Priest Welcome
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The website is one more way we hope to communicate with newcomers, visitors and old friends about what is going on here at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church. It is also hoped that it can be a resource for all who wish to grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord.
St. Jude’s mission statement reflects carefully who we are, “a friendly congregation bringing people to Jesus Christ by sharing the Good News of God’s Love through our worship, fellowship, discipleship, outreach and service”.
Our worship is primarily traditional (Rite I at 8:00 a.m., Rite II at 10:30 a.m.) but we have “Youth Sunday” on the first Sunday of each month when our praise band leads the music and youth serve in most areas of the service. We also hold a “Prayer and Praise service” on the fourth Sunday of each month at 5 p.m.
Our discipleship efforts are directed at helping all to grow closer to God. We have used Alpha, Crown Ministries, 40 Days of Purpose and Peacemaker as well as many other programs of intentional Bible study in order to transform our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus.
Fellowship at St. Jude’s overflows from the warmth of this family style church. There are planned meals together (Brunch Bunch) as well as spontaneous gatherings of Christ’s children. We work hard each year to make the Strawberry Festival a success in the community and through it somehow we all are drawn closer together also.
The grace of God’s generosity to us has allowed us to create a Food Pantry as part of our Outreach into the community. Each week folks in need come by the office and pick up staples that help them keep food on the tables for their families. But during the year we also support Food for the Poor, African Team Ministries, Prayer Pennies, Nets for Life and Operation Christmas Child.
“God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do” (Eph 2:10) We believe that we each have a ministry of Service that will help us to build up the body of Christ. We lift one another up and care for all of God’s people.
As an Episcopal church, we celebrate proudly our Anglican heritage and tradition. As an orthodox church we likewise embrace our ancient catholic roots which stretch all the way back to the first century. As a people committed to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel we look to the future with hopefulness and expectation, secure in the knowledge that with God all things are possible.
In Christ’s Name,
The Rev. Phyllis Bartle – Rector
E-Mail: revpbartle@embarqmail.com