What We Believe
At Saint Peter’s, faith is not about having every answer. It is a life we grow into together — following Jesus, shaped by Scripture, rooted in prayer, and learning to love the world God loves.
AT A GLANCE
We follow Jesus
We seek to love God and our neighbors, as Jesus taught.
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Scripture
shapes us
We read the Bible to learn about God and God’s people.
Worship
forms us
In worship, we practice what it means to be Christian in the world.
Questions are welcome
Honest questions help faith grow deeper, not weaker.
There is a difference between believing that something is true and believing in someone. Watching a man push a wheelbarrow across a tightrope between two buildings and saying "I believe he can make it" is one kind of faith. Climbing into the wheelbarrow is another. The difference is trust.
At Saint Peter's, we are learning — together, and over a lifetime — what it means to climb in.
What Guides Our Life Together
We follow Jesus
We follow Jesus’ way of love, mercy, and justice. His life, death, and resurrection reveal the love of God for the world. We believe God loves you — and that love has the power to change everything.
Scripture shapes us
The Bible is our foundation for faith and discipleship. We read it prayerfully, together, and with open hearts. It speaks anew for our lives today.
We are part of a tradition
We are rooted in the ancient church and the Episcopal tradition.
We honor the past and are open to the Spirit’s leading.
We walk this journey together.
We live our faith in the world
Faith is put into action through service, compassion, and advocacy. We work for a more just and merciful world. Love in word and deed — together.
A Fuller Word about Episcopal Faith
Our faith is both ancient and living. These core convictions shape how we worship, grow, and serve.
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A professor once pressed a single white dot onto a blackboard and said to a room full of theology students: "The white is what we know about God. The black is what we do not. What we know is little. But the little that God has given us to know is precious."
That's the kind of faith we practice here. Not a faith of easy certainty, but one of deep trust — rooted in Scripture, shaped by centuries of prayer, and alive to the questions that honest people bring.
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We believe God’s truth is revealed in Scripture, transmitted in the living tradition of the Church, and illumined by reason. Together, these guide our faith and discernment in every age.
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Our worship is rooted in the Book of Common Prayer, which gives us words for praise, confession, thanksgiving, lament, and hope. It connects us to Christians across generations and helps form us in a shared life of prayer.
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In baptism, we are marked as Christ’s own forever and welcomed into the life of the Church. In the Eucharist, we gather at Christ’s table to receive grace, give thanks, and be nourished for the life of faith.
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The Baptismal Covenant shapes how we live as followers of Jesus. We promise to continue in prayer and community, to return to God again and again, to share the good news of God’s love, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, and to respect the dignity of every human being.
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Thomas asked Jesus directly: "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus didn't rebuke him for asking. He answered him. Honest questions have always been part of following Jesus. They are welcome here too.
Questions You Might Be Asking
Do I have to believe all of this before I come?
No. You are welcome to explore, ask questions, and discover faith at your own pace. You do not have to have everything figured out before you walk through the door.
What if I have doubts?
You’re in good company. Doubt can be part of a deeper and more honest faith. There is room here for wondering, listening, praying, and growing. If you’d like a conversation with clergy, we’re here for you.
What does Episcopal mean?
We are part of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church. Our faith is rooted in Scripture, shaped by worship and sacraments, and lived out with both heart and mind. The word episcopal literally means “of bishops.”
Can I receive Communion?
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive communion. If you would prefer not to receive, you are always welcome to come forward for a blessing. No one is required to participate in any particular way.
This is what life looks like here
Because we seek and serve Christ in all persons, service is part of life at Saint Peter’s. We do not all serve in the same way, but we are all called to participate.
Saint Peter’s is a spiritual home for people from many backgrounds — lifelong Christians, those returning after time away, and those exploring faith for the first time.
We hold this faith together: growing into it, learning it, questioning it, and living it side by side.
Begin Here
For much of Christian history, to believe meant something deeper than accepting an idea. It meant to hold dear, to give loyalty, to entrust oneself. The word credo — I believe — has often been connected with the heart. To say "I believe" is to say where I place my heart. It is to say what I will lean on when everything else gives way.