Episcopal Beliefs As Episcopalians, we follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe God is active in our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ. The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the gospel and promotes justice, peace and love. The Church carries out its mission through the ministry of all its members. We uphold the Bible and worship with the Book of Common Prayer. We believe the Holy Scriptures are the revealed Word of God. In worship we unite ourselves with one another to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God’s Word, to offer prayer and praise and to celebrate the Sacraments. The Celebration of Holy Eucharist is the central act of worship in accordance with Jesus’ command to His disciples. Holy Communion may be received by all baptized Christians, not only members of the Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion with 70 million members in 164 countries. The word “Episcopal” refers to government by bishops. The historic episcopate continues the work of the first apostles in the Church, guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the Church. Both men and women, including those who are married, are eligible for ordination as deacons, priests and bishops. We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity of every person. We welcome all to find a spiritual home in the Episcopal Church. Our Cathedral St. John’s Cathedral is home to a vibrant and diverse congregation in Downtown Jacksonville, which gathers for worship and then is sent forth to love and serve the Lord. We trace our heritage to the first Anglican services in Florida which took place on the banks of the St. Johns River in 1829. Since 1951, St. John’s has served as the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. Our identity as a church, “in the heart of the city, with the city in its heart”, leads us to continue a strong tradition of outreach ministry, locally and globally. St. John’s is the home of the Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Florida. The Bishop’s chair is in the chancel, along the main axis of the church, and in front of the choir. Click here to visit the St. John’s Cathedral website Photo: WikiCommons/DXR Cathedral Arts Project The Cathedral Arts Project (CAP) is the leading provider of comprehensive and ongoing instruction in the visual and performing arts for elementary and middle school students in Duval County. Their mission is to enrich the quality of life in Northeast Florida by unleashing the creative spirit of young people. Click here to visit the Cathedral Arts Project website Photo: Cathedral Arts Project