Is this a good church?

[Anglicanorthodoxy]

One of the colleges that I'm considering attending is St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. There's what looks like a fairly traditional Anglican Church about 40 minutes from the campus. It's St. Stephens Anglican Church in Timonium, Maryland.
http://www.ststeve.com/
They say they are "a church in the Classical Anglican tradition"
They use both the 1928 BCP and the 1662 BCP. It seems like a pretty traditional church, and they say they follow the 39 Articles of Religion, but I can't tell if their Reformed or not. I contacted the Rector a few days ago, but haven't gotten a response yet. I'd appreciate it if you guys could look through the website and give me your opinions. Is this a good church?

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

I am not quite sure what is meant by the following:

"And as thy servants come to the true faith, and to be cleansed by the operation of thy Holy Spirit, let this unction be profitable for that salvation which they are to obtain through the birth of heavenly regeneration in the Sacrament of Baptism"

- Source: http://www.ststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Consecration-of-Oils.pdf, page 3

I suggest you read some of the posted sermons at the site to learn more. Unfortunately they do not list the Scripture passages being used, so it will require some effort to find some passages being used and how the pastor is expositing them.

 

[yeutter]

I am not quite sure what is meant by the following:

"And as thy servants come to the true faith, and to be cleansed by the operation of thy Holy Spirit, let this unction be profitable for that salvation which they are to obtain through the birth of heavenly regeneration in the Sacrament of Baptism"

- Source: http://www.ststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Consecration-of-Oils.pdf, page 3

I suggest you read some of the posted sermons at the site to learn more. Unfortunately they do not list the Scripture passages being used, so it will require some effort to find some passages being used and how the pastor is expositing them.

The sermons are based on the texts appointed to be rad on that Lord's Day. Consult the lectionary. The Parish is a member of the Anglican Church in America. It is a high church jurisdiction. It is one of the continuing Anglican Churches. These Churches separated from the Episcopal Church when she adopted a new liberal Book of Common Prayer and began ordaining women.

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

The sermons are based on the texts appointed to be rad on that Lord's Day.

Yes, hence my "it will require some effort to find some passages..."

 

[Edward]

No time to dig this morning, but generally, the high church 'traditional Anglicans' tend to be toward the Catholic side of the via media rather than the Reformed side. I've run across them with most of the Roman trappings - in some case, more traditionally Catholic in the practices than the Roman church down the street.

So you are well to ask.

 

[arapahoepark]

Doesn't prayerbook 1928 contain prayers for the dead?

 

[jwithnell]

The Annapolis EP Presbyterian Church has a strong history.

 

[yeutter]

Doesn't prayerbook 1928 contain prayers for the dead?

The fact that St Stephens Anglican Church uses the 1662 Book of Common Prayer Church and holds a Regular service of Morning Prayer is an indication it may be much more low Church then many parishes in their jurisdiction.

 

[Edward]

The fact that St Stephens Anglican Church uses the 1662 Book of Common Prayer

Well, they do say they use it 'occasionally'. " in principle, we use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. But as noted on the About Us page, we occasionally use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer." Also: "our liturgical life is focused on the Book of Common Prayer, specifically the 1928 Prayer Book (with one significant exception," "For our Holy Communion and Evensong services, we use the 1662 Prayer Book (which is still the “current” Prayer Book back in England). The 1662 Communion Service is more compact and has a somewhat more logical flow. "

 

[Romans922]

There's a better church and closer to you:

http://trinityreformedchurchopc.org/


And then there's this one as well: https://trinityrpc.org/

 

[Sovereign Grace]

I am not quite sure what is meant by the following:

"And as thy servants come to the true faith, and to be cleansed by the operation of thy Holy Spirit, let this unction be profitable for that salvation which they are to obtain through the birth of heavenly regeneration in the Sacrament of Baptism"

- Source: http://www.ststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Consecration-of-Oils.pdf, page 3

I suggest you read some of the posted sermons at the site to learn more. Unfortunately they do not list the Scripture passages being used, so it will require some effort to find some passages being used and how the pastor is expositing them.

That has a tinge of RCC in that statement of theirs.

 

[tangleword]

Annapolis EP (which is a PCA church) has a good reputation, and at least in the past a solid group of college students attending. There are also several other churches planted by them in the area.
I would recommend, especially for College students, that a church close to campus would be of benefit. Driving 40 minutes (which is probably an extremely conservative estimate of time, maybe for Sunday mornings, but probably well over an hour on any other time) to attend a church would limit the amount of fellowship and community that is available. While long drives is more common in rural areas, and some times it is needed to go to a good church, generally the long drives are into a city, not going through several cities. I would be shocked if anyone from that church would live anywhere near you; most likely they would live even further north and west from the church, which would increase the drive even more. I would fear that attending that church, even if it is a solid one, would incur a great cost in the lack of fellowship, discipleship, and ability to be cared for and care for others.

 

[C. M. Sheffield]

The "sermons" "preached" at the church fill all of one page front and back. Even if their substance was excellent (and I can't say if it is or not), their paucity is insufficient for bringing the child of God to maturity in the faith. The Christians's greatest need is to be nourished by the faithful preaching of God's Word. Find a church with a high view Scripture and its sufficiency manifested by an emphasis on textually driven, and doctrinally meaty preaching.

 

[yeutter]

I am not quite sure what is meant by the following:

"And as thy servants come to the true faith, and to be cleansed by the operation of thy Holy Spirit, let this unction be profitable for that salvation which they are to obtain through the birth of heavenly regeneration in the Sacrament of Baptism"

- Source: http://www.ststeve.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Consecration-of-Oils.pdf, page 3

I suggest you read some of the posted sermons at the site to learn more. Unfortunately they do not list the Scripture passages being used, so it will require some effort to find some passages being used and how the pastor is expositing them.

That has a tinge of RCC in that statement of theirs.

It sounds more like conservative Lutheran then Roman Catholic