An Outline for Worship with Examples and Options for Adaptation andUse
Prepared by the National Council of the Churches of Christ
Affirmations of Faith
I.
All: We trust in God,
whom Jesus called Abba, Father.
In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God's image male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.
But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator.
Ignoring God's commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves,
accept lies as truth,
exploit neighbor and nature,
and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve God's condemnation.
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.
In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth.
Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage.
Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant.
Like a mother who will not forsake here nursing child,
like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home,
God is faithful still
(Source: "A Brief Statement of Faith," Presbyterian Church-USA. Used by permission.)
II.
Leader: We are not alone; we live in God's world.
People: We believe in God who has created and is creating; who has come in Jesus, to reconcile and make new.
Leader: We trust God who calls us to be the church; to love and save the whole humanity; to serve justice and resist evil; to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
People: In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with and in us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
(Source: World Council of Churches. Used by permission.)
III.
All: Come and sing for joy to El Shaddai!
Shout praises to the Rock of our salvation!
Come into Her holy presence with thanksgiving, for God is great, and Her power exceeds all others!
She holds the earth in Her hands, from its far heights to its deep places.
The sea is Hers, for She brought it forth.
With Her hands She formed the masses of land.
Come and worship Her, bow down before Her, for El Shaddai is our God, and we are the people she lovingly guides and cares for. (Psalm 95:1-7)
(Source: Swallow's Nest, p. 105. Used by permission.)