About Us

We are men and women, young and older, life-long Episcopalians and newcomers to this Church.  Some of us have come from other faith traditions.  Some of us are still members of other churches but all are worshiping here as we seek to discern where God wants us to be.

We are a community of people seeking to be faithful to our baptismal promise to continue in the Apostle's teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.  We also take to heart our baptismal obligation to seek and serve Christ in all people and respect the dignity of every human being.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas and the Episcopal Church in the USA.

Episcopalians are also known as Anglicans because we are a part of the Anglican Communion - a fellowship of churches with over 70 million people throughout the world, including Africa and the Middle East, as well as North and South America, Europe and Australia.  The Archbishop of Canterbury in England is the spiritual leader and symbol of unity for the Anglican Communion.

OUR WORSHIP

Our worship centers on the Holy Eucharist - also called Holy Communion, the Mass, or the Lord's Supper.  We celebrate the Holy Eucharist using The Book of Common Prayer.

We invite everyone to worship with us, and all who seek God and are drawn to Jesus are welcome to receive Communion.  

Throughout the year we also offer special observances to mark the holiest days of the Christian year, such as Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints Day.

At St. Margaret’s, we value reverent silence before the service, for prayer and meditation. Within the service, there are several shorter occasions for silent reflection and prayer. These are indicated in the service booklet.  After the service, conversation is appropriate, and the greeting of familiar and unfamiliar faces is encouraged!

CHILDREN IN WORSHIP

Children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to participate in the worship services here at St. Margaret's.   

Paper and crayons and a basket of soft toys are available for the children as they enter the worship service.  Please return the crayons and toys to their respective baskets following the service.  We also provide rocking chairs at the back of the sanctuary for parents of small children. 

If there are days when you feel it is best for your child to not participate in the service, nursery care for children up to five years of age is available. The Nursery is open year-round on Sunday mornings during worship and the Sunday School hour.  If you choose to take advantage of the nursery, please feel free to bring your child back to participate in communion.

RITES OF PASSAGE

The Christian life includes many landmarks as we grow in the faith.  We celebrate each turning point in a special way through worship.  If you would like to participate in any of these rites, please contact a member of the Clergy.

Baptism is the Sacrament by which God adopts us as God's children and makes us members of the Christian Church.  Anyone of any age may be baptized if they have not already been baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We administer baptism throughout the year. 

Confirmation is the Sacrament in which we make a mature public commitment to Christ in the presence of the Bishop and receive the Laying on of Hands.  Through this Rite, the Holy Spirit further strengthens us for God's work.  Those who are in the Sixth Grade or older may be confirmed after a period of preparation.

Holy Matrimony or Christian Marriage is the Sacrament in which a woman and man enter into a life-long union. In this Sacrament, couples make their vows before God and the faithful and receiving the grace and blessing of God to fulfill those vows.  Marriage preparation is extensive so consultation with the clergy is necessary before scheduling a date.  At least one member of the couple must be an active member of this parish for six months before a wedding is scheduled.

Christian Burial is the occasion when the faithful gather to celebrate the life of one who has died and to commend their soul to God.  It is an Easter liturgy, finding all its meaning in the resurrection.  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too shall be raised.  Members are properly buried from the Church and the Clergy are available at any time to provide the desired ministrations. St. Margaret’s also has a columbarium. Those wishing to reserve a place in the Columbarium should make arrangements with the church office.

Our Pastoral Care team, led by Canon Bosmyer, provides pastoral care for members of our congregation.  Clergy and Lay Eucharistic Visitors take the Sacrament to the sick and shut-in on a regular basis and Care Team members offer friendship and pastoral support.  If you are in need of this ministry, please notify the office and a member of the clergy will contact you.  In addition to the above, our priest is available to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as Confession) and spiritual counsel.

PARISH LIFE

We rejoice in the many opportunities God gives us to serve.  Our Ministry Teams support the ministry of this parish through assisting with worship, prayer, teaching, service to the congregation, and to the community at large.

For a complete listing of opportunities to serve and become involved, we invite you to pick up a copy of our booklet, Ministry Opportunities at St. Margaret’s.

For more information or assistance in determining which ministry or program might answer your needs, please contact the parish office at (501) 821-1311.  If you want to become more involved in providing services to others, we definitely have a place for you.

As baptized Christians, we are all ministers called to work and pray for the spread of God's kingdom.  In the Episcopal Church, our ordained clergy serve the baptized in preparing them for their ministry in the world.  Our clergy include bishops, priests, and deacons.