The Joys of the Rite of Reception

Beloved in Christ,

Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Reddall, will be joining us this Sunday, February 15 at our weekly 10:00 am service of Holy Eucharist. Having the Bishop of the Diocese of Arizona join us is always a festive and wonderful occasion - as she oversees and serves as the shepherd of all the Episcopal congregations within our state.

And, it is extra wonderful, because this Sunday we will have 5 people being received into the Episcopal church!

The rite of reception is for “baptized persons who have been members of another christian fellowship and who wish to be affiliated with the Episopal Church.” (see Reception (Christian Commitment) for more info).

During this rite, these 5 members will affirm their faith and commitment of christian responsibilities and baptism to the Bishop.

And, during this rite, all of us in the congregation will reaffirm - alongside those being received - our Baptismal covenant. We express our faith in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We express our need for God’s grace and mercy, and our desire to serve justly and truthfully in a hurting world.

We renounce Satan & the forces of spiritual darkness, and affirm our desire to act as the Light of Christ, by God’s grace and mercy, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

After this, and a number of prayers for the candidates, the Bishop will lay her hands on each of candidates for reception, and receive them into the Episcopal Church with a blessing.

It’s a truly wonderful and joyous occasion to welcome people into the breadth, history, and tradition of the Episcopal church. It is even more wonderful and joyous to reaffirm our Christian commitments to Christ within the broader context of the church community, which is the Body of Christ.

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday - it will be a time for rejoicing!

Yours in Christ,

Alex+