About All Saints

Based on All Saints’ Parish Academy Studies in Anglican Spirituality

• they believe the cultural conditioning of the books of the Bible by centuries long oral tradition and the editorial process - something like a montage, where different (biased) points of view & versions overlay one another, i.e. Genesis 1:1-2:4 & 2:5-25; the different interpretations of the experience of Jesus in the NT – Palestinian, Greek, Jewish, and Gentile.

The Bookstore and Gift Shoppe is located next to the lobby of our Welcome Center.

Here you will find Christian books and gifts that meet a wide range of needs. If you need a special book or gift, it can be ordered for you.

The ladies who operate the Bookstore & Gift Shoppe often make trips to Orlando and Atlanta shows to buy special gifts for the seasons of the year.

There is a children's section that is quite popular with parents and grandparents - not to mention the youth. This is one of All Saints' most popular gathering places on 

Sunday morning!

Please take time to explore the information on the world of Episcopalians below. For statistical data, click here.

Episcopal History

The Episcopal Church in the United States is but one of 2600 groups in the world that lay claim to Christianity in the 21st century. The Episcopal Church has 2,500,000 members of the 2,015,000,000 (33%) people in the world claiming to be Christian. Following Christianity, Islam has 1,300,000,000 (22%) adherents and Hinduism 900,000,000 (15%). Since there are an estimated 850 million non-religious people in the world, the opportunity for Episcopalians and Anglicans to grow is endless.

The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The word 'Anglican' comes from the word 'anglia', the Latin name for England. When Episcopalians refer to themselves as Anglicans, they are referring to their Church of England roots.

The Episcopal Church has a story that goes back to Jerusalem itself. Christianity began when Jesus of Nazareth established the foundational church in Jerusalem under the authority of the Apostles. The Christian religion began as a part of the Jewish religion as the Apostolic Church. During this time early Christianity began to transform itself into the non-Jewish culture of the Greeks and the Romans on one side and into North African cultures on the other side. This first great transformation of the Christian religion greatly impacted the history of Christianity.

By 150 AD the main activity of the early church had shifted from the Hellenistic-Jewish Christians of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee to Gentile Christians centered mainly in Corinth and Rome. This was due to the leadership and influence of Paul of Tarsus.

The most dramatic event in early Christianity, which was very different from foundational Christianity, was its eventual adoption as the state religion of Rome in the 4th century. When Christianity became the Roman State religion, it had not only to justify Roman authority, but it had to provide political and social theories to underlie the use of that authority. Foundational Christianity did not do that! What followed was the blending of a society with a religion and that continued until the development of medieval Christianity. This happened with the diffusion of Christianity with Roman expansion throughout European cultures from the 5th century until the Renaissance in the 14th century.

There were two distinct stages in this diffusion. In the first, Europe was a highly diverse, multicultural society. As Christianity spread among the diverse cultures it was 'further' transformed in part by each of these cultures. We see this today in cultures such as the Celtic, Scottish, Irish, English, French, German cultures (to name a few) and their particular socialization of Christianity. In the second stage, Christianity became the common ground for a European monoculture.

For the first thousand years of her history, the Church changed quickly, but it was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers - Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople - formed a cohesive whole and were in full communion with each other. There was an occasional heretical or schismatic group, but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in 1054 A.D., the Roman patriarch pulled away from the other four, pursuing the long-developing claim of universal headship of the Church. The world had made its way into the Church. The Roman Catholic tradition continued down one road of history and the Orthodox traditions continued down another road of history. The Episcopal Church came from the Roman Catholic road.

A monumental event happened for the Roman Catholic Church in 1517. Martin Luther started the European/Protestant Reformation by nailing 95 complaints against the Roman Catholic  Church to a church door in Wittenburg, Germany. Complaints focused on clergy corruption and the heavy-handed authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Roman Catholics in Great Britain began to pull away from Rome in 1529 because of the Roman Catholic Church corruption. This was the beginning of the English Reformation. By 1534, under Henry VIII, the English people formed their own independent church, called the Church of England. Christians in England had been under the full authority of Rome since the Norman Conquest in the 11th century - for about five centuries. The new English Church stayed fairly close to Roman Catholic traditions and King Henry VIII remained a devout Roman Catholic all his life.

