At Church of the Holy Spirit, we believe that the Christian life is a joyful experience with continued growth leading to an effervescent flourishing for us and the world around us. As a church, we value discipleship and are committed to establishing practices help us grow together into a vibrant life in Christ. As such, a variety of spiritual formation practices shape our life together.
COMMON WORSHIP
Worshipping on Sundays is the crux of our life together. Each week, we gather to sing, pray, hear the Word, and share in the Eucharist. This prepares us to go out into the world to love and serve the Lord in the week to come.
CONFESSION
The church is called to be a confessing people, so we encourage confession as a regular practice. For Anglican Christians there are three “types” of confessions which may be distinguished by their respective settings: confessions found in the liturgies, e.g. the General Confession in the Eucharist; confession between Christians; and private ecclesiastical confession made in the presence of the priest.
Confession within the context of the liturgy transpires when an individual offers heartfelt contrition and willful repentance and receives affirmation that God forgives and restores. Confession between Christians occurs especially where injury was made to the other by the one confessing in anticipation of forgiveness with efforts made toward changed behavior. As we share with one another about our personal failures and confusions, we are reminded of the great need for and grace of the Gospel. In private ecclesiastical confession, also known as the Rite of Reconciliation, the penitent seeks absolution from God and His Church as conveyed by the priest. A “troubled conscience” is not a pre-requisite for making a confession, as God may simply move you to desire it. However, it is important to note the Anglican understanding of Confession: “all may, none must, some should”. Fr. Carl is available for confession by appointment.
CONNECTION
Groups of study and service are the primary ways to become involved at CHSA. Throughout the weeks or months, groups gather to study the Bible, pray, and/or serve. Often we as a church share a meal together through potlucks or events as well.
MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER
Each day is a new opportunity to present our cares before God and wait in anticipation to hear from Him. We encourage everyone to find ways to incorporate prayer into their daily lives as it is truly a practice. If you would find a liturgy helpful in guiding your prayers, we recommend using the Book of Common Prayer. Additional recommended resources you may find to be helpful include Praying: Finding our way through duty to delight by J. I. Packer & Carolyn Nystrom; the works of Andrew Murray; Prayer, a personal testimony by Alfred Standway; and the following articles:
SABBATH
Each week, we pause from our work and remember that we are creatures in need of rest.
SERVING OTHERS
Throughout Scripture, it is clear that the world thrives when the Gospel is faithfully lived out. At CHSA, we believe that one of the most critical ways the Gospel can be lived out is through service. This happens on Sundays, in our services, serving one another through various ministries, hospitality, and meeting a need (a ride, a repair, a visit, etc.).
READING THE BIBLE
The main way God speaks to us is through his Word, so we read and study it. As a church, we are committed to prayerfully and regularly reading the Bible. If you would like to follow the readings of the church calendar, please find the 2019 BCP Lectionary here.