We are not alone, We live in God's World ... Thanks be to God
What we believe
The United Church of Canada is held together by a common vision rather than strict doctrinal adherence. We believe in questioning, curiosity, doubt and the right to respectfully disagree. We recognize that there is room for interpretation when it comes to theology and doctrine. But while we are diverse in our thinking there are some core beliefs that are widely accepted. Below are some of them.
What we believe
We believe that God is love and loves all of creation. God wants us to have life in abundance. God is revealed through creation, the Bible and the stories of people of faith down through the ages and today. We do not believe that God is punishing or cruel, nor that God would want us to experience pain or harm.
What we believe
We share Jesus’ passion for inclusion and welcome “all who seek to love Jesus” regardless of race, culture, social class, ability, education, orientation or gender expression.
What we believe
Everyone is welcome to participate in communion regardless of age or affiliation with us or any denomination. It is a community meal and God is the host. All those who arrive at the table will be fed and nurtured. In our sharing of the ordinary bread and wine (which is grape juice and we provide gluten free bread) we not only remember Jesus’ last supper with his followers, we experience Christ alive among us today. We celebrate communion every month, usually on the first Sunday.
What we believe
We have no judgement about people who choose to “live together” while believing that consenting marriage is a positive option for people to express committed relationships of mutual love and respect. Marriage can take place between two people of any gender or gender identification and we celebrate same sex marriages in the same we do heterosexual marriages. We also recognize that there are times when marriages are best ended for the health and well being of the couple. Divorce is not a bar to re-marriage.
What we believe
Baptism symbolizes the new life God gives us as we join the Christian community. We offer baptism to all ages believing the gift of God’s love doesn’t depend on our ability to understand or explain it. With children, instruction is given to parents or sponsors to equip them for the child’s Christian nurture. Adults are able to make a declaration of their faith at the time of baptism. During the ceremony, the congregation vows support for those being baptized and their families and sponsors.
What we believe
God is a mystery beyond our complete understanding and moves in the world in a myriad of ways. No one expression of faith or spirituality can capture the fullness of all that God is. We respect all people of faith and good will and are committed to working with others whenever we can.
Learn more about The United Church of Canada
and “How we are organized“.
Statements of Faith
From time to time the Church has put in writing what we believe. The United Church Creed, originally written in 1968, is perhaps the most enduring statement.
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
हामीहरु एक्लो छैनौ
हामी परमेस्वरको संसारमा छौ
हामी परमेस्वरमा विस्वास गर्दछौ
जसले स्रिस्टि गर्नु भयो र गरि रहनु भएको छ
जो येशु ख्रीस्टमा आउनु भयो
सबै कुराहरुको नविकरण हुनलाई शब्दहरु शरिर बने
जो पवित्र आत्मामा हामी र अरुमा काम गर्नु हुन्छ
हामी परमेस्वरमा विस्वाश गर्दछौ
हामी मण्डली बन्नलाई बोलाइएका हौ
परमेस्वरको आराधना गर्नको निमित
स्रिस्टिमा सम्मान पुर्वक बाच्नलाई
अरुलाई प्रेम र सेवा गर्नलाई
न्यायको खोजि र दुष्टताको अन्त्य गर्नलाई
प्रभु येशुको बलिदान र पुनरुत्थानको घोषणा गर्न
हाम्रो न्याय र आशाको निमित
जीवनमा, मृत्युमा र मृत्यु पछिको जिवनमा
परमेस्वर सधै हामी संग हुनु हुन्छ
हामी एक्लो छैनौ
परमेस्वरलाई धन्यबाद भएको होस् – आमिन
- Translated by Damber Khadka