The Church of England has a long and good history. Its doctrine and structure are built around the Book of Common Prayer, the Articles of Religion, the Creeds, and other traditions such as government by bishops.

Following the break with the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England wrote a book to guide its worship. This was the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. It has since evolved into new translations. The Articles of Religion defined the differences between the new Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. The Creeds were continued as basic statements of faith dating from the 2nd and 4th centuries - when Christianity was one.

The next step toward the birth of the Episcopal Church came when the Church of England came to colonial America. Anglican chaplains brought their faith to the American colonies with the first explorers. In 1607 the first permanent church settlement was started in Jamestown, Virginia. In 1689 King's Chapel was built in Boston. It was the first Anglican Church in New England. In 1693 the College of William and Mary was established in Williamsburg, Virginia. It stressed Anglican faith and study.

From 1695-1705 expansion was rapid. Other church settlements were organized in larger cities, such as New York and Philadelphia. By the American Revolution (1770's and 1780's), Anglican churches were located in every colony. In several Southern colonies, the Church of England was established as the state religion, supported by public taxation.

Although membership grew, Anglicans were a religious minority in America. A lack of bishops and their unpopular reputation of being tied to the English government limited them. There were no bishops in the early colonies. This was a problem  because it takes a bishop to ordain clergy. Plus, it takes three bishops to ordain a bishop. Consequently, colonial ministers had to travel the dangerous return route to England to be ordained.

The America Revolution was a time of crisis for the Anglican Church in America. When the war began, many Anglican clergy left the country because at ordination they had sworn loyalty to the King of England. Church members who remained loyal to the English Crown suffered persecution by imprisonment and banishment. Church membership declined.

Many church members, however, supported the Revolution. Two-thirds of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were Anglicans. Such leaders as James Madison, George Washington and Patrick Henry were Anglicans. Some outstanding Anglican organizers who emerged during the Revolution were Dr. Samuel Seabury, the first American bishop, the Rev. William White, chaplain of the Continental Congress, and the Rev. Samuel Provoost, chaplain to the first U.S. Congress.

After the American Revolution, the Church had to begin anew without Church of England support. They needed bishops, a national organization, and the ability to govern themselves. The clergy took steps to solve these challenges.

In 1782, Rev. White published a pamphlet called "The Case of the Episcopal Churches in the U.S. Considered." It was the first proposal for an American Episcopal Church - traditional, but separate from the Church of England. In 1784, a group of Connecticut clergymen chose Dr. Seabury to be the first American bishop. He went to England to be ordained, but was refused because he wouldn't pledge allegiance to the King. Finally, he was ordained in Scotland. In New Jersey, an assembly of clergy and laymen agreed on a preliminary declaration of principles and called for a larger convention to further organize the Church.

The first General Convention was held in 1785. Church members from most states met in Philadelphia. They began to form a Church constitution and a revision of the Book of Common Prayer, but there were still many disagreements. This group urged English bishops to ordain chosen American bishops.

In 1786, an Act of Parliament was passed, allowing American bishops to be ordained without an oath of allegiance. The following year, Rev. White and Rev. Provoost were ordained in England.

On October 16, 1789 in Philadelphia the Episcopal Church was officially organized at a General Convention. Church members from all the states gathered and adopted a constitution that stressed flexibility. It provided for church structure independent of foreign and civil authority, legislative general conventions that included laity, election of bishops, and education of clergy. Members ratified seventeen Church laws as foundations of Christian doctrine and they also authorized a revised, American Book of Common Prayer.

Since 1789, the Episcopal Church has become a church treasured by many people. We hope that you find this very brief history helpful and we hope that you will find your journey with us at All Saints' Episcopal Church both joyful and meaningful. All Saints' has been serving Lakeland, Florida for 125 years. Take time to visit this historical parish and get to know the people who are still 'making a difference'!

