An Affirmation of Faith

-
I believe in God the divine parent: provider of sustenance, challenge, and relief; who has created all and continues to create among us even now; who is among us in ways we can know, and in ways unknowable.

I believe in Jesus Christ the beloved child, our savior: redeemer of humanity, deliverer from sin; who is the poured out love of God in creation, simultaneously human and divine; who was born of Mary, and sought safety in Egypt as a refugee; who amazed rabbis and priests as a child; who preached and performed miracles as an itinerant and homeless prophet; who was an unjustly convicted and executed criminal of the Roman Empire—his death was overturned by the will of God, and his resurrection has defeated the power of death.

I believe in the Holy Spirit the constant helper: whose presence inspires and whose movement among us reveals God in our midst; who works with the church and despite the church to bring about God’s will in creation; who works with us and despite us to spread God’s love in the world; who constantly and creatively surprises.

I believe in the Kin-dom of God, among us now but incomplete, and look to the
future hope of Christ’s return to radically overturn evil and suffering.

I believe in the unmerited grace of God and the forgiveness of sin.

I believe in the common mission of the Church.

I believe in the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Call to Worship: "The Good Samaritan" Luke 10:25-37

-
Image
“Do not pass me by,” the stranger cries, hungry from lack of food. We are neighbors to those in need of nutrition. “Do not pass me by,” the battered spouse cries, trapped in an abusive relationship. We are neighbors to those in need of protection. “Do not pass me by,” the LGBTQ teenager cries, homeless after their family rejects them for who they are. We are neighbors to those in need of belonging. “Do not pass me by,” the black life cries, dying on American streets quickly from violent oppression, and slowly from the poverty of inequality. We are neighbors to those in need of justice. “Do not pass me by,” the refugee cries, their home unrecognizable now, We are neighbors to those in need of safe shores. “Do not pass me by,” Jesus cries, whose face is reflected in all who are oppressed, victimized, beset by tragedy, and in need. We are neighbors to the stranger among us to whom we are called to be radically hospitable. We are neighbors to the  world around us to wh...
Read more

"Do not fear, just believe." a fearless call to worship. (Mark 5:21-43)

-
Image
Jesus, you healed the untouchable and gave life to the dead. In our doubt you told us, “Do not fear, just believe.” Jesus, you are in the midst of us; healing and loving. When we shy away from our call as Christians to love as you loved, remind us, “Do not fear, just believe.” Jesus, you are present to us in our suffering. You walk alongside us in grief. You mourn the hatred that ensnares all of us. When we feel as if we cannot love anymore, encourage us, “Do not fear, just believe.” Jesus, you fearlessly faced the cross of our hatred. You fearlessly loved those whom society rejected. You fearlessly spoke truth to power. Grant us the perspective to see all around us as our neighbors so that we might not fear the stranger, but believe that they are children of God.  Grant us patience to be present to those with whom we disagree that we might not fear their view point, but believe that they have passion and integrity just as we do.  Grant us the courage to speak truth...
Read more

"Let us be doers, not merely hearers..." A James 1:17-27 Call to Worship

-
God has birthed in us life, truth, hope, faith and love. Let us be doers of God’s word, and not merely hearers. God has led us into light, made rugged places plain, blessed us with the Holy Spirit and enabled us to be God’s children. Let us be doers of God’s word, and not merely hearers. God is love, and God loves us beyond our ability to understand. In God’s love, God became us, experienced our pain, healed us, taught us, and even was obedient to our unjust sentence of death by crucifixion. God, in love, forgives us daily. Let us be doers of God’s word, and not merely hearers. God reveals to us purpose in our life. God desires us to be participants in God’s mission in the world. Let us be doers of God’s word, and not merely hearers.
Read more