Rites and Celebrations
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Baptism Through baptism we are joined to Christ in his death and resurrection and made members of his body the Church. At All Saints' the sacrament of baptism is celebrated as part of a Sunday service with the congregation present. There are several days on the Church calendar which are especially suitable for baptism (Baptism of Our Lord in late January-early February; The Easter Vigil or Easter Day; Pentecost Sunday; All Saints' Sunday in early November), but baptism can take place at any Sunday liturgy except during the season of Lent. If you are considering baptism for yourself or your child please contact the parish office and a member of the clergy staff will get in touch with you. Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church
The rite of Confirmation provides a means by which those baptized as infants or children can publicly affirm their baptismal vows and by which the grace of the Holy Spirit is given to support the person. For others, it is the rite by which they make commitment to join the Episcopal Church. Those who have been confirmed by bishops in apostolic orders who are joining the Episcopal Church are not confirmed, but rather received by the Bishop. Confirmation and Reception is offered each spring, at a joint service with other area parishes. Confession: The Reconciliation of a Penitent
One of the great gifts of the Gospel is confidence that God welcomes our repentance "for things done and left undone." The Episcopal Church offers sacramental confession as a means of dealing with a troubled conscience or as part of a regular pattern of self-examination. Confessions can be made at any time by appointment with one of the parish clergy, and the clergy would also be happy to talk with you about how one prepares and what is said, or about the benefits of making one's confession. |
Weddings All Saints' liturgy and building makes it an ideal setting for a wedding of great beauty and depth. Couples interested in being married should contact the parish office. One of our clergy will schedule a series with the couple in order to plan the service and to explore a Christian understanding of marriage. All weddings are conducted by a member of our staff clergy, although a clergy friend or family member may assist. Anyone who desires to make their vows before God and the gathered community of family, friends and the Church and receive the grace and blessing of God to help you fulfill your vows may be married at All Saints.' In the Episcopal Church, we believe that marriage is a sacrament – an outward and visible sign of God's love, which means that all weddings performed here are of an explicitly Christian nature and use the liturgy of The Book of Common Prayer. Weddings may be scheduled throughout the year with the exception of the season of Lent, the week before and after Christmas, or over the Thanksgiving weekend. Blessing of Same-Sex Couples
At the General Convention of the Episcopal Church held this past summer, a rite for the blessing of same sex couples was approved by a majority of lay deputies and bishops. The bishop of each diocese has the discretion whether or not to allow these rites to take place in their congregations, and while the Bishop of Michigan voted for the use of this new rite he has not yet released guidelines for its use. All Saints' Church intends to offer blessings for same-sex couples under the direction of our bishop once these guidelines are in place. Funerals
The burial rites of the Church provide a means by which friends and family can acknowledge faith and hope in the midst of loss, and a means by which we can commend those we love to God's keeping. If you wish to schedule a funeral service for a loved one, please contact the parish office and one of our clergy will get in touch with you to plan the details of the service. |