The History of the Episcopal Shield

The red cross on a white field is the St. George Cross, an indicator of our link to the Church of England, the mother church of the Anglican Communion. The miniature crosses in the blue quadrant symbolize the nine original American dioceses that met in Philadelphia in 1789 to adopt the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

The outline of the miniature crosses is in the form of St. Andrew's Cross in tribute to the Scottish church's role in ordaining the first American bishop, Samuel Seabury, in 1784. The colors red, white and blue symbolize, respectfully, the sacrifice of Christ and Christian martyrs, the purity of the Christian faith, and the humanity of Christ received from the Virgin Mary. In duplicating the colors of the American flag, they also represent the Episcopal Church's standing as the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion

Episcopalians

What is an Episcopalian? An Episcopalian is a Christian who belongs to the Episcopal Church.

The word "Episcopal" means, "governed by bishops". The Episcopal Church (2,500,000 members) is a member of the Anglican Communion, the third largest body of Christians in the world with 73,000,000 members. The Roman Catholic Church has 1,043,000,000 members and the Eastern Orthodox Church has 225,000,000. In the year 2000, the Episcopal Church had 7359 churches and 7741 clergy.

The Anglican Communion derived from the Church of England and the Episcopal Church shares with it traditions of faith and order as set forth in its Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer had its beginning in 1549. The latest American revision is the 1979 Book of Common Prayer.

The earliest settlers brought the Anglican traditions to the American colonies. It spread rapidly as the country expanded westward.

The Episcopal Church is one whose traditions include attitudes that are Protestant and Catholic, ancient and reformed, liberal and conservative. It is the church of the "via media" or the "middle way". It is renowned as a church with few "musts". It points out and does not dictate a person's response to God.

Episcopalians find the fullest expression of Christianity in the Bible, the ancient Creeds, the sacraments, and the ministry. "Scripture, tradition, and reason" is the Episcopal motto. This is best understood as the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and reasonableness! It is very common and expected that in any Episcopal Church you will find people of many different backgrounds, opinions, politics, and persuasions worshiping together in peace. That is because "respect" is such an important part of the Episcopal Church.

Interpretation of the Christian faith varies somewhat from parish to parish, but within the framework of understanding of the Holy Trinity, salvation, the church, and worship. For instance, the Episcopal Church is a liturgical church. It has formal rites for public worship. It uses three texts in worship — the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Hymnal. The texts will vary little from parish to parish, but the method of conducting services may vary greatly. This variance may be from very plain services to those with great ceremony. Every Episcopal parish is different. Most are "middle of the road". Others are very charismatic and pentecostal in nature. Still others are very "Roman Catholic" in nature. Others try very hard to be like English cathedrals. Still others vie to be "low church" while their neighbors are "high church".

When Episcopalians choose a church (where they have the choice), they are usually deciding on whether they want a small or large one, a plain one or an elaborate one, and a warm (friendly) or a cold (aloof) one. They are also like everyone else in picking a church home. They want to know if they like the clergy, especially his or her personality, preaching and teaching style.

Episcopalians are sacramental. They believe there are two main sacraments instituted and ordained by Jesus. They are the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Episcopalians call the Lord's Supper the Holy Eucharist. The word "Eucharist" means thanksgiving. The five other "minor" sacraments were neither directly commanded by Christ, nor are they applicable to everyone. They are Confession (now called Reconciliation of a Penitent), Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Ordination, and Ministry of Healing (called Unction).

Clergy in the Episcopal Church are the bishops, priests, and deacons. Bishops are elected spiritual overseers of groups of parishes and missions, which includes their priests and deacons. Priests are parish and mission leaders. Deacons assist priests in parish duties. These are simple definitions of clergy duties. They all do much more. The Episcopal Church also has religious orders of monks and nuns.

