St. James Episcopal Church & School: Your "Rites"

A rite expresses the church's relationship with God through words, actions, and symbols. A rite enables the church community to share its faith and experience God's presence in a particular liturgical and pastoral .... There are seven recognized rites (or sacraments.) They include Holy Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent, Unction and Ordination.

Holy Baptism

This is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Kingdom of God (BCP, pp. 298, 858). In baptism we are made sharers in the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins...

Holy Communion

Holy Communion, also known as Holy Eucharist and the Lord's Supper, is a rite or act of worship that all Christians perform in order to fulfill the instruction that Jesus gave his disciples, at his last meal with them before being turned over to his executioners, to do "in remembrance of him" certain actions that he did at that meal.

Confirmation

Confirmation is when a baptized person, who has been instructed in the Christian faith, makes a mature commitment to God within a worship setting and receives a special blessing and prayer from a Bishop.

Holy Matrimony

St. James has the perfect location for your wedding. There are a few things that are required of you by St. James before you vow before God to love and cherish your chosen one for life.

Please call the office for the details: 318-445-9845.

Reconciliation of a Penitent

The Sacramental rite in which those who repent may confess their sins to God in the presence of a priest and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution (BCP, p. 861). It is also called penance and confession. The church's ministry of reconciliation is from God, "who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:18). The ministry of reconciliation has been committed by Christ to the church. It is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the church and its ministers declaring absolution (BCP, p. 446). The Reconciliation of a Penitent is not limited to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard at any time and any place.The BCP provides two forms of service for the Reconciliation of a Penitent. Only a bishop or priest may pronounce absolution. A declaration of forgiveness may be used by a deacon or lay person who hears a confession. When a confession is heard in a church building, the confessor may sit inside the altar rails while the penitent kneels nearby. The confession may be heard in a place set aside for greater privacy. It is also appropriate for the confessor and penitent to sit face to face for a spiritual conference that leads to absolution or a declaration of forgiveness. After the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and given evidence of contrition, the priest offers counsel and encouragement before pronouncing absolution. Before pronouncing absolution, the priest may assign a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign or penitence and act of thanksgiving.

(Taken from: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_15176_ENG_HTM.htm)

Unction

Sacramental use of oil as an outward sign of God's active presence for healing, initiation, or ordination. Anointing with oil by smearing or pouring may accompany prayers for healing (unction) and the laying on of hands in the rite for Ministration to the Sick (BCP, p. 453). The signing with the cross of the newly baptized may be done by anointing with the oil of chrism, which signifies that the person is "sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever." (BCP, p. 308). The oil for anointing may be scented, with different fragrances used in services for healing, initiation, or ordination.

(Taken from: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_13734_ENG_HTM.htm

Ordination

The services of ordination include a presentation of the ordinand to the ordaining bishop or bishops; the ordinand's Declaration of Consent that states his or her belief in the scriptures and conformity to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church; the people's consent to the ordination and their promise to uphold the ordinand in the new ministry; the Litany for Ordinations (BCP, pp. 548-551); lessons and sermon; the examination of the candidate; the singing of the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" or "Veni Sancte Spiritus"; a period of silent prayer; the prayer of consecration and laying on of hands by the ordaining bishop or bishops; vesting of the newly ordained person according to the new order of ministry; and participation in the eucharist by the newly ordained person in ways that are appropriate to his or her order of ministry. At the ordination of a bishop, the Presiding Bishop and at least two other bishops lay their hands on the ordinand's head. At the ordination of a priest, the bishop is joined by priests in the laying on of hands. Only the bishop lays hands on the head of the ordinand at the ordination of a deacon. The bishop-elect leads the Creed at the ordination of a bishop after the Examination. The Creed precedes the Examination at the ordination of a priest or a deacon. The newly ordained bishop is the chief celebrant at the eucharist. The newly ordained priest joins in the celebration of the eucharist with the bishop and other presbyters. The newly ordained deacon may prepare the Lord's table and dismiss the people at the eucharist.

(Taken from: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_14930_ENG_HTM.htm)