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Mission & Beliefs

St. Andrew’s by-the-Sea is a vibrant, caring, and hospitable community — sharing the love of God and neighbor as disciples of Christ through joyful worship and generous service to the world near and far.

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We believe church should feel genuine. Not formal or complicated, but welcoming, grounded, and real. Whether you’ve been part of church your whole life or are simply exploring, there is a place for you here.

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Our faith takes shape not just in what we believe, but in how we live—showing up for one another, building meaningful relationships, and putting our faith into action in everyday life.

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WHO WE ARE

What We Believe

As part of the Episcopal Church, our faith is rooted in historic Christianity and shaped by a thoughtful, balanced approach.

We are guided by these foundations:

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  • Genuinely Welcoming — Warm, relaxed, and never pushy — whether it's your first Sunday or your fiftieth, you'll feel at home here.

  •  Faith in Action — We roll up our sleeves at local food banks, support nonprofits near and far, and put our beliefs into practice every week.

  • Music At Our Heart — Our choir, a gifted pianist, and a beautiful vintage Steinway grand fill our worship with life — plus a beloved concert series.

  •  We Look Out For Each Other — When life gets hard, our community shows up — sharing meals, checking in, and carrying one another through.

 

We affirm the historic creeds of the Church and gather regularly to worship through prayer, scripture, and the celebration of Holy Communion.

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 "We think of our outreach as becoming God's hands, feet, and heart in the world — witnessing to the Good News of our Lord, Jesus through service to others."

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PARISH LIFE

We Live Our Faith

At St. Andrew’s, faith is something we live out together—in both small, everyday moments and larger acts of service.

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  •  Bible Study — An engaged and enthusiastic group exploring scripture together.

  •  Children always welcome — Their joyful noise is part of our worship, not a distraction from it.

  •  Fellowship meals — We genuinely enjoy each other's company — and we eat well together.

  •  Strong leadership —  A gifted Vestry & Finance team, and strong, active & committed Outreach and Parish Life committees.

 

We often think of our mission to be God’s hands, feet, and heart in the world.

EPISCOPAL FAQS

Common Questions

If you’re new or just curious, here are a few common questions about the Episcopal Church.

  • St. Andrew's by-the-Sea strives to be a vibrant, caring, and hospitable community, sharing the love of God and neighbor as disciples of Christ through joyful worship and generous service to the world near and far.

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    • We are not formal or fancy

    • We warmly welcome visitors and newcomers without being pushy

    • We are generous in our giving of time, talent, and treasure

    • We like to roll up our sleeves and help out at several local food banks

    • We enjoy each other's company and share in regular fellowship meals

    • We assist each other and pay attention when someone is ill or recovering or goes through something hard

    • We are music appreciators and have a wonderful pianist and a very cool old Steinway grand piano

    • We have a wonderful Concert series and an enthusiastic Choir

    • We are always delighted to welcome children and their "joyful noise" at worship

    • Our Outreach and Parish Life Committees are strong in number, commitment, and spirit

    • We have an amazing Bible Study group

    • We have strong and gifted Vestry and Finance teams, with steady and thoughtful leadership

    • We support local and international non profit organizations who are doing God's work every day

    • We like to think of our outreach ministry and mission as putting our faith into action, becoming God's hands and feet and heart in the world, whilst we witness to the Good News of our Lord, Jesus by our service to others


    We hope to have the opportunity to meet YOU someday soon! Worship is at 10 am every Sunday.

  • The Episcopal Church is the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is a Christian tradition rooted in both ancient practice and a thoughtful, modern expression of faith.

  • In some ways, both. The Episcopal Church is often called a “bridge tradition,” holding together elements of Catholic worship and Protestant theology. Most Episcopal churches fall somewhere in the middle—structured, but not rigid.

  • The word comes from a Greek term meaning “bishop.” The Episcopal Church is led by bishops, along with priests and deacons, continuing a historic form of church leadership.

  • Worship centers on Holy Communion and follows a structured but easy-to-follow format from the Book of Common Prayer. Services include readings from scripture, prayers, a sermon, and music, and usually last about an hour.

  • All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion.

  • Not at all. You’re welcome to attend, participate, and be part of the community at any time.

  • Yes. Baptism is a sign of God’s grace and is open to people of all ages.

  • Absolutely. Children are always welcome in services—we embrace the fullness of family life, including a little extra noise now and then.

  • Yes. Women serve in all levels of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church.

  • It’s the guide we use for worship, containing prayers, readings, and services that shape how we gather and pray together.

  • Each local church is led by clergy and a lay leadership group called a vestry, and is part of a larger region called a diocese, led by a bishop.

Still have questions?

If you’re curious about St. Andrew’s, the best way to understand what we’re about is simply to come and experience it.
 

Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM

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