Anything you want to know but were afraid to ask!
What is the Episcopal Church?
The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, a worldwide fellowship of national churches with historic roots in England. We are part of the Diocese of New Hampshire which encompasses fifty parishes in the state. Our diocesan headquarters and bishop reside in the capitol city of Concord.
The history and heritage of the Episcopal Church are unique, but our roots are in the earliest days of Christianity. We are Catholic, holding to the faith and practice of the Apostles: the Creeds, the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Holy Scripture and the threefold ordained ministries of deacons, priests and bishops who are in continual Apostolic succession from St. Peter to our present Bishop.
We are also Protestant, expressing many of the principles of the sixteenth century Reformation, when the Church of England declared itself a self-governing body within the Holy Catholic Church independent of the Papacy. These principles include: A renewed emphasis on Holy Scripture through systematic public reading, a desire for a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, worship in the language of the people, and lay participation in church governance and leadership.
How long has St. John’s been around?
We were founded in 1877 as a mission of the Diocese of New Hampshire. We were formally designated an independent parish in 1961.
How can I become further involved in the life, prayer and work of St. John’s?
Many ways exist for you to be involved in the life of this congregation:
- You don’t have to formally become a member of St. John’s or the Episcopal Church to enjoy all our church community has to offer! You can participate in the life and work of St. John’s simply by worshiping with us. You can get on the church mailing list by contacting the church office at (603) 522-3329 or click here to send an email.
- For those wanting more information about St. John’s or the Episcopal Church, Rev. Sue would be glad to talk with you. In addition, we also offer periodic Inquirer’s Classes. If you are interested in the Inquirer’s class, click here for more information.
- If you are or have been an Episcopalian, you may request a formal transfer from your previous congregation. Click here for more information.
- If you were not previously an Episcopalian or if you have not belonged to a Christian congregation, or if you would like to discuss baptism for you or your child, click here for more information.
- If you’d like to get involved in church activities, consider the following:
- If you’d like to serve during the worship service, you may want to join the Lay Readers or Eucharistic ministers or your children might like to be acolytes. If you are musically inclined, we’d love to have you come join our choir.
- The Men’s Club and Women’s Guild put on our parish suppers and church fair, run our thrift shop and perform other projects to raise funds or serve the community.
- Do you have a green thumb? The Gardeners would love volunteers to maintain a section of the church gardens.
- If you’re handy with tools or knowledgeable about building repairs, the Building and Grounds Committee may be the place for you.
- If you like to teach or just like kids, we can always use teachers and assistants in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and the Community Day School