Today we continue our review of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed: The Holy catholic church and the communion of saints. The adjective catholic means universal - the church around the world. We are in Christianity with a variety of others. The communion of saints refers to those in doing God's work in the world. Us and those with whom we walk shoulder to shoulder. 

