In our Episcopal tradition, all are called to ministry according to the gifts given to them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.

St. Mary’s is not a stand-alone church. We are part of a deep history and tradition of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, The Episcopal Church USA and the Global Anglican Communion. Being part of this bigger work of God is essential to what makes us who we are.

The Episcopal Church is a community of 2.2 million members in 110 dioceses in the Americas and abroad. St. Mary’s in Green Cove Springs is one of the member congregations of the Diocese of Florida – a geographic area stretching from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, and from Cedar Key to Palm Coast.

Episcopalians are followers of Jesus Christ. We say that God was uniquely present in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. One word we use to describe this belief is that God was “incarnate” in Jesus, that is, God’s own self was present in Jesus’ very body. Following his death, his disciples found that Christ still lived in their midst. Thus, they found themselves connected to God as they discovered themselves to be part of Christ’s resurrected body. And that is still the case today.

We Episcopalians believe human beings are united to God through Christ. We take that relationship seriously. When we worship, we are called to see the risen Christ in the people around us. In our daily lives we are called to see the risen Christ in family, acquaintances, and co-workers. Ultimately, we are called to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Our church is not a community of like-minded people. We do not exist for ourselves alone. Instead, we are a people set apart to be the personal presence and witness of God to the world. We struggle with many issues, and we sometimes disagree with one another, but we still gather each week to hear the story of God’s love for us, to ask for forgiveness from one another and God, and to offer our lives up to God. In our teaching, we learn the grace to live with questions that cannot be answered with certainty.

In our worship we are nourished for life’s journey. In our faith we trust that God is working through every one of us, and that God’s very self is evident in all creation. This is the good news that we proclaim, and we believe that it is the good news that will lead us to lives of peace, self-control, and hope for the future. We invite everyone to join us in that journey.