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A Community United in Love, Reconciliation, and Service.
Learn More about St. Francis of Assisi
We cherish every individual, and believe in joyful service, reconciliation, healing, and healthy intellectual discussion. Our goal is to build a vibrant, active community of faithful Christians that welcomes searchers and people at every stage of their faith journey.
Attend Our Newcomers' Warm Welcome Event:
Designed to Get to Know More About You and Our Church Family
Curious to learn more about our community, worship style, values, and where you fit in? We invite you to visit our church, contact our leadership, or attend a bi-monthly Warm Welcome Newcomers' event, designed to introduce you to the heart and soul of our church family.
During these bi-monthly one-hour events, our ears and hearts are open to hear more about your aspirations and the path that led you here, and the tools and support you're seeking to meet you where you are in your faith journey today. These casual group gatherings introduce you to a member of the congregation, a dedicated liaison and First Friend, to guide you through the steps of becoming an integral part of our church family.
We would love to learn more about your faith journey. Whether you just moved into the area, are looking for fresh spiritual perspectives, seek to deepen your faith, or are entirely new to the Christian path, all are welcome at St. Francis. Let’s connect.
How To Become a Member of the Episcopal Church
Here is some general information about membership in the Church.
Baptism makes us members of the Church. And, we can then live into the meaning of our baptism within specific congregations and Christian denominations. The five sections below will spell this out more fully.
1. Most importantly, the sacrament of Holy Baptism, makes you a member of the Universal Christian
Church. The Episcopal Church recognizes as Christian all persons who have been baptized with water and in
the name of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
2. If you were baptized into the Universal Church in an Episcopal congregation then, in addition to becoming
a member of the Universal Church, you were enrolled as a member of that particular congregation and also
became an “Episcopalian.” You are member at the church where you were baptized until death or until you
transfer to another congregation. So, if you were baptized at St Francis of Assisi Church, you are a baptized
member here. If you have asked that the record of your baptism be transferred here, then you are a member
here as well.
3. If you were baptized with water and in the name of the Trinity in another Christian communion or
denomination, you can become a member of St Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church by asking that your letter
of baptism be transferred so that you can be enrolled on the books of this parish. This makes you a baptized
member of the Episcopal Church in general and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church
specifically.
4. All baptized members are encouraged to receive the sacrament of confirmation, either when they reach
maturity or in connection with baptism if they are baptized as adults. In confirmation ‘we express a mature
commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by
a bishop.’ After confirmation, a person is a confirmed member.
5. If you were baptized and confirmed in another church you may be received (rather than reconfirmed) by a
bishop of The Episcopal Church. This makes you a confirmed member of The Episcopal Church. Adult (16
years of age and older), confirmed, communicants in good standing (you have been faithful in attending
corporate worship and in praying, working, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God) may vote for
Vestry (the ruling body of the congregation), run for the Vestry and represent the congregation in the diocese.
We hope this answers some of your questions.
We encourage you to be in touch.
You are most welcome at St Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church!
(Much of the information above was taken from the Forward Movement brochure on “Membership in the Episcopal
Church”. Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of The Episcopal Church and is sustained through sales of tracts and through tax-free contributions. They can be reached at 300 West Fourth Street, Cinicinnati, OH 45202-2666, 800-543-1813; www.forwardmovement.org)
Come as you are. Discover joy & fulfillment in honoring our Creator together.
Whether you are just starting your spiritual exploration, or you've been devoted to your faith for a considerable time, you are welcome here. And we warmly invite you to worship, grow, and serve with us at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal.
We intentionally nurture a setting where people from diverse backgrounds can connect with each other and the Divine through the communal experience of Holy Communion, the uplift of music, the wisdom and insight of sermons, and the depth of meaningful fellowship.
Come as you are, wherever you are on your faith journey, and let's discover the joy and fulfillment that emerges from honoring our Creator together.
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St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church desires to serve Christ by serving our neighbors.
"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40
St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Chapin, SC exists as a witness to God’s grace. We believe that through Jesus Christ we are meant to serve God faithfully and joyfully, each other, and our neighbors.
Our belief is that all of God’s children are special and unique; we believe in the sacraments and scripture, anchored in tradition and reason. Our community is welcoming to all as we embrace our vision of social justice, peace, love and understanding.
We connect to the word of God through meaningful preaching, teaching, music, and Holy Communion. Worship services are open to all who want to share in God's word and grow spiritually. Through study of the Bible, together we discover the good news of Jesus Christ’s love.
Questions about how to take part in our community or join the church? Contact our Clergy.
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