Friends,

How many of you know that our denomination has a statement of faith?  We do indeed have one, and it is printed in the back of our New Century Hymnal.  I grew up saying the Statement of Faith at my United Church of Christ in Pennsylvania and always had a great appreciation for the wording.  In particular, I love the part that says that Jesus has “come to us and shared our common lot.”  It means so much that God descended from the heavenly realm to walk the human experience and knows so well life’s joys and sorrows.  The Original Version was written in 1957 to express the common faith of our newly-formed denomination, from the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches.  The Statement of Faith was updated in 1981 using inclusive language and is in the form of a doxology, a fancy word for “a liturgical expression of praise to God.”  I want to share the 1981 Version with you today, because it conveys who we are as a denomination and undergirds the Gospel message we share.

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
     and to your deeds we testify:You call the worlds into being,
     create persons in your own image,
     and set before each one the ways of life and death.You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.You judge people and nations by your righteous will
     declared through prophets and apostles.In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior,
     you have come to us
     and shared our common lot,
     conquering sin and death
     and reconciling the world to yourself.You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,
     creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
     binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.You call us into your church
     to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
     to be your servants in the service of others,
     to proclaim the gospel to all the world
     and resist the powers of evil,
     to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table,
     to join him in his passion and victory.You promise to all who trust you
     forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
     courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
     your presence in trial and rejoicing,
     and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.

Peace be to You,

Co-Pastor Sandi