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CELEBRATE PENTECOST
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday and we will celebrate "the birthday of the church" with a beautifully decorated sanctuary, a festive fellowship time, an outstanding combination of traditional and contemporary music, and worship that includes the reception of new members!
It is guaranteed to be one of the great celebrations of our church life.
Join us for worship, fellowship, and celebration. Service begins at 10:30 AM.
BE SURE TO WEAR SOMETHNG RED!
We stand with the entire United Church of Christ in mourning the passing of
Rev. Dr. Roger Shinn
The motto of the United Church of Christ is, “That they may all be one.” Although our denomination traces its roots back to the earliest Christians, as a formally organized denomination, we came into existence in 1957 through the merger of separate denominations.
The Rev. Dr. Roger Shinn was one of individuals who labored tirelessly to work through the countless details and compromises necessary to form a single united denomination that respected the traditions, values, and beliefs of all. Among the many achievements of Dr. Shinn was virtually single-handedly drafting the Statement of Faith that was so clear, so beautiful, and so moving that it became a vital element in drawing the denominations together.
Dr. Shinn passed away this week. He always stressed the Statement of Faith was never to be considered a “test” of our orthodoxy but rather a “joyful testimony” to how God has touched our lives. The UCC in its belief that God is still speaking has updated Dr. Shinn’s 1957 wording to reflect our contemporary understanding of the use of more inclusive language. Here, as a tribute to one of the founders of our denomination, we reprint the original 1959 version as written by Roger Shinn:
We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to his deeds we testify:
He calls the worlds into being, creates man in his own image and sets before him the ways of life and death.
He seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
He judges men and nations by his righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, he has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to himself.
He bestows upon us his Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
He calls us into his church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be his servants in the service of men, 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.
He promises to all who trust him forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, his presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him. Amen.
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