Statement of Faith What do you call a person who is afraid of Santa Claus?

I believe in the Triune GodCreator, Redeemer, Sustainerone Claustrophobic! personal God who lives and works in three different ways at the same time. God created the world good, creating us in Gods image. Gods sovereign love governs our lives. God loves creation too much to ignore sinjudgmentbut gives us the gift of grace, acknowledging there is nothing we can do about it. I believe in our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully human and fully God. Jesus was a friend to the friendless and preached Good News to the poor. Christian faith is faith in Christ, who suffered and died and was resurrected as Gods redeeming act. Life in Christ is eternal. Christ Jesus, our judge, willingly put himself to be judged in our place. Because Christ is our redeemer, we need not fear judgment because we have hope in eternal life with God. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit engages us and calls each of us to ministry. The Spirit is at work in the re-creation and preservation of the world today and throughout history and is the source of creativity and wisdom. I believe in the authority of Scripture, Gods inspired Word. The task of the faithful community is to read and interpret Scripture together. Scripture is read and proclaimed in our worship services, and we faithfully respond by participating in the sacraments and committing our lives to the ministry of Christ. The Church is the people of God; the community receives Gods judgment and grace and is sent out to participate in Gods work in the world. We are a holy people who acknowledge our sinfulness and attempt to counteract it by pointing towards Christ. We are a united catholic people, the children of God of all times and places united in

one Body with Christ as our head. The Church is an apostolic people, and the church is in service for Christ. The sacraments of baptism and communion are signs and seals of our incorporation in Christ. God speaks and acts through the sacraments. Participating in them engages our senses in a reminder that God loves, forgives, and accepts us. Baptism is the recognition of Gods love and grace; in baptism, God calls us into the community. In communion, we gather around a common table, serve our sisters and brothers in Christ, and celebrate our community. Our celebration of communion equips us for service in the Gods world. We are not our own, but belong fully to God and are called to be living sacrifices. We are given the gift of faith and a regenerate heart and are justified and sanctified so that all we do may be to the glory of God. Christ reveals faithful living, and whatever witness we are able to offer we do out of gratitude and through the power of the Spirit working in us. I believe my passions are gifts from God my love for music and for reading, traveling, and cooking. I believe my passion for the church is also a gift, and I feel Gods call in my life, leading me to a life of ministry and service in the Church.