What kind of church is this?
Our church is a non-denominational church which is made up of people from various church backgrounds. We celebrate the diversity of thought and practice that comes from our various church traditions and seek to create an environment that is rooted in historic church practice while simultaneously speaking a fresh word to the contemporary searcher and disciple. With attention to both diversity of thought and ancient wisdom, we are a church that is rooted in God’s sacramental grace, shaped by God’s story in Christ found in Scripture, and open to and interruptible by God’s work in the Holy Spirit. What does this mean? First, the structure of our worship is true to the liturgical rhythm that has been there for a very, very long time. Second, we are a place that welcomes the fresh Wind of the Spirit, along with all the gifts and life that the Spirit brings to the church. Third, we have a high regard for Scripture and a passion to co-labor with God in seeking the peace of our own city, as well as the peaceable reign of God throughout the world.
WHAT OUR CHURCH BELIEVES
We affirm the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds as the centering beliefs of the Christian faith. We like to think of the Creeds as the boards surrounding a sandbox. There’s a lot of room for a diversity of play in the sand, but the boards hold the box, the space for play, together. Just like we welcome people from various church backgrounds, we also welcome a diversity of beliefs theologically. The Creeds center our belief as a church and connect us to the church world-wide (which is what we mean when we say “catholic” in the creed). We recite a creed each week as a part of our worship.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.