FAQ's

I have never passed St. Thomas on a drive.  Where in the world are you?  We are easy to find, a mere 5 miles from downtown Lancaster.  For a map and directions, click here.  We are nestled in a residential neighborhood of Manheim Township, tucked away at the end of St. Thomas Road, next to a corn field.  You can't see our buildings from any major thoroughfare!  

If I come to Sunday services, how should I dress?  Neat, casual dress is fine.  Some folks dress up, some folks don't.

When I arrive at your church for a Sunday service, how will I know where to go, what to do?  We have ushers and greeters standing by at the door, ready to help you get oriented, find a seat, and make you feel comfortable while you are with us. A pamphlet entitled "A Brief Guide to Episcopal Worship" is avaialble for those unaquainted with the Episcopal services.

I was baptized in another denomination.  May I receive communion at your church?  You may indeed.  Any baptized Christian is free to receive communion at an Episcopal church.

I was never baptized.  May I receive communion?  While we leave the decision to individual conscience, we strongly recommend you wait until you are baptized, since baptism is the rite by which a person enters the Church.  Classes to prepare you for baptism may be arranged individually with the clergy.

I have children.  Do children participate in worship?  Younger children, up to 5 years old, may go to a staffed child care room or participate in worship. If a child goes to child care, parents may pick up their children from child care at the passing of the peace so the children can take part in  Holy Eucharist or communion. Older children and youth may attend the entire service.  Children, 8 or older and physically able to, may serve as acolytes at the altar and occasionally are asked to read, usher, or do other duties, especially for youth-oriented services, such as our early Christmas Eve service.

When is Sunday school?  Currently, child care is offered for children up to and including age 5.  However, Adult Formation welcomes young people who may be interested and begins at 9:10 AM. 

How do I become a member of your church?  Membership is a somewhat looser concept in the Episcopal Church than it is in many other denominations.  If you are an Episcopalian, a letter of transfer from your previous parish will make you a member. Generally speaking, any adult who is a regular communicant and a financial contributor of record may consider him- or herself a member.  Many, however, choose to formalize their decision to join through either confirmation, reception, or a reaffirmation of baptismal vows.  Those who wish to be confirmed or received by the bishop require instruction, so potential candidates are urged to speak to the rector.

I am not a member, but I would like my child to be baptized.  Would it be possible to baptize him/her at St. Thomas?  It would, but we would encourage you to become a member as well, since a Christian is always baptized into a particular community of faith.  The parish in which your child is baptized should be the community in which you intend to raise your child in the faith.

Would it be possible to get married at St. Thomas if we are not members? Yes, but you would be expected to go through pre-marital counseling with one of our pastoral staff for a minimum of three sessions. You would also be expected to attend Sunday services with us as you prepare for your wedding.  Generally, we encourage people to be married in the parish or congregation in which they expect to worship.  

I would like to participate in a regular Bible study or prayer group.  How do I get involved?  Contact the office or explore the Ministries and How to Connect pages on this website.  Bible studies, prayer groups, and other spiritual formation classes and retreats occur at various times during the course of the year.

What does the word "Episcopal" mean?  It means "having or involving bishops".  It is derived from the Greek word for bishop, episkopos.  After the Revolutionary War, Americans who had been members of the Church of England in colonial times organized a new church, as fully independent as their new country.  They chose to call it "the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America," in part because bishops were important to their theology and sense of proper church order. 

I have sometimes heard the word "Anglican" associated with the Episcopal Church.  What does that mean?  It means "pertaining to or derived from the Church of England".  The word comes from the name of the Germanic tribe that eventually gave its name, in slightly altered form, to the English people and their language: the Angles.  Many of the churches around the world that owe their origins to the missionary efforts of the Church of England describe themselves as Anglican.  These churches are bound together in a loose confederation called the Anglican Communion, which is why most American Episcoplians also consider themselves Anglicans.  It underscores a particular theology and tradition.

What is a "rector"?  The word is sometimes used for the head of a religious or academic institution, but in the Episcopal Church it is used for what other denominations generally call the "senior pastor," the priest or minister in charge of a particular parish.