Structure in the Episcopal Church is very democratic, resembling the basic government of the United States. A bishop presides over a diocese, which is a group of parishes and missions. Working for him or her is a group of priests and deacons who preside over the parishes and missions. These parishes and missions elect lay delegates who attend an annual Convention of the diocese. These Conventions make decisions for the diocese. They also elect representatives to attend the National Convention of the Episcopal Church, which makes decisions for the entire Episcopal Church. These conventions are held every three years. The Episcopal Church Convention is presided over by a Presiding Bishop. Attending the National Convention are Episcopal bishops who can be there and elected representatives who are clergy and non-clergy. Being in communion with the Church of England, the Episcopal Church recognizes the Archbishop of Canterbury's primacy of honor throughout the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church in the United States, however, is self-governing.

So, being an Episcopalian means striving to fulfill Christ's mission of redemption. It means trying to follow God Commandments, raise children in Christ's' love, and being involved in building the Kingdom of God.

There is a lot to enjoy in the Episcopal Church, especially All Saints'. All Saints', Lakeland, Florida has been serving central Florida for 125 years! If you are looking for a vibrant church with a solid reputation and history, you will enjoy making this parish your home!

Our Five In-Person Worship Services

All of our services have Holy Communion (Lord's Supper) and follow the liturgy found in the Book of Common Prayer.

Wednesday 12:10 p.m. – The focus of this service is prayer and healing. This is a service led by members of our Order of St. Luke healing community. We have scripture lessons, a message on healing, prayers for individuals and the community, and a time at the end to prayer for specific people in attendance. 

Saturday 4:00 p.m. – This service meets the needs of those who have to work on Sundays or those who prefer to worship in the afternoon with a more intimate fellowship. 

Sunday 7:30 a.m. – This service meets the needs of those who rise early, enjoy a quiet service, and value worship using the Rite I liturgy. 

Sunday 8:50 a.m. – (Piano & Adult Ensemble/Organ/Congregational Songs) This service meets the needs of those who desire worship with a broad range of musical styles and worship that finishes earlier in the morning to meet family and personal needs. Student acolytes serve, Children's Church and nursery care are provided, and we have opportunities for special services with our children and youth. 

Sunday 10:50 a.m. – (Organ/Adult Choir/Cantor/Episcopal Hymns) This service meets the needs of those wanting to attend church later in the morning, who desire music oriented to the Episcopal Hymnal only, sung music settings, sung Psalm, and more ceremonial worship. Student acolytes serve, and Children's Church and nursery care are provided.

What to Expect in Our Services: Our Practices and Traditions

In worship, you will be our respected and welcomed guest.

Our stewards will greet you and try to meet your every need. They will give you a worship bulletin, and you may sit wherever you are most comfortable.

As you enter our nave, you will experience an atmosphere of beauty and reverence. Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles, but large or small, elaborate or plain, your eye will be drawn to the altar and historical stained glass windows. Your emotions and thoughts will be taken at once to God in this ambiance of holiness.

We observe the traditional Christian worship seasons - Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. Our sanctuary allows you to experience many worship arts, particularly the radiant colors of these changing holy seasons in which time is sanctified.

It is the custom upon entering the church to kneel for a prayer of personal preparation for worship and to avoid excessive conversation. In many churches it is also the custom to bow when entering and leaving the pew. This is an act of respect and reverence for the saving work of Christ and the sovereignty of God.

Standing before the pews, there is a lectern and a pulpit.

All Saints' worship involves the congregation. In the pews, you will find the Book of Common Prayer, the use of which enables the congregation to share fully in worship. We also have Bibles in the pews for study and reflection.

You may wonder when to stand, sit, and kneel. A general rule is that we stand to sing, to say the Creed and for the reading of the Gospel. We sit during anthems, readings of the Bible, and the sermon. We kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as His children and as an act of humility before God.

Our main worship is the Holy Eucharist, which means 'thanksgiving', thus the central focus of Episcopal worship is the altar, the saving work of Christ.

