What is Anglicanism?
The Anglican Church (pronounced Ang-li-kan) is what traditionally has been known as The Church of England, but it has since expanded to many other parts of the world. We are a Christian, Biblically-based faith, believing in and following the sacred Scriptures of the Holy Bible. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was born of a Virgin, died for our sins, and rose again on the third day, and that he will come again to judge the living and the dead. We believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and there is no other way to the Father but through him.
The Anglican Church is part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church handed down by the Apostles. We are catholic, meaning we follow the ancient traditions and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ, yet we are separate from Rome. Like the Eastern Orthodox Church, we do not fall under the authority of the papacy. The word Anglican means “England.” It is the only Church in Christendom named after the country in which it was founded. Some people lightly refer to Anglicans as “English Catholics.”
The Creed
We adhere to the essential doctrine of the Church – a statement of faith known as the Creed. We recognize three creeds (Nicene Creed, Apostles’ Creed, Athanasian Creed), all of which confess the belief in the Holy Trinity, that God is one God in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is the creator of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ is God the Son who redeemed us by his death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit (also known as the Holy Ghost) is the sanctifier –the one who dwells and works in us, guiding, healing, and even forgiving our sins.
For two thousand years, people have pondered the mystery of the Trinity and what it means for there to be only one God yet three persons of the Godhead. There is no simple, earthly answer to this question, as it is a divine mystery beyond the natural realm of human understanding. We simply have faith in what cannot be understood and know that all three persons of the Trinity work together through the hearts of all the faithful, and throughout his holy Church.
Our Church
The Church of the Holy Apostles is a loving, diverse congregation of people of all ages from elderly to young families, including youth and children. We offer adult and youth Sunday School, as well as a program for young children known as Godly Play. We also have a nursery.
Our church is under the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, one of several dioceses under a greater body known as the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our bishop is The Right Reverend Ryan S. Reed, the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
Here at Holy Apostles, we practice weekly communion. Every Sunday, we have in the church what is called Mass – a worship service that includes Holy Communion (the Lord’s Supper). It is an intimate way in which Christians remain in good standing with Jesus Christ in order that we can have a close relationship with him and his bride, the Church. We hold the holy sacrament of communion weekly because that is the tradition of the ancient faith, as Jesus instructs us in Scripture to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). If you are a baptized Christian in good standing and are in love and charity with your neighbors (friends, family, acquaintances), and if you believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the bread and wine, you are welcome to receive communion at the rail. If you feel you do not meet some of these requirements or feel you are not ready, you may still come up to the railing during communion to receive a blessing. We are here to serve you.
If you have questions or concerns, or if you would like to know more, please let the Clergy know. Welcome to the Church of the Holy Apostles!
