FAQ’s

Who is welcomed to receive Communion at St. Michael’s Anglican Church? 

All Christians of any age who have been baptized and are seeking to follow Christ are welcomed to receive the Sacrament of Communion with us, regardless of denominational affiliation or church background. If this does not describe you, you can cross your arms over your chest and the priest will know to pray a short blessing over you. Or you can remain in your seat and reflect on the service.

What’s the difference between Catholics and Anglicans?

The Anglican Church is catholic, not Roman Catholic; orthodox, not Eastern Orthodox. The three ancient streams, Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans, all share the roots of the first millennial Church. Our doctrinal distinctives from Rome are expressed in the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion in our Book of Common Prayer. We are Reformed Catholics, with holy scripture as our primary source of authority. Tradition and reason then follow the primacy of holy scripture.

What do you believe about Ordination and Leadership?

The Anglican Church is one of three ancient streams of Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican. All three have maintained three biblical expressions of ordained ministry: deacons, priests, and bishops. These are called Holy Orders.

Anglican ecclesiology, church ministry, and structure are rooted in the early Church’s development of these three offices of clergy, or those called to serve and equip the people of God to exercise their gifts and skills to build up the Church, the body of Christ. Paul’s New Testament letters display this emerging order of ordained ministers, those “set apart” for service to the Church (I Timothy 4, Ephesians 4, etc.). Each of these offices has unique responsibilities and oversight in the church family.

The foundational ministry of Christ is the order of the deacon, meaning “servant.” What is the difference between the general call for every Christian to serve and the order of the diaconate? If everyone is called to serve, why then are only some ordained? Ordained ministry is more than a call to serve the Church; it is the call to be the Church’s servant. Ordination is not about being recognized and validated but about recognizing and serving Christ in the least of his brothers (Matthew 25:40).

One remains a deacon when a deacon is ordained to the priesthood. If a priest is consecrated as a bishop, the bishop remains a priest and a deacon. The call to be the Church’s servant remains as one becomes more lowly as a bishop.

God gifts, calls, and raises leaders in the body of Christ to build up the church and equip her for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12). Ordination, or Holy Orders, is a process whereby the church recognizes and confirms those gifts and callings. It culminates in the bishop laying hands on the candidate with prayer, conveying the grace of the Holy Spirit for a specific office and ministry.

How is the staff comprised at St. Michael’s?

Our staff includes male and female lay leaders and ordained leaders. “Lay leaders” are members of the church who lead a ministry but have not been ordained. “Pastors” are leaders (either lay or ordained) who oversee an area of pastoral ministry. We view lay pastors, male and female, as those bestowed with a charism (gift) of caregiving, counsel, and equipping, not to be confused with ordained presbyters (priests). 

We wholeheartedly affirm women in ministry and encourage women to lead as pastors, teachers, small group leaders, worship leaders, global missionaries, vestry (board) members, junior and senior wardens (vestry leaders), and executive staff. We are part of a Diocese which ordains women into Holy Orders as deacons, but not as priests or bishops, in keeping with the scriptural teaching and historical tradition of the Church that only males can be admitted to the offices of presbyter and bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). We reject any notion of male superiority in the historical and biblical practice of male headship.

If you want to read more about Holy Orders in the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, please read the document Understanding Holy Orders.

Why are vestments (robes) worn in worship?

The aim of our worship together is transcendent. We seek to worship in communion with the Church, on earth and in heaven. As we worship together in the name of our Lord, he is present among us, uniting us with the worship of heaven. John’s book of Revelation depicts various scenes of the heavenly worship. Priests and Deacons wear white albs to remind us that we are united with the white-robed martyrs of Revelation 6:11. The white alb reminds us of how the martyrs have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb (Rev. 7:12-14). This is why the liturgical color of Easter is white, representing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The stole around the neck of the priest and deacon signifies the towel of servanthood, and the liturgical season is represented by a change in color.

What is the Liturgical Calendar that Anglicans follow? 

The Liturgical Calendar divides the year into six major seasons: Advent and Christmas (Christ’s Coming), Epiphany (Christ for the whole world), Lent (a time for reflection, repentance and grace in preparation for Easter), Easter (Christ’s resurrection from the dead), Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of Christ’s Church on earth) followed by “ordinary time” (growing together as the Body of Christ and His witnesses in the world). Learn more about the Liturgical Calendar.

What is Anglican worship like? 

Anglican worship is centered around the active participation of hearing and responding to God’s Word through singing, prayer, confession, and fellowship with Christ in Holy Communion. Worship at St. Michael’s is Biblically-based and shaped by the Book of Common Prayer and the Church Year. Here is a description of the meaning behind the components of our service (our liturgy).

Why do Anglicans use Liturgy in their worship?

Liturgy is the structure that any church uses to organize worship. Anglicans believe that a balance of traditional and informal liturgy can be helpful to facilitate worship for a variety of different people. When the liturgy stays the same despite our lives changing every day, it reminds us of God’s steadiness. It also connects us with millions of other Christians (from all over the world and throughout time) who have said the same theologically-grounded prayers to the same God.

At the same time we like to remember that Thomas Cranmer was the first to put a "power point projector” in a service by placing an English prayer book in everyone’s hands. This was revolutionary at the time! His principle was that the Gospel and worship needs to be accessible and culturally aesthetic. So we try to as well! That’s why we’re constantly singing new songs, and why the ACNA updated its entire liturgy in 2018.

Can’t someone "fake it" through liturgy and simply go through the motions?

Sure. Though you can pretty much "fake it" through any style of worship, whether formal or informal. We think that if you engage your mind and heart, and give this style of worship a chance (that is, stick around for a bit), you’ll begin to love it!

Is childcare available during your services?

For children birth to age 5: A nursery with trained staff is available during the first half of the 10:15am worship service. Please pick up your children after the offering so the whole family can participate in Communion together. The staffed nursery is available during the Catechesis hour (9am-10am) as well. A cry room is available the entire time.

For children ages 6-12: These children participate in the entire worship service with the whole family. During the Catechesis hour (9am-10am) there is special programming for these ages to help them learn about God and know Him more deeply.

But aren’t children disruptive to the worship experience?

As Jesus did, we welcome children of all ages as members of the body of Christ, and we love to have them worship with us. We all recognize that God put the wriggle in children, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. They are part of the family! For more information on children at St. Michael’s, visit our Children’s page.

Why are you named after St. Michael?

Read more about our story and the meaning of our name.

If you have any other questions about St. Michael’s or Anglicanism, do not hesitate to contact us. We would love to talk more.