A Journey And An Adventure

Christianity is not so much a set of beliefs as it is a way of life. It is a way of life that is a journey of growth and change into what God has made us to be. In the source of that journey Christians encounter all the mystery that God calls us into and that is an adventure.

Episcopalians and Anglicans

The word “Episcopal” comes from a word referring to bishops who make up part of our ministry. We are often called “Anglicans” because the Episcopal Church grew out of the Church of England.

Anglican and Catholic

The Anglican churches participate in the life of the universal Church. We share the apostolic and historic ministry of bishops. We also share Scripture, the creeds, the sacraments, the saints and many of the customs of the Church throughout history.

Anglican and Reformed

We also center our beliefs on the Bible. The Episcopal church grew out of the Church of England which became an independent church at the time of the Reformation. Our reformed heritage dates to that part of our history.

Anglican Identity

We have never claimed to have any belief that sets us apart from the rest of the Church. For over four hundred years the Book of Common Prayer has been at the heart of what makes us Anglicans. What gives us our identity is our diversity and our prayer-book which has been revised from time to time in each of the countries with an Anglican church.

Diversity

St. Augustine’s Church is an inclusive church where all of God’s people are welcome in all their diversity.

Worship at St. Augustine’s Church

If you feel called to be a part of the adventure that is St. Augustine’s Church, please come and worship with us. We worship each Sunday in the Eucharist as we pray and praise God in word and song. The Gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered.

The Gospel

The Gospel is the Good News that God is bringing all men and women into new life in union with God and with each other through Jesus Christ.

The Sacraments

Baptism and the Eucharist are the central sacraments of our life in Christ. Through them we participate in the risen life of Christ. The other sacramental rites of the Church, marriage, reconciliation, anointing, ordination and confirmation, are also part of our lives together.

Anglican Beliefs and the Bible

We do not have one person or one book that is our final authority. Instead the Episcopal Church believes that the teaching of the Church conforms to the Holy Scripture, the Bible. We also believe that the Bible must be understood in the light of Tradition and Reason. Tradition is the experience of the Church through the ages. Reason refers to our responsibility to understand the Gospel using our intelligence and the learning of men and women today.

Anglican: Reformed and Catholic

The Episcopal, or Anglican, church has been described as Catholic and as Reformed or Protestant.

The Episcopal Church

St. Augustine’s Church is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac and of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Like most of the world’s Christians, we have bishops, priests, and deacons. We trace the ministry of our bishops back to Jesus through the Apostles. All the people of the church are ministers and all take part in its government and leadership. We elect our bishops and participate directly at all levels from parish to diocese to national church.

The Mission of the Church

The Episcopal Church believes that the mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Jesus Christ. We pursue that mission in prayer, worship, and the sacraments, the proclamation of the Gospel, and in working for justice, peace and love.

The Anglican Communion

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a community of over one hundred independent national churches. We are united by our common roots in the Church of England. We look to the Archbishop of Canterbury as a sign of our unity. The Anglican Communion is a very diverse group of churches. We value our diversity and our independence very highly as we try to live into a common understanding of what God is calling us to do. That diversity and that tolerance extend to the Episcopal Church in the United States and to St. Augustine’s Church in Rhinelander.

Anglican Beliefs and the Bible

We do not have one person or one book that is our final authority. Instead the Episcopal Church believes that the teaching of the Church conforms to the Holy Scripture, the Bible. We also believe that the Bible must be understood in the light of Tradition and Reason. Tradition is the experience of the Church through the ages. Reason refers to our responsibility to understand the Gospel using our intelligence and the experience of men and women today.

Anglican Beliefs and Prayer

For over four hundred years the Book of Common Prayer has been at the heart of what makes us Anglicans. We have never claimed to have any belief that sets us apart from the rest of the Church. Scripture and the Creeds, the Sacraments and the historic ministry are shared by most Christians. What gives us our identity is our diversity and our prayer-book which has been revised from time to time in each of the countries with an Anglican church.