• WHO ARE EPISCOPALIANS?

    The word “Episcopal” merely means that Episcopalians, like many other Christian denominations, have bishops. As Episcopalians, we believe in and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We believe that God loves you – no exceptions. The Episcopal Church embraces a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; people of all genders and sexual orientations serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy work together in leadership and governance.

    This link provides more information >

    AREN’T EPISCOPALIANS A LOT LIKE ROMAN CATHOLIC?

    We admire and share much in common with Roman Catholicism, including the feeling of our worship services. However, there are some differences that largely are rooted in history (more on that is below). Today the noticeable differences are these: in The Episcopal Church, bishops and priests can be married; there is no centralized authority figure like the pope; lay people play a greater role in decision making; sacramental confession is optional not required; married couples are permitted to use responsible means of birth control. Because its national churches are autonomous, yet interdependent, decision-making in The Episcopal Church can appear “messier” than in, say, the centralized Roman Catholic Church.

    The Episcopal Church traces its history back through the Church of England, which broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century over issues both political and theological.

    The political issues included the papacy and how the church was to be governed. The theological issues were ones raised during the Reformation by theologians such as Martin Luther and John Calvin: the place of Scripture and tradition; worship in the language of the people; certain sacramental practices and understandings; and mandatory celibacy for priests.

    Our congregations are rooted within the Anglican tradition of the Christian faith. We are parishes of The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem—a diocese of The Episcopal Church, which is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

    The Anglican Communion (at some 77 million) is the third-largest Christian communion in the world. Anglicans consider themselves a combination of both Catholic and Protestant traditions. We are Catholic in the sense that we retain much of the liturgical and sacramental understanding of the early church; Protestant in the sense of being a church always open to reformation and renewal.

    Anglicans believe that baptism with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit makes one a member of the one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic church. While affirming the “real presence” of Christ’s body and blood in the eucharistic elements of bread and wine, we don’t follow overly specific definitions of how this happens such as the concept of “transubstantiation,” according to which the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

  • The Good News of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed for many years at Christ Church in Susquehanna and at St. Mark’s in New Milford. Christ Church was founded in 1873 and St. Mark’s in 1817. Although we have long histories, our congregations are focused on today and tomorrow in the lives of our communities and the world. Our small group discussions of the Bible focus is on how scripture relates to our lives today. Our mission projects, such as providing food and clothing assistance and supporting refugees from Ukraine, address needs of our local community and the world today.

    Our congregations are separate in distance (only 12 miles apart) but together in worship style. We are close together in spirit, joy and welcome. Our standard Sunday worship occurs at different times with Christ Church Susquehanna worshipping at 9:00 am and St. Mark’s New Milford worshipping at 11:00 am. We welcome people of all backgrounds, beliefs and lifestyles. We encourage one another to grow closer in God and see God in all

    Christ Church and St. Mark’s share many things including a single pastor, a single organist and worship in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. We worship together during the church seasons of Advent, Christmas Eve, Lent and Holy Week. We all enjoy the excitement of a fuller sanctuary and more people singing! We work together in serving our community, by partnering in mission projects like gathering food for local food banks and for Interfaith in Susquehanna County, distributing winter coats and the Good News Lunch hosted by St. Mark’s. One of our most important recent projects was the renovation of St. Mark’s parsonage to house a family of refugees from Ukraine. We enjoy group fellowship and work projects. Our partnership has been an amazing adventure in ministry and outreach.

    Both congregations are inclusive in their hospitality. Both congregations value liturgical worship and we both follow the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and the Revised Common Lectionary for our Sunday worship services. Please continue to check this website for updates and other upcoming opportunities to participate on whatever level you are comfortable.

    Come and see what all of the excitement is about!

    OUR MISSIONS

    Christ Church, Susquehanna: We strive each day to know, love and share the love of Jesus.

    St. Mark’s, New Milford: To be a faithful witness in the community and to share God’s love with all whose lives we touch.

    OUR VISION

    • Sharing amazing service and God’s grace with others

    • Developing and forming disciples of Jesus

    We gather together to worship God in prayer, song, reflection, and communion with one another. Some services are quiet and formal, and others are not. All are open to everyone from all walks of life. Sometimes big and wonderful things happen, like baptisms, weddings, and confirmations. Often when we gather, though, it’s to observe the ordinary transformation of human hearts and lives into beloved children of God.

    When you come to St. Mark’s or Christ Church for the first time, you’ll be greeted and, if you wish, given assistance that will guide you through our service, with the page numbers for The Book of Common Prayer and the 1982 Hymnal. It might seem complicated at first, so be sure to ask anyone in the congregation for help.

  • Outreach

    Local:

    • Good News Lunch (St. Mark’s, New Milford) -

    • Food Pantry Support – St. Mark’s, New Milford and Christ Church, Susquehanna - Food is collected the first Sunday of every month and distributed to a local food bank.

    • Coats for the Community - St. Mark’s, New Milford and Christ Church, Susquehanna- Both churches host a 2–3-day distribution of free winter coats each autumn.

    • Community Neighbors- St. Mark’s, New Milford- Third Tuesdays, 12-2:00 pm- A gathering of local residents to support different local charities

    • Interfaith Christmas Gathering of Gifts for Children- St. Mark’s, New Milford and Christ Church, Susquehanna - - A collaborative community effort in Susquehanna County which ensures that needy families have opportunity to share Christmas gifts with those they love.

    • Good News Lunch (St. Mark’s, New Milford) - St. Mark’s New Milford- 3rd Saturdays, 12 noon, -a free meal, drive-by pick-up/take out only

    • Red Cross Bi-Monthly Blood Drive -St. Mark’s, New Milford- as announced


    Regional, National, and Global:

    • Financial support of Episcopal Relief and Development's (ERD)'s continuing relief and development efforts to assist people in need in both the U.S. and around the world.

    • Choose Love– Christ Church, Susquehanna – Supporting a global organization supporting refugees and displaced