Pop quiz
1. What does a Vestry do?
2. How long are Vestry terms at Saint Philip’s?
3. How many seasons are there in the Episcopal church—and why do they exist?
4. How do you schedule a meeting room on campus?
5. What are Episcopal Church canons?
6. How are Bread and Wine left over from the liturgy handled?*
7. What are the church’s office hours?
8. What are the three orders of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church?
9. Why do clergy wear vestments?
10. Where is the common room on campus?
Extra Credit question: Why are Bread and Wine capitalized in question number 6?
The answer key is at the bottom of this article.
If you answered all 10 questions correctly then you can skip the upcoming Orientation sessions. But if you couldn’t answer all of the questions or got even one wrong, then you will find the upcoming Orientation sessions helpful—as well as an opportunity to meet new parishioners, spend time with some volunteer leaders, and enjoy a hands-on workshop facilitated by parishioner and professional artist Susan Gamble.
All are invited 9:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, October 28, and Saturday, November 4. Child-care and snacks will be provided.
1. What does a Vestry do?
The Vestry is a group of volunteers that serves as the parish’s functional Board of Directors. Vestry members provide leadership and oversight of the mission and ministry of the congregation, and manage the church buildings and property, finances, and personnel.
2. How long are Vestry terms at Saint Philip’s?
Saint Philip’s Vestry members serve in three groups of three-year terms.
3. How many seasons are there in the Episcopal church—and why do they exist?The church has six seasons: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and the Season after Pentecost (which is sometimes called Ordinary Time). Each season has a different emphasis that helps focus our spiritual life.
There are times for waiting and times for celebrating, times of darkness and times of light, times of pain and times of deep joy. Being a Christian is not about being happy all of the time, and it is not always easy. The changing seasons of the church remind us that there is room for all of our experiences in the Christian journey. “Walk in Love, Episcopal Beliefs and Practices” pages128-129
4. How do you schedule a meeting room on campus?
The best method is to use the link on the website or complete a printed form (which is available in the church office) and give it to Saint Philip’s Facility Manager Myron Molzen.
5. What are Episcopal Church canons?
They are regulations the church adopts to govern itself. To change the constitution or canons, the Bishops and Deputies at the church-wide triennial convention must vote together.
6. How are Bread and Wine left over from the liturgy handled?
The bread is kept in the tabernacle and used in other liturgies. The wine is drunk at the end of the liturgy by any ordained person. Some churches also follow the practice of pouring the unused wine into the earth.
7. What are the church’s office hours?
Monday-Thursday 9:00am-5:00pm
8. What are the three orders of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church?
Bishops, priests, and deacons.
9. Why do clergy wear vestments?
This practice goes back to very early times, and it’s basically to take attention away from the clergy person’s individual personality and direct the congregation’s attention to the priest or deacon’s purpose within the liturgy.
While not a purpose of the vestments, the clothing also symbolizes the different roles. A Bishop’s vestments are different from a priest’s which also vary from a deacon’s.
10. Where is the common room on campus?
It’s in the office area east of The Little Shop.
Extra Credit question: Why are Bread and Wine capitalized in question number 6?
The Episcopal Church subtly notes the change that happens in the bread and wine at Communion by capitalizing them as Bread and Wine after they are consecrated in the Eucharist. The gift of Christ’s Real Presence in them is one for which we give deep thanks as we come to know those gifts as the Gifts of God for the People of God.