Holy Baptism
According to the Book of Common Prayer, Baptism is “full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church” (p. 298). In Baptism, we die with Christ in his death, and rise to new life through his resurrection from the dead. We shed our old selves and enter into a new life, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. In Baptism, a person becomes a full member of the Body of Christ, and in the Episcopal Church, all baptized persons are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. In the Episcopal Church, we baptize both infants and adults. And because of the importance of Holy Baptism, we take baptismal preparation seriously. Parents and godparents of children who are to be baptized are asked to meet with Father Kyle for pre-baptismal instruction. And adults are invited to participate in our Pilgrims in Christ adult formation class, which is modeled on the ancient catechumenate and intended to prepare people for Holy Baptism, Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows. At the Church of the Good Shepherd, we reserve Baptism to All Saints’ Day (or the Sunday afterwards), the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, the Great Vigil of Easter, or the Day of Pentecost, in accordance with the recommendation of the Book of Common Prayer. Baptism always takes place in the context of a Mass, so that the community of gathered Christians can pledge to support the newly baptized in their life in Christ. If you desire baptism for yourself or another, please contact Father Kyle.

The Holy Eucharist
Also called the Mass or Holy Communion, the Eucharist is the principal act of worship on the Lord’s Day and other Major Feasts. This Sacrament is inextricably connected to Holy Baptism, which is why Baptism is the entrance into receiving Holy Communion. In the Mass, we participate in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. We hear God’s Word, and we respond to that Word by offering bread, wine, and our selves on God’s Altar. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, ordinary bread and wine become for us the Body and Blood of Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are changed, too. We believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Although as Anglican Christians, we are reticent to define exactly how this happens, we believe that by God’s grace, Christ is made truly present on the Altar for us at each Mass. The way we treat the Bread and Wine after they are consecrated says what we believe about them. We either reverently consume the Bread and Wine, or we reserve the Sacrament for Communion of the Sick or adoration in the devotional service, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The word “Mass” comes from the word meaning “sent.” At each Mass, we are sent into the world to proclaim the Good News and be disciples of Christ. Mission is intimately connected to our worship of God in the Mass and to our communion with God and one another effected in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Mass is healing, and so at each Mass, we are reconciled to God and one another. We pray for the world. We pray for ourselves. And we pray for the furtherance of God’s kingdom on this earth.

The Reconciliation of a Penitent (private confession)
In this sacrament, a person has the opportunity to name specific sins before God, in the presence of a “wise and discerning” priest of the Church. In the Anglican understanding of private confession, the penitent has cause for great joy in thanksgiving for God’s boundless mercy and compassion. God the Father is always ready to forgive, and this beautiful sacrament allows the Christian to let go of the sins that have weighed on her or his heart. The old Anglican adage, nevertheless, holds true: “all may, some should, none must.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not mandated by the Episcopal Church, but it is a profound source of healing. It allows individuals to confront and relinquish their own personal sins, while the general confession during Mass enables the collective body of believers to acknowledge the widespread, systemic sin that is part of the human condition. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at any time by appointment with Father Kyle.

Confirmation
The Book of Common Prayer states that “[i]n the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop” (412). The expectation is, thus, that a Christian will embrace the opportunity to publicly claim and affirm the promises made on their behalf at Baptism. Although Baptism constitutes full initiation into the life of the Church and has no deficiency of the gift of the Holy Spirit, Confirmation is a way of calling upon the Holy Spirit to continue to uphold the person in her or his life in Christ. Adult confirmation candidates are prepared through our Pilgrims in Christ formation process.

Marriage
In the Episcopal Church, the union of two persons in the sacrament of marriage is intended for their “mutual joy, for the help and comfort they will give to each other in prosperity and adversity, and, when it is God's will, for the gift and heritage of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of God” (Constitution and Canons, 2018). It is unconditional, mutual, exclusive, faithful, and lifelong. The union of two persons, through God’s blessing, becomes a visible sign of the union between Christ and his Church. And the marriage of two persons in the Church affirms the importance of all Christians to uphold one another in their lives of faith. In accordance with the canons of the Episcopal Church, same-gender weddings are welcomed and celebrated at Good Shepherd. In the Episcopal Church, one member of the couple must be a baptized Christian in order to be married in the Church. The first step in inquiring about marriage is to meet with a priest. And as further preparation, a series of pre-marital sessions are led by a priest in order to discuss the Christian understanding of marriage in the context of the lives of the couple. Download our wedding brochure here. For more information, please contact Father Kyle.

Unction of the Sick
The tradition of the Church has been to offer the anointing with oil (unction) of those who are in need of healing. This can take different forms. Sometimes anointing is offered in the course of a Mass, with special prayers for healing. Often, a priest offers anointing with Oil of the Sick during the course of a pastoral visit, either when someone is recovering from an illness, experiencing suffering of some sort, or preparing for surgery. At the end of life, it is customary for a priest to visit the dying and offer the last rites of the Church, which includes anointing with holy oil.

Holy Orders
As the Church has grown and expanded, three orders of ordained ministry have evolved: those of bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops are the primary pastors of dioceses (geographical regions of parishes) and are charged with upholding the faith and tradition of the Church, as well as being “overseers” over the Church in a particular region. Bishops serve as focal points of unity and stand in a line of apostolic succession, dating back to the apostles. Priests are ordained by bishops to serve on their behalf in order to celebrate the Eucharist, preach the Gospel, bless, and absolve. Deacons are ordained by bishops to be a connective thread between the Church and the world. They proclaim the Gospel, intercede for the sake of the world in the liturgy, assist at the Altar, and help keep the Church true to God’s mission. In the Episcopal Church, both men and women are ordained to all three orders of ministry. In addition to ordained ministry, the Church is upheld by the ministry of all Christians, especially the laity. God’s work in the world is not an exclusive privilege of the ordained; it is the call of every single disciple of Jesus Christ.