Jerome is an inclusive Anglican parish modeled after the parishes of the Anglican Communion. It differs very little in matters of church polity, doctrine or worship. Our basic beliefs are summarized in the ancient Nicene Creed of the Christian Church. The rightful preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Sacraments form the basis of our life together as a community and a church. We follow the biblical plan for church order; with spiritual oversight provided by Bishop's, Priest's and Deacon's and church leadership shared by lay persons. We celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion in obedience to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Worshippers from every faith tradition are welcome at the Parish Church of St. Jerome.
MAY I SIT ANYWHERE? The pews in the Parish Church of St. Jerome are not reserved. We always have seats for our visitors. Our ushers will be glad to direct you to an available space. If you would prefer, we would be pleased to seat you with one of our regular members so that he or she may assist you or answer any questions you may have during the service.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE? A copy of the service bulletin, including hymns for the day was given to you by our Ushers. The order of service is contained in this bulletin. We customarily stand to praise God (when we sing), sit to learn (when we hear the lessons, the sermon, or announcements), and kneel to pray. We follow the order of service and participate audibly in the people's responses. We also spend time during each service greeting one another with a sign of peace. Customarily we are "huggers", but shaking hands is just fine, too. The "peace", as we call it, is a great time to meet other members of the Parish Church of St. Jerome. Feel free to stand, sit, kneel, and share the "peace" with the congregation as you feel comfortable. If you need assistance in finding your place as we move through the service, a member of our congregation is always willing to help you. Following the service we invite you to join us for our coffee hour in the undercroft (that's our way of saying the basement). We are glad you're here!
MAY I TAKE COMMUNION? All
baptized persons are not only welcome, but encouraged to join us at
Christ’s Table. Our custom is to come to the kneelers, kneel or stand there,
and receive the Communion Bread in our open hands. After consuming the Bread,
we receive the cup, guiding it to our lips with one hand for a small taste of
Wine. Children who have been baptized may receive Communion at the Parish Church of St. Jerome. Children who do not receive Communion are encouraged to
accompany their parents to the altar rail, cross their arms over their chest,
and receive a prayer of blessing.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE? You can learn more about Christianity by becoming involved in our Parish community. As you make friends here, you will experience the love of Jesus Christ in action. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions through our small group Bible studies and focus groups. When you worship with us, please be certain to sign our guest register in the back of the church. We offer a wide variety of ministry and fellowship opportunities throughout the year. We hope you will join us. Our Clergy, Vestry, and active members all want to meet you and they will be glad to answer any questions you might have. We are glad you’re here!
HOW CAN I JOIN THE CHURCH? You may join by profession of faith in Jesus Christ, followed by baptism, if you are not already baptized. If you have been baptized, you may have a record of baptism sent from your former Church, regardless of the denomination, fill out a confirmation form, attend Inquirers Classes, and be “confirmed”. If you have already been confirmed in a similar denomination, you might also be able to join by “reception”. If you are interested in joining the Parish Church of St. Jerome, you should plan to attend an Inquirer’s Class, offered at different times throughout the year, and prepare to be received or confirmed by our Priest during either the Advent or Easter seasons. If you are looking for a church home or just have questions about the Parish Church of St. Jerome or your faith, our clergy will be glad to talk to you. Welcome to the Parish Church of St. Jerome.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT ST. JEROME? The Parish Church of St. Jerome is an inclusive Anglican Community. Regardless of your heritage, culture, financial status, sexual orientation, age, gender, or marital status you can become a fully participating member of the Parish Church of St. Jerome, able to receive ALL the sacraments of the church.
WHAT TIME ARE YOUR SERVICES? Our regular worship service is held at 11:00 AM every Sunday morning. We also hold a mid-week Eucharist at noon on Wednesdays. Adult education classes are held at varying times during the year on Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM. Throughout the year we hold a variety of special activities, such as Mass in the Grass (an outdoor worship service and picnic), our annual Fat Tuesday Celebration, round robin dinners, Bible studies, and the Annual Blessing of the Animals. We suggest you sign the Guest Register and get on our mailing list so that we can keep you informed about what we are doing. The Parish Church of St. Jerome publishes a regular newsletter of activities, columns, and other special features. You may also keeping checking our website to learn more about us, our denomination, and our upcoming activities. |
