FAQ

At St. Philip's, we like questions . . .

What's a Eucharist?
Eucharist is a Greek word which means "celebration." That's what we do on Sunday morning and at 12:15 Monday through Friday. Eucharist=Holy Communion=The Lord's Supper. We celebrate and give thanks for the good things God has done for us by giving praise and sharing in a ritual meal, started by Jesus on the night of his betrayal and arrest. The bread and wine, consecrated by a priest or bishop at the altar, symbolizes Christ's body and blood. Communion unites us as a community of faith and articulates in a single act the core of our belief.

What happens during a Eucharist?
It depends on when you come. On Sunday at 7:45, we start with a silent procession of worship leaders, followed by a few prayers, a few readings from the Bible, and a sermon (usually 7 - 15 minutes, depending on who's in the pulpit). We say the Nicene Creed, an ancient summary of our faith, and pray for those who need help. We confess our sins and receive assurance that God really forgives us. We exchange the Peace (we all shake hands, hugging is strictly optional). Then we have Communion. On Sunday at 8:45, 9:00, and 11:15, music -- congregational hymns and choral anthems -- adds a delightful facet to our worship.

What's a Cathedral?
Cathedral comes from the Latin word cathedra, which roughly translates as "bishop's seat." Traditionally, a Cathedral is the home church of a bishop. A bishop exercises oversight as chief pastor of a diocese. A diocese consists of all the Episcopal congregations within a given geographical area. The Cathedral of St. Philip serves the Diocese of Atlanta, which includes the northern half of Georgia. We hope our Cathedral can serve as a resource for the diocese and as a place of reconciliation and spiritual maturation for the entire city of Atlanta.

Why priests?
From the earliest Christian communities, certain leaders were selected for specific ministry within the community. Over the centuries, this role has evolved. Today, priests are pastors, preachers, teachers, leaders, and stewards of sacramental rites of baptism, communion, holy matrimony, burial, and reconciliation of a penitent (confession). Our priests can marry and father or bear children because, yes, women can be priests, too. Why? Well, that might take a cup of coffee, so give us a call. We can't explain everything on a website!

Where do Episcopalians stand on the important issues?
The Episcopal Church enjoys a plurality of viewpoints on what the important issues even are. We orient our identity around worship, rather than strict adherence to any particular theology. The Episcopal Church, or at least the St. Philip branch, isn't a really good place for people who want to be told what to think or how to think. As Galatians 5:1 professes, "For freedom Christ has set us free." We are accountable to each other in community, but the criteria of that accountability centers upon forgiveness, mercy, kindness, and patience. We don't always meet those standards, but most of the time we try. And the fact that we try eliminates the common criticism that Christians are hypocrites. Hypocrites don't try.