|
WHAT WE BELIEVE
"Blessed are they that hear the word of the Lord and keep it"
Our
church family is a congregation devoted to the call of Jesus Christ, working to do his will at St. Lucas
United Church of Christ,
in the larger community, and in the world. One of our most important goals is
to provide you and your family with
Christian support
 and care, helping you grow in
Christian faith as you share our fellowship. Worship provides strength,
guidance and inspiration
for us, helping us maintain our commitment to Jesus Christ and the work he
calls us to do. We encourage you to join us regularly for weekly or
seasonal worship.
That they may all be one. The motto of the United Church of Christ uses the prayer
of Jesus
as its own. It embraces the spirit of unity on which the church is based,
pointing toward a future in which divisions in the body of Christ may be
healed. We
strive to be both a united and a uniting church, living together by this
standard:
In
essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity, in all things charity.
The unity that
we
seek
does not require an uncritical acceptance of any point of view. Nor does it
insist on a
rigid formulation of doctrine. It does require mutual understanding and
agreement as to which aspects of the Christian faith and life
are essential. The unity of the church is not of its own making; it is a
gift of God. Expressions of that unity are as diverse as the individuals
collected in the church. The thread that
binds us together is love.
There is yet more
light and truth to break forth from God’s holy word.
This classic
statement assumes the primacy of the Bible as a source for understanding the
Good News and as a foundation for all statements of faith. It recognizes that
the Bible, though written in specific historical times and places, still speaks
to us in our present condition. It declares that the study of the Scriptures is
not limited by past interpretations, but is to be pursued with expectancy for
new insights and contemporary relevance.
The priesthood of
all believers. All members of the United Church of Christ are
called to minister to each other and participate as equals in the common
worship of God. Each one has direct access to the mercies of God through
personal prayer and devotion. Recognition is given to those who have received
special training in pastoral, priestly, teaching, and administrative functions,
but these persons are regarded as ministers – servants – rather than authority
figures.
Responsible
freedom. As individual members we are free to believe and
act in accordance with our perception of God’s will for our lives, but we are
called to live in a loving covenant relationship with one another, gathering in
communities of faith, congregations of believers, and local churches. Each
congregation is governed by the collective decisions of its members, guided by
the working of the Spirit as revealed by the Scriptures. It is also called to
live in a covenantal relationship with other congregations, sharing insights
and cooperative action.
At St. Lucas
UCC we affirm that the authority
of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and interpreted with the aid of the Holy
Spirit, stands above and judges all human culture, institutions, and laws.
We recognize our calling to live in our community, as faithful individuals
and a responsible church.
Come
share the challenge! St. Lucas UCC
works to reflect God’s just and loving purposes for the world, ministering to
the needs to the community, contributing to general welfare, enriched by those
aspects of culture that help to make life more human and more like the Kingdom
of God.
|
