speak a word

Why we are

We are people gathered together by our common hunger to know, to serve, and to delight in Christ.

We experience the God revealed in Jesus Christ as mystery, fascination, challenge, and joy. Spiritual hunger has been awakened in us in many ways, understood differently by each of us. At Saints Peter and Paul we have been welcomed by other searchers and welcomed by the God who kindles our hunger. Here questions are honored, searching is supported, a desire to serve is affirmed, and opportunities to serve are given. In our diversity of backgrounds, cultures, viewpoints, and even languages, we glimpse the rich diversity and endless fascination of God.

Together we find support, common warmth when alone we would cool to ashes, healing when we are wounded, challenge when we are complacent, invitation to grow when we are stagnant.

When we gather, our time together is shaped by the wisdom and richness of classical Christian worship rooted in the customs and viewpoint of the ancient Church. We hold these treasures in common with other congregations worshipping according to the usages of The Episcopal Church.

Each gathering is in itself a miracle, since in our culture little support is given to committed Christian life lived in common.

We begin our weekly time in a stance of listening. We believe God may speak through the words of the Bible read aloud, through the words spoken by a preacher, and by the silence in which God's "still, small voice" may move any of us, alone or together.

We end this time by a response of faith, couched in ancient words, and by prayers for the world and for ourselves. For we believe God calls in this way, among others, to participate in the healing of the world.

Shaped by God's speech, as a body we give thanks in a common action we call "Eucharist." We believe Christ joins us to himself in a great act of thanksgiving to God. In this we share in the unconditional love God has for creation and for us expressed perfectly for God's love for the beloved, Christ Jesus. We share in his life through blessed bread and wine. We call this experience a "sacrament", tangible things like bread and wine and one another's presence making real the unutterable love of God.

From this we are sent out to be "God's hands and heart in the world." It matter that we gather, for us and for those whom we are sent to know and to serve.

You are welcome to explore your own questions and longings with us. You may find, with time, that you wish to stay longer.