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"WHAT WE BELIEVE "

During worship on a future (yet undetermined) Sunday, we will confess our common faith using the Athanasian Creed. This creed, along with Apostles’ and Nicene, are said to “proclaim and declare our common faith and beliefs.” By “common”, I don’t mean common to us in our congregation, but a common faith in continuity with the first Apostles and in common with Christians around the world.

The Christian faith, as it has been since the time Christ walked the earth, has been under attack by various heresies. Some of the various heresies are listed below:
Each Sunday in common time, outside of Festival Sundays, we confess our faith using the Apostles’ Creed. On those festival and commemorative Sundays (Easter, Pentecost, Lent, Advent, etc.), we use the Nicene Creed.

The largest heresy of the day was Arianism. In order to combat the Arian heresy, the Council of Nicea (325AD) created the Nicene Creed as articles (doctrine) of the Christian faith. Just as the Nicene Creed articulates our common faith in more detail than the Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed articulates our common faith in greater detail than the Nicene Creed.

The Athanasian Creed has become less popular over the years and is rarely used in most congregations, and in some, hasn’t been used in many years. Some congregation save the Athanasian creed for one Sunday per year, whether it be for Reformation Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, or Holy Trinity Sunday.

I have heard a couple of reasons why the Athanasian Creed has become less popular. The first is most often cited and is fairly obvious—it is just way too doggone long. If we use this creed and have Holy Communion too, we will be in church all day! The downsizing of worship to accommodate our busy schedules should perhaps be something to ponder, pray, and reflect on.

However, the second reason I’ve heard given might give us even more to think, pray, and talk about… and that is, that the faith confessed in this creed seems drastic. By that I mean, people have said that it seems harsh, offensive, and exclusive. If you haven’t looked seen it in a while, I would encourage you to do so.

Do the three ecumenical creeds we use to articulate (confess) our common faith really articulate what we believe? Perhaps asked another way: Is our faith (what we believe) in agreement with the creeds we confess?

In Christ’s Love,

-Pastor Tim

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May 20 WINGS Executive Board Meeting

St. John’s WINGS Executive Board Meeting has been rescheduled to Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 pm in the conference room. All officers, committee chairs, and circle leaders are to attend. This will be an important planning meeting for Spa Day and the remainder of the year. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. If you cannot attend, contact Brenda Dunn and make sure your written committee or circle report is given to Patti Horinka, secretary.

May 22Personnel Committee

Personnel Committee will meet on Tuesday, May 22 at 6:30 pm in the conference room.

June 14Men’s Pizza Night

The next pizza night for the men will be held on Thursday, June 14th at 6:30 pm at Village Pizza on Highway 90. Join us and bring a friend!

June 9 Men’s Group Monthly Community Breakfast

8:00 — 10:00 AM Proceeds to benefit Iredell Christian Ministries & 5th Street Ministries Come and bring your neighbor! Suggested donation: $6

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