What we believe
Search the Bible, see how the Bible is changing lives and
find out about the Bible
Foundations As part of the world wide Anglican Church, we believe in God, who has revealed himself in three Persons, the Father who is the Source of all life, the Son Jesus Christ, who became human to show us what God is truly like and who died and rose again for our forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit who makes God's life real in the world and in our lives.
We are committed to the Bible as the revelation of God and the source of Christian belief, and the historic creeds that express Christian belief.[the Church of England website]
We believe God is calling us to be members of his Church and to share his love in our local community. We do this by worship together, prayer for the community and the world and by service to the community.
GodChristians believe that the world and everything in it is created by a loving God who gives meaning and purpose to each person and thing. No one has ever seen God, and no one is able to understand God fully. But we believe we know what God is like through the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus Jesus was born in about 4BC in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth, both places being in present day Israel. He learned a trade as a carpenter-builder. At the age of 30, he became a teacher for three years, until he was executed by crucifixion as a common criminal, probably in 30AD in Jerusalem. Against all the expectations of his friends, he rose from the dead, and this one thing compelled his followers to tell people far and wide about him.
The Church His followers, who were all Jews at first but later included non-Jews, formed a community known as the Church. Its task was to continue the work he had begun. We believe that Jesus is the Messiah foretold in the Jewish scriptures and therefore we believe that the Church has a vital role in the unfolding purpose of God. We become members of this community through the ceremony of 'baptism' which is an outward sign of beginning a new relationship with God through Jesus.
God as Father Jesus taught people to think of God as a loving Father – he creates us, loves us, protects us, provides for our needs, and guides us through life. He is Love. Jesus taught us to speak to him in prayer as 'Our Father'.
Jesus as Divine Jesus called himself Son of Man, not Son of God, but he did in fact claim to be divine. He said whoever saw him has seen the Father. He was the human expression of God, showing God's will for peace and healing and goodness by his actions and supremely showing God's love for the world by his death on the cross. After his resurrection, one of his friends could say of him, 'My Lord and my God'.
God's SpiritJesus wants his followers to know that God is with them always. We call his presence the Holy Spirit. God inspires us through his Spirit and gives us gifts to minister his name to others.
The BibleChristians use the Jewish scriptures believing that they reach fulfilment in the coming of Jesus into the world. We accept some of the writings of the early Christians also as scriptural – the accounts by his friends of his teaching, death and resurrection, and letters written by the Apostles to the first Churches. We believe the writers of scripture were inspired by God's Holy Spirit, and we regard the Old and New testaments as sufficient to contain our beliefs.
Salvation We believe that by dying on the cross Jesus has won for us forgiveness from the effects of sinfulness. We hope that beyond this life, therefore, we shall be in the presence of God and be united with our loved ones, and that we shall find our fulfilment as human beings in the heavenly life of Eternity. [rejesus website]
|
Come along to a service designed specially for you. The Worship Together service on the second Sunday of each month at 10.00am is lively and informal. The music group plays and there is something going on for people of all ages and stages of belief. We are friendly and welcoming to newcomers and serve good coffee afterwards! [see information on our Services & activities] |
|
Baptism or Christening is the way for people to show that they are committing themselves to believing in Jesus and following the Christian life, by joining the Church. Baptism takes place at the Worship Together service on the second Sunday of the month when all the church family can be included in the celebration. If you would like to think about what is involved for you or a member of your family, please contact Pam Lonsdale (Churchwarden) by e-mail or phone 01256 472671
For those who wish to celebrate and give thanks for the birth of a baby but are not ready to make the vows involved at baptism, there is a simple service of Thanksgiving which we will be happy to arrange. Please contact the Vicar to talk about this.
Those who have already been Baptised may confirm their vows before becoming adult members of the Christian community and receiving the bread and wine at Holy Communion. Confirmation services usually are arranged annually with the other Team Churches. Please contact the Vicar if you are interested in this.