Faith and Covenant
The United Church of Christ Statement of Faith
The United Church of Christ Statement of Faith
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify:
and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being,
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
create persons in your own image,
and set before each one the ways of life and death.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen
Covenant
Covenant
On this we stand
On this we stand
Covenant is an essential part of the church's theological understanding. Just as God initiated a compact of mutual promise and obligation with Israel, and just as Christ is the promise and bond of obligation for Christians, so the Church is organized as a community built upon mutual promises and obligations among diverse people.
Covenant is an essential part of the church's theological understanding. Just as God initiated a compact of mutual promise and obligation with Israel, and just as Christ is the promise and bond of obligation for Christians, so the Church is organized as a community built upon mutual promises and obligations among diverse people.
These covenants are expressed sacramentally through:
These covenants are expressed sacramentally through:
Baptism
Baptism
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises of a crown, cross and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ - his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross - for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises of a crown, cross and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ - his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross - for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).