My Expression of Faith

I believe in the one triune God: Creator, Christ, Holy Spirit–three distinct persons, yet one in essence and spirit. God creates all things for God’s own pleasure and goodness; is transcendent and majestic, having spoken worlds into existence; God is immanent and intimate, caring for all God’s beloved people in all aspects of life, time, and place. Before there was anything, God was: three-in-one in divine relationship, infinite and eternal, all-wise and powerful. God is the essence of radical love, from which we receive mercy though we deserve punishment; from which we receive grace though it is totally unmerited. In love, God covenants with humanity. God proclaims again and again, “You will be my people and I will be your God.”

Jesus, present and active in the creation of the cosmos is God’s only Son, Word incarnate, the New Covenant. Jesus came to live among us in full humanity and divinity. Born into a peasant family, lived under the harsh occupation of the Roman Empire, tempted as all humans are yet, Jesus was blameless. He taught a new way to follow God’s law, performed miracles, returned people to wholeness, and even raised the dead. In these acts, he threatened the status quo, suffered, and died on the cross still obedient to God’s will. Jesus rose from the dead, entered heaven, and is one with God. Jesus: a prophet, a teacher, the King of all kings. With all power and glory, he sits as judge over all creation. In fullness of compassion, he is the High Priest, interceding for us with the Triune God.

The Holy Spirit proceeds from God; active in creating the cosmos and is still active now. The Spirit calls us into a right relationship with God, each other, and creation; takes hearts of stone and turns them into hearts of compassion; unites us with Christ; calls us to vocations of justice and mercy.

God chose humans as God’s beloved. This act of election is about God’s steadfast faithfulness and love, not anything we have done or will do. Through Christ’s faithfulness even unto death and resurrection we are justified, sanctified, and called to serve him for the praise and glorification of God. In Christ, we are offered new life and called into ministry with the saints of the church to help bring about God’s beloved community.

Baptism and The Lord’s Supper are physical signs of the New Covenant. They remind us of God’s steadfast love and desire to be in an intimate relationship with each of us, and that we are called to live in kinship with one another. I believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, offered as revelation and truth. The truth and authority of the scriptures are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, again and again, each time in new ways. I believe the church is Christ’s Body, inaugurated by God and commissioned by the Holy Spirit to do God’s work on earth. The church exists to worship and praise God, serve with compassion paying special attention to the marginalized and forgotten, and to make disciples of all people.