While parts of the service are always the same, others change. At Holy Eucharist, for example, two Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday, as do the psalms. Certain prayers also change according to the worship season. Page numbers for parts of the service are printed in the worship bulletin you receive from the steward.

At the end of worship, some people kneel for personal prayer before leaving. Others sometimes sit to listen to the organ postlude, which is quite beautiful and inspiring.

Following the service, the clergy will greet you as you depart. Be sure to let them know if you are a guest.

All visitors are our honored guests. If you would like a tour of the church during your visit, please let the clergy know ahead of time when you’ll be visiting, and they’ll schedule a time after worship to give you a tour of the church and introduce you to our family.

When you enter our church for worship, you will be greeted by one of our Stewards (ushers) who will give you a worship bulletin and answer your questions. If you would like more information about our parish, they have guest material they can give you.

We have a Welcome Center with a Coffee Bar. If you are interested, please ask for directions to it. Here you will find fresh coffee and you will be able to socialize with our family. Sunday visitors may also enjoy breakfast, September - May, from 8:15 - 10:15 a.m.

As you enter our sanctuary, you will experience an atmosphere of beauty and reverence. Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles; but large or small, elaborate or plain, your eye will be drawn to the altar and historical stained glass windows. Your emotions and thoughts will be taken at once to God in this ambiance of holiness.

We observe the traditional Christian worship seasons - Advent, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost. Our sanctuary allows you to experience many worship arts, particularly the radiant colors of these changing holy seasons in which time is sanctified.

All Saints' worship involves the congregation. In the pews, you will find the Book of Common Prayer, the use of which enables the congregation to share fully in worship. We also have Bibles in the pews for study and reflection.

As a liturgical church, you may wonder when to stand, sit, and kneel. A general rule is that we stand to sing, to say the Creed and for the reading of the Gospel. We sit during anthems, readings of the Bible, and the sermon. We kneel for prayer as an act of humility before God. Some Episcopal congregations stand for prayer. You are free to stand for prayer at All Saints', if that is your tradition.

Our main worship is the Holy Eucharist, which means 'thanksgiving', thus the central focus of Episcopal worship is the altar, the saving work of Christ.

While parts of the service are always the same, others change. At Holy Eucharist, for example, Bible selections are read. These change each Sunday, as do the psalms. Certain prayers also change according to the worship season. Page numbers for parts of the service are printed in the worship bulletin you receive from the Steward.

Following worship, the clergy will greet you as you depart. Be sure to let them know if you are a guest. Refreshments are served on most Sundays at the entrance after the 10:50 a.m. worship service.

Here are highlights of "some" of our activities. There are many more!

JANUARY

• Epiphany Celebration
• Baptism of Jesus
• Parish Academy Classes
• Diocesan Convention
• Annual Parish Meeting/Lunch

FEBRUARY

• Youth Super Bowl Party
• Shrove Tuesday Dinner
• Ash Wednesday Services
• All Saints' Family Celebration

MARCH

• Lake Mirror Procession
• Holy Week
• Easter Eggstravaganza
• Easter Sunday

APRIL

• Confirmation/Bishop's Visit
• Family Outdoor Day at Camp Gilead

MAY

• Mother's Day
• Lunch with Graduating Seniors
• Pentecost Sunday/Youth Sunday
• Annual All Saints' Golf Tournament

JUNE

• Father's Day
• Children's Pool Party
• Teen Overnight Outing
• Vacation Bible School

JULY

• Home Grown Mission Week

AUGUST

• Sunday School Kickoff/Backpack Blessing 
• Parish Academy Registration

SEPTEMBER

• First Holy Communion Classes
• Choir Kick-off
• Parish Academy Classes

OCTOBER

• Blessing of the Animals
• Annual Church Picnic
• Youth Sunday
• Fall Festival

NOVEMBER

• All Saints' Sunday
• New Member Lunch
• First Holy Communion Service
• Patriot Sunday
• Thanksgiving

DECEMBER

• St. Nicholas Party
• Lessons & Carols & English Tea
• Christmas Pageant
• Christmas Services