Please call 408-564-2435 for more information. "The first message of all our helpers is to the Lost Sheep of the Church of England".
Greetings:
We warmly invite all conditions of men to worship with us, offering "these our imperfect prayers" to our most Gracious Father. Please visit our public prayer or call the Bartlett family.
South Bay (Fremont & north San Jose) UECNA:
Littlewood Chapel is an affiliate of the United Episcopal Church (UECNA) under the Missionary Bishop, the Most Reverend Peter Robinson (here's his bio). For worship we use the standard 1928 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and the 1901 Revised translation of the King James Bible (ASV). Our music is from the earliest Protestant Episcopal hymn book. We are a lay-led Anglican community in Fremont with overlap in northern San Jose CA, giving the UECNA a presence in the lower Bay Area. As an official congregation in the UECNA, we have a vote at District Convocation and National Convention.
Since we are lay-led, it's likely no surprise our ceremony is predictably "low"-- having neither crosses nor candles. This is partly due to the solitary, or destitute, condition of our small congregation. But, low-churchmen also wished unity among their fellow Protestants.
Accordingly, the old Protestant Episcopal Church (especially its mid-Atlantic conferences) revised the English BCP for greater flexibility and brevity. These alterations better suited American circumstance, "removing, as far as possible, of all occasion of cavil or quarrel against the liturgy" (see our Longer Preface). We'd like to continue by the same intent, namely, the "unity of spirit and bond of peace" with "all who profess and call themselves Christians".
Although our labors at Littlewood Chapel are mostly directed toward friends and family– focusing on regular catechism and holy living– we wish to connect all ranks & stations of people to the 1928 Prayer Book, metered-psalms, and class meetings (see below). We think these helps are sure ways of salvation. Please contact us for private services held weekly in Fremont. Otherwise, for Public Service we use the Quaker (Friends) Meeting House in San Jose CA-- about three times a year. We'd love you to join our small community!
Since we are lay-led, it's likely no surprise our ceremony is predictably "low"-- having neither crosses nor candles. This is partly due to the solitary, or destitute, condition of our small congregation. But, low-churchmen also wished unity among their fellow Protestants.
Accordingly, the old Protestant Episcopal Church (especially its mid-Atlantic conferences) revised the English BCP for greater flexibility and brevity. These alterations better suited American circumstance, "removing, as far as possible, of all occasion of cavil or quarrel against the liturgy" (see our Longer Preface). We'd like to continue by the same intent, namely, the "unity of spirit and bond of peace" with "all who profess and call themselves Christians".
Although our labors at Littlewood Chapel are mostly directed toward friends and family– focusing on regular catechism and holy living– we wish to connect all ranks & stations of people to the 1928 Prayer Book, metered-psalms, and class meetings (see below). We think these helps are sure ways of salvation. Please contact us for private services held weekly in Fremont. Otherwise, for Public Service we use the Quaker (Friends) Meeting House in San Jose CA-- about three times a year. We'd love you to join our small community!
Public Anglican Services:
The baptism of our son, Nathaniel, by the Rev. Paul 9/26/15
The chapel gathers in a public way about three times a year, either having Holy Communion or the Daily Office. The remainder of time is given to class meetings and family prayer, mostly at private homes. When conducting Public Worship, we usually observe Days (or BCP rites) sometimes missed by other Anglicans-- like Ascension Day, Independence Day (July 4rth), Easter Monday, or the Penitential Office for Ash Wednesday. When possible, we meet in the afternoon, reserving Sunday morning hours for certain friends belonging to settled, denominational churches.
Public Services are either the Daily Office or Holy Communion. Holy Communion (and Baptism if desired) occur upon UE clergy availability. Otherwise, chapel worship (Evening or Morning Prayer) is lead by our lay-reader, Mr. Charles Bartlett. Between the two daily offices, Evening Prayer is the preferred & usual service. The Office for Evening Prayer is found in the first-half of the BCP (p. 29-36). It includes select readings or lessons taken from Scripture, reciting the Lord’s Prayer, declaring the Creed, and sometimes hymn singing. We often conclude Evening Prayer with teachings on the church catechism. Below is a list dates in Public Worship for 2018. We hope to meet you!
Public Services are either the Daily Office or Holy Communion. Holy Communion (and Baptism if desired) occur upon UE clergy availability. Otherwise, chapel worship (Evening or Morning Prayer) is lead by our lay-reader, Mr. Charles Bartlett. Between the two daily offices, Evening Prayer is the preferred & usual service. The Office for Evening Prayer is found in the first-half of the BCP (p. 29-36). It includes select readings or lessons taken from Scripture, reciting the Lord’s Prayer, declaring the Creed, and sometimes hymn singing. We often conclude Evening Prayer with teachings on the church catechism. Below is a list dates in Public Worship for 2018. We hope to meet you!
Dates for 2018 at the Friends' Meeting House. 1041 Morse St., in San Jose CA:
CANCELLED*: Morning Prayer. Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, Thursday @ 10am
(*Mr. Bartlett's fifth child was born the end of October)
CANCELLED*: Morning Prayer. Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd, Thursday @ 10am
(*Mr. Bartlett's fifth child was born the end of October)
Again, please contact us for more information or any questions whatsoever: cell: 408 564 2435 or email: ueprochapel@gmail.com
Class Meetings:
Today, class meetings are extinct among Anglicans. However, among pious Churchmen in the 18th-century, class or societal meetings were fairly common. In order "to give diligence, making our calling and election sure" (2 Pe. 1:10), the chapel supports and promotes class meetings-- following the famous examples of Church of England clergy like the Revs. Vincent Perronet, John Fletcher, Henry Venn, and William Grimshaw. Class meetings are a category of private worship, so they are held between public gatherings of the Church.
Class members follow a General Rule (or Rule of Life) pledging three parts. First, to avoid evil of every kind; second, doing good of every possible sort to all men; and, third, attending upon all the Ordinances of God. The general rule is a convenient way of monitoring our improvement in the Christian walk. The class meetings are non-denominational in character, only asking attendees “to flee the coming wrath, and be saved from their sin". Given opportunity & season, we gently invite and encourage hearers at our Anglican Public Worship to try Class Meetings.
Class members follow a General Rule (or Rule of Life) pledging three parts. First, to avoid evil of every kind; second, doing good of every possible sort to all men; and, third, attending upon all the Ordinances of God. The general rule is a convenient way of monitoring our improvement in the Christian walk. The class meetings are non-denominational in character, only asking attendees “to flee the coming wrath, and be saved from their sin". Given opportunity & season, we gently invite and encourage hearers at our Anglican Public Worship to try Class Meetings.
