The Episcopal Church
Welcomes You
Our Presiding Bishop
28th Presiding Bishop & Primate
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office on Nov. 1 for a nine-year term. In this role, he serves as the church’s chief pastor and CEO. Known for his expertise in organizational learning and adaptive change, Rowe is committed to strengthening support for local ministry and mission.
He was ordained bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 2007 after serving as rector of St. John’s in Franklin, Pennsylvania, for seven years. From 2014 to 2018, he served as bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, and from 2019 to 2024, he led a partnership between the Episcopal Dioceses of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York.
Rowe holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Grove City College, a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University. He has served as a leader of many civic and churchwide organizations and governance bodies, and as parliamentarian for the House of Bishops.
Our Family
Baptism is one of the two most important sacraments of the Church, the other is the Holy Eucharist. It is administered to individuals of any age who have not been previously baptized in any other Christian denomination. If someone is joining the Episcopal church from another denomination, their baptism in that denomination is recognized and acknowledged.
“Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 298).
In the waters of baptism we are lovingly adopted by God into God’s family, which we call the Church, and given God’s own life to share and reminded that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ.
In baptism we are made sharers in the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the foundation for all future church participation and ministry. Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons.
Sponsors (godparents) speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children and cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates.
During the baptismal rite the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant.
The water of baptism may be administered by pouring. Candidates are baptized "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," and then marked on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Chrism is used for this marking. The newly baptized is "sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own for ever."
Those interested in the sacrament of Holy Baptism may call the parish office, or contact the Rector directly.
♦ In the pews are the following books:
Hymnal (blue) -used for hymns and service music. Service music is found in the front of the hymnal and is indicated by” S—”.
Book of Common Prayer (red) -pages are indicated in the bulletin using “BCP—”.
♦ All are welcome to receive Holy Communion. At the communion rail, please feel free to stand or kneel, the wafer will be placed in your open palm. The wine may be received by intinction (dipping the wafer into the wine) or by drinking from the common cup.
If coming to the altar rail is difficult for you, please remain in your seat and the priest will be communion to you.
♦ Episcopal tradition is to stand to sing, sit to listen and kneel to pray. However, do what is customary for you. Outward and visible signs of faith such as kneeling, making the sign of the cross, bowing, etc. are at the discretion of the individual.
♦ Coffee Hour follows the service in the Parish Hall, through the right side door at the front of the church. Please join us.
♦ Rest rooms are located in the Parish Hall.
We would be delighted to have you here, worshipping with us. When you visit, please introduce yourself to our Priest and Parishioners, and join us all at coffee hour.
Our hope is that you will feel welcomed in this place of God, by this family of God. We'd like to get to know you and to answer any questions you may have about our church.
