what we believe

GOD
We believe in one living and true God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is seen and unseen. God is holy, loving, just, merciful, and gracious. The one God is revealed as three distinct yet inseparable persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God remains actively present in creation and is working to redeem and restore all things.

JESUS CHRIST
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human. Through his life and teaching, Jesus reveals the character of God and shows us what faithful human life can be. Through his atoning death and bodily resurrection, Christ has overcome the power of sin and death and opened the way to forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and we await the fulfillment of his reign.

HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit is fully God, present and active in the world and in the life of the church. The Spirit awakens us to God’s grace, leads us to faith in Christ, gives comfort and strength, forms us in holiness, and equips us with gifts for worship, witness, and service.

THE BIBLE
We believe the Bible, contained in the Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God and is the primary authority for Christian faith and practice. Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation and bears faithful witness to God’s saving work in Jesus Christ. We read the Bible prayerfully and thoughtfully, within the community of faith, guided by the Holy Spirit and informed by Christian tradition, reason, and experience.

HUMANITY
We believe every person is created in the image of God and is of sacred worth. God created us for loving relationship with God, one another, and the whole creation. Yet sin distorts those relationships and leads us away from God’s purposes. We cannot heal this brokenness by our own strength; we depend upon God’s grace to forgive, restore, and transform us.

SALVATION
We believe salvation is God’s gracious gift offered to all through Jesus Christ. God’s grace reaches toward us before we are aware of it, calls us to repentance and faith, forgives and reconciles us, and continues to shape us into the likeness of Christ. We receive this gift by faith, not by earning it, and respond by growing in love of God and neighbor. Salvation is both a new relationship with God and a lifelong journey of renewal and holy living.

THE CHURCH
We believe the church is the body of Christ and the community of all who live under his lordship. The church gathers to worship God, proclaim the gospel, teach the faith, celebrate the sacraments, nurture disciples, care for one another, and serve the world. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the church continues Christ’s ministry of healing, reconciliation, compassion, and hope.

MISSION
Our mission is: Rooted in Faith. Growing in Christ. Serving with Love. We seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by helping people know God’s grace, deepen their faith, build authentic community, and put Christ’s love into action. We invite everyone to take a next step in following Jesus.

STEWARDSHIP
We believe all that we are and all that we have belong to God. Our time, abilities, relationships, resources, and the earth itself are gifts entrusted to our care. Christian stewardship is our grateful response to God’s generosity. We seek to use these gifts wisely, care for creation, support the ministry of the church, and share with others in ways that reflect the love and justice of Christ.

SACRAMENTS
We celebrate two sacraments instituted by Christ: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. In the sacraments, God uses visible signs to communicate and confirm divine grace. Through Baptism, we are welcomed into the covenant community of the church and begin a lifelong journey of discipleship. At Holy Communion, Christ invites us to his table, nourishes us in grace, and unites us with God and one another. The table is open to all who seek to respond to Christ’s love and live in peace with one another.