Statements of Faith

When I was growing up we said the Apostles' Creed every Sunday in worship. Then, in adult life, we said the United Church of Canada's A New Creed pretty regularly. At Ingleside and Newington we say A New Creed about once every two months on average - partially a consequence of having two services, and the Newington service MUST end on time so I can get to Ingleside! I suppose this says something about the importance of confessions of faith in modern spirituality.

But during June and July I plan to ask everyone to say a different statement of faith each week, including A New Creed and the tried-and-true Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, but also Eric Liddell's creed (which he wrote in a Japanese prison camp in China during the Second World War), our United Church of Canada's recent Song of Faith, and this statement of faith just written by my friend Connie Waters, the 'Mama Outlaw' of Outlaw Preachers. I hope this will allow us to reflect on what Christians have believed over the centuries, how these ancient words can have meaning for us today, and how we can retell the Jesus story in our own words. Maybe we'll be inspired to write our own statement!?