All Saints of the Desert Episcopal Church

What are services like?
When you come to All Saints of the Desert you will be greeted by a parishioner and handed the Service Bulletin for that week's worship - the Service Bulletin contains the entire text for the service, we try to make it as easy as possible for everyone, whether you are an old pro or coming for the first time, to participate in worship. It’s up to you what to wear. Some come dressed in their “Sunday best” while others prefer more casual attire such as jeans and a nice shirt. We invite you to dress in whatever way you feel is comfortable and appropriate. If you are new to the episcopal church, you will quickly discover that we do a lot of sitting, standing, and kneeling at various times in the worship service. Generally, we stand or kneel for prayer, set for instruction, and stand for praise. Feel free to follow along with the congregation but know that you are not required to do so. Please do what feels good and natural for you and your abilities. All are welcome at the Lord’s Table - no one will ever be denied. If for any reason, you don't want to receive Communion, you are invited to come forward for a blessing during Communion - simply cross your arms over your chest and the priest will say a prayer of blessing for you. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. We are both Catholic (true to historic Christian faith, the word catholic means “universal”) and Protestant (reformed and evangelical). This walk in the middle way is a hallmark of Anglicanism and of the Anglican Church in the United States, known as the Episcopal Church. You are welcome here with all of your doubts and questions! We believe that the Church is the body of which Jesus Christ is the Head and of which all baptized persons are members.

What is the community like?
We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation. We believe that God loves you – no exceptions!