We believe in one true God, the beginning of all that is, the gracious and merciful creator of the Universe, beyond planets, galaxies, solar systems, time and space.
We believe in Jesus Christ, born the Son of God, the light of the world, the prince of peace, the bread of life. We believe Jesus was the incarnation of God, the living message of redemption for all and that by his willing sacrifice we have been given new life.
We believe that Jesus was raised from the dead as the radiant sign of God’s promise fulfilled. We believe that there is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who breathes life into the body of Christ, the church, prodding us ever onward toward the fulfillment of God’s kingdom upon the earth.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and gracious God, it is indeed exciting to be sending ambassadors from this body to serve our friends in Guatemala. On this Independence Sunday we embrace our own historic legends, realizing too, that freedom is not gained without great cost. Let us be aware today that the people of Guatemala suffered persecutions in the 1980s akin to those suffered by the earliest Christians. We hope and pray that our outreach to the Mayan people of Guatemala will help them continue to recuperate and heal from the losses they suffered. They have much to teach us about holding fast to one’s faith in the darkest of times. Pour out your spirit of readiness, willingness and compassion upon our volunteers and remind us to lift them up in prayer everyday they are away from us. All this we pray in the name of the Christ who taught us to pray in this way: SINGING OF THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING INVITATION
Today is a day of great rejoicing and thanksgiving. As you participated in the commissioning ceremony of our volunteers heading to Guatemala on Friday, did you think about your part in making their mission possible? Because you believed the experience would give our volunteers a glimpse into the lives of our brothers and sisters in Central America you supported their fund raising events. You provided for these representatives of the Christ out of your own resources. You are following the example of the early churches, founded and led by Paul. They also shared what they had with those who had not in a place far away.
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