God
We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit,
who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and
invisible. God is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and
love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation
of all people. We believe the one God reveals the divine nature
as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable,
eternally one in essence and power.
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Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, truly man, in whom the divine and human
natures are perfectly and inseparably united. He is the eternal
Word made flesh. As ministering Servant he lived, suffered and died
on the cross. He was buried, rose from the dead and ascended into
heaven to be with the Father, from whence he shall return. He is
the eternal Savior and Mediator, who intercedes for us, and by him
all people will be judged.
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Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from and is one in being
with the Father and the Son. The Spirit convinces the world of sin,
of righteousness and of judgement. The Spirit leads people through
faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church.
The Spirit comforts, sustains and empowers the faithful and guides
them into all truth.
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Bible
The Bible is sacred canon for Christian people. It is the source
of all that is necessary and sufficient unto salvation. The Bible
is to be received through the Holy Spirit as the true rule and guide
for faith and practice. We properly read Scripture within the believing
community, informed by the tradition of that community. We interpret
individual texts in light of their place in the Bible as a whole.
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Human Nature
We believe human beings are fallen from righteousness and, apart
from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, are destitute of holiness
and inclined to evil. Only if we are born again, can we see the
Kingdom of God. Human strength, without divine grace, is insufficient
to produce good works pleasing and acceptable to God. We believe,
however, through influence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we
are responsible in freedom to exercise human will for good.
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Salvation
We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to the divine.
The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and
sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming
humanity from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required.
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Communion
In the Sacrament of Holy Communion we break bread and share the
cup in celebration of Christ's life, death and resurrection. It
is a Christian adaptation of Jewish worship at family meal tables
and was instituted by Jesus on the night before his death. At this
table we remember the presence of the risen Lord among us. All are
invited to the Lord's table regardless of church membership or age.
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Baptism
The Sacrament of Baptism is our initiation into Christ's holy Church.
It is an outward expression in response to our new identity given
to us through God's gift of salvation. A person is baptized only
once and at any age. Arrangements can be made by contacting the
pastor.
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Membership
Persons wishing to become members of one of our churches may indicate
this by marking the attendance pad, contacting the church office,
or speaking to the pastor. Members are received by baptism and profession
of faith, by reaffirmation of faith for those who have been baptized
but do not hold membership elsewhere, or by transfer from another
church or denomination.
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