All Saints Episcopal Church in Brighton Heights is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and of the Episcopal Church of the United States. The Episcopal Church is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Our Beliefs
We Episcopalians, with all Christians, believe that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We confess this faith in worship by using the ancient Creeds of the Church: the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. We believe that the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are the revealed Word of God, that this Holy Scripture is given to guide and govern us in concerns of “doctrine and discipline”–what we are to believe and of how we are to live. We affirm that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to our salvation.
The Churches of the Anglican Communion are descended from the renewal of Christian life and teaching in the Protestant Reformation and affirm that salvation is by grace alone, though faith in Jesus Christ.
The Clergy
The Episcopal Church has three “orders” of ordained ministers: deacons, who are called primarily to ministries of service both in the church and in the community; priests, who are ministers called to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, to leadership in sacramental worship, and to service as pastors and administrative leaders in local congregations; and bishops, who are called as spiritual overseers to “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church” (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 517), and who are the chief pastors and administrative leaders in larger regions, or dioceses. Presently serving All Saints is our priest-in-charge, or “Vicar,” the Rev. Bruce Robison. The Rt. Rev. Ketlen A. Solak is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Our Worship and Sacraments
The Book of Common Prayer contains the services used for public worship in our Church and additional resources for pastoral occasions, instruction, and personal devotion. We understand Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, to be the two great Gospel Sacraments and Ordinances for the whole Church. The content of the Book of Common Prayer, including prayers, creeds, catechism, and the historical formularies of Christian doctrine, is also for us an authoritative resource for Church Teaching.
Holy Communion
Holy Communion is a service of Thanksgiving and Worship instituted by Christ himself as a living Memorial of his Death on the Cross, which accomplished our Salvation, and as a sure Sign of his Resurrection from the dead and continued Real Presence with his Church. Those who “draw near with faith” to receive the Bread and Wine are truly nourished, naturally for this life and supernaturally for Eternal Life, by Christ’s Body and Blood.
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church. Those who are members of other Christian denominations are of course encouraged to follow the pastoral and sacramental disciplines of those denominations. Those new to the Episcopal Church may speak with the Vicar about formal and informal opportunities for instruction and preparation to participate in Holy Communion. Those participating in our worship who have not been baptized, or who for any other reason may not wish to receive communion, are invited to come forward at the time of the administration of communion to receive a blessing.
For Parents of Younger Children: Children learn about Communion, first and foremost, of course, by attending church and observing the people around them. They will recognize attitudes of reverence—and they will want to imitate their parents and others and receive Communion as well.
Parents are encouraged to speak with the priest when they feel that their child is ready to receive Communion, so any questions can be addressed and appropriate instruction can be provided. When the children are ready, clergy are happy to coordinate a special date when family and friends may want to celebrate a “First Communion” together as a family.
Holy Baptism
The Book of Common Prayer teaches that Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is the foundation for a New Life as each Christian grows day by day “in the knowledge and love of the Lord.”
Each candidate for Baptism is to be “sponsored” by one or more baptized persons. Parents and godparents, as Christian Sponsors of those who are to be baptized as infants or younger children, make promises in their own names and also take vows on behalf of their child or godchild. Parents and godparents are to be people of active Christian faith. They promise to help their child or godchild to grow in Christian life and in time to assume their responsibilities as members of his Church.
Baptismal Sponsors of adults and older children signify their endorsement of the candidates and express their intention to support them by prayer and example in their Christian life.
If you are interested in Holy Baptism for yourself, or for your child or infant, please contact the Vicar.
Confirmation
In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.
Those baptized as adults, and Christians coming to the Episcopal Church from other denominations (unless they have already been baptized and confirmed with laying on of hands by a bishop), are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism in the presence of a bishop and to receive the laying on of hands.
Christians coming to the Episcopal Church from other denominations who have already been confirmed with the laying on of hands by a bishop may choose to mark their membership in this Church by being formally Received into the Episcopal Church when the bishop is present for his or her Annual Visitation to All Saints Church.
For additional information about Confirmation instruction, or about Reception into the Episcopal Church, please contact the Vicar.
Holy Matrimony
From the Book of Common Prayer: “Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal church it is required that one, at least, of the parties must be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and the canons of this Church.”
Married persons whose marriage was not solemnized in a Church may desire to renew their vows in the church, and our Book of Common Prayer provides for this with an Order of Service for the Blessing of a Civil Marriage.
Couples who desire Christian Marriage, but who don’t have a Home Church of their own, are welcome and invited to speak with the Vicar of All Saints about being married here.
Ministers of the Episcopal Church are required to see that those married in this Church first have appropriate instruction in the meaning and character of Christian Marriage. This instruction may take place over a period of weeks or months before the wedding, and thus it is important for couples to speak with the Vicar about their plans with as much lead-time as possible. The canons of the Church require a minimum advance notice of 30 days for all marriages.
If you are interested in discussing a celebration or blessing of marriage at All Saints, please contact the Vicar.
Christian Burial
Pastoral ministry at the time of a death is available to all in the community, whether or not they have been members of the All Saints congregation. We will pray with you and support you in every way we can. Funeral arrangements should be coordinated between the funeral director, church, and the family. Please contact the Vicar as soon as possible in time of need.