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Inquirers Group
Next meeting: Thursday, Aug. 6, 7:30 PM, Chapel House
All are welcome at St. Philip’s!
Maybe you were raised in another church but left because there were things you disagreed with or because it just didn’t seem to satisfy. Maybe you’ve never belonged to any church but are wondering now if there’s something here for you. Or maybe you were raised in the Episcopal church and went away from it for a while, or you moved here from another area and are looking for a new church family.
Whatever the reason for your interest, be assured that you are welcome at St. Philip’s. If you decide after checking us out for a while that this is not the place for you, that’s OK, too. We are a diverse group of individuals who have found that this church community is a place where we can join together in the work of building God’s kingdom, and we're happy to have your company on the way.
Inquirers Group offers an opportunity to learn more about St. Philip’s and the Episcopal church. The bishop will be coming to St. Philip's in the fall to baptize, confirm, and receive new members into the Episcopal Church, and these sessions are offered as preparation for that day. The meetings are open, however, to anyone who would like to explore the Anglican tradition, ask questions, and to share their own journey of faith.
Poke around this website if you want to know more about our parish community, and check out the pages under "exploring faith" to delve deeper into what we believe. The material on this page is meant to provide a brief introduction to Episcopal faith and practice.
The building that is St. Philip’s today is a former schoolhouse that was purchased by the Diocese of Pennsylvania and established as a mission church in 1921. We became a self-supporting parish in 2008. You can read more about our history here.
St. Philip's is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, a community of 155 congregations headquartered in Philadelphia, which in turn is part of the Episcopal Church, one of 38 autonomous churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
If you want to learn more about the Episcopal Church, you may be interested in the church’s online Visitors' Center, which has lots of helpful and interesting information. There's also a section called Explore the Episcopal Church on the Episcopal Cafe website. This page of Frequently Asked Questions about the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Tradition might also help.
As we believe, so we pray.
The Prayer Book is one thing that we Episcopalians all share. It is a central collection of prayers, worship services, and historical documents, and it also includes a basic catechism. You'll find an online version here.
The Rev. Dr. Gregory S. Straub, Executive Officer and Secretary of General Convention, describes this gathering as “a combination of legislative assembly, bazaar of goods and services and family reunion.” Every three years, representatives from all parts of the Episcopal church gather for General Convention, the church’s primary governing and legislative body. These representatives include bishops, clergy, and laity. The 2009 General Convention will take place in July in Anaheim, Calif. You can read all about it here.
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