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Welcome Newcomers!

Contact: Susan Williams, Pastoral Care Assistant

Whether you are passing through Virginia Beach for the weekend, just visiting, or are looking for a church home, Eastern Shore Chapel welcomes you!

Spend some time on the website to get an idea of the character of our community, but the best way to find out who we are is to join us for a worship service on Sunday morning. There, you'll be greeted by people who will do their best to make you feel at home. Locate our welcome center as soon as you enter our church entrance (narthex). Be sure to pick up a red bag with information about our church.  Stop by the cart for a Welcome Gathering at 10:30am. This offers an opportunity to ask any questions, tour the parish grounds and facilities and meet other people new to the parish.

If you can't visit soon, contact us to let us know who you are and how Eastern Shore Chapel can be of service. You can ask to join the mailing list, receive a visit or call from the rector, leave a prayer request, or tell us what you're interested in.

You won't feel like a newcomer for long!
All are welcome!

What Episcopalians Believe

In the Anglican tradition, of which the Episcopal Church of the United States is part, faith is said to rest on a “three-legged stool.” Those three legs are Scripture, Tradition and Reason, each of equal importance. Each one is a guide, but none is infallible. All three must work together to keep us moving in the right path.
  • Scripture: Scripture is the word of God contained in the Old and New testaments of the Bible. The 39 books of the Old Testament contain the story of God's love from Creation up to the birth of his son, Jesus Christ. They contain God's laws as He gave them to the Hebrew people. The New Testament contains Christ's teachings, the accounts of his life as told by his followers, and the beginning of his church. It is written in 27 books. Within an Episcopal worship service, Scripture is read in the lessons, the Gospel (the teachings of Jesus), the Psalms (poems from the Old Testament) and other prayers. Additionally, two- thirds of our guide to worship, the Book of Common Prayer, comes directly from the Old and New Testaments. Episcopalians believe that Holy Scripture was written by people under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
     
  • Tradition: We are not Christians in isolation but are part of a living faith that spans 2000 years. Tradition is the embodiment of our experience as Christians throughout the centuries. The heart of our tradition is expressed through the Bible, the Creeds (statements of faith, written in first centuries of the church's existence), the Sacraments (the Lord's supper and Baptism), and the ordained ministry passed on by Christ to his Church. Our tradition is expressed with many voices, among which are a variety of worship styles, languages, cultures, architecture and music. Our tradition encourages this diversity. We seek to value the life and story each person can bring to the community of faith. As in a multitextured tapestry, each person's offering is woven into the life of the whole, making it stronger and more beautiful.
     
  • Reason: Each one of us, with God's help, makes a decision about how we use tradition and Scripture in our lives. A personal relationship with God allows us to realize and celebrate our lives to the fullest. The gift of reason, as a complement to Scripture and tradition, leads us to seek answers to our own questions and to grow spiritually. Being active in a community of faith strengthens us to carry our faith into the world. Weaving scripture, tradition and reason together, we strengthen our faith and grow as children of God.
At Eastern Shore Chapel, Jesus is our role model as well as our Savior. Just as Jesus welcomed everyone to share a meal, at Eastern Shore Chapel all are welcome at our table. We do our best to emulate the ministry of Jesus in our outreach, formation and worship. And we try to live out our baptismal covenant by striving for justice and peace and respecting the dignity of all people.