As a church family, we believe that we are called to love God, and to love our neighbors.

 

We believe that faith in Jesus Christ, and following Jesus’ teachings can transform our lives, and connect our
spirit, with the Spirit of God that is both inside each of us, and is very much alive in the world around us.

 

We believe that the message of the Gospel is one of love, and that we serve a God of love, who offers us abundant and eternal life, now, and in the next life, along with forgiveness, mercy, and grace beyond all our imagining.

 

We believe it is our life’s work to grow as followers of Jesus; to become all that God intends for us to be; to rejoice with those who rejoice and to have compassion for every person who is hurting.

 

We believe that God desires for us to be generous, and to share the blessings of this life with others in ways that impact their lives by sharing with them the love and presence of Christ.

 

We believe that scripture is timeless, in that it has something to say to every generation, but that it also must be read and understood in the context in which it was written; that no passage can be divorced from, or interpreted in a way that is in opposition to the totality of the Gospel message, which is love.  We believe that scripture needs to be interpreted thoughtfully and carefully for a new time and context, and that there is “yet more truth and light to break forth from God’s holy word.”*

 

We believe it is important to have an intelligent faith, and we value life-long learning and spiritual development through a variety of avenues, including two Bible Study groups, a Book Study, and a Theological Study each week in our church for adults of all ages.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend, with no experience necessary.

 

We are a member church of the United Church of Christ, which is a denomination that was formed in 1957, by the union of several different Christian traditions.  We affirm that Christians don’t always have to agree about everything, in order to live together in a church family.  Our motto—"that they may all be one"—is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church, as expressed in the Gospel of John (17:20-21). The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian churches in the United States.

 

* quoted from John Robinson, pastor to the Pilgrims who set sail from Holland for the New World in 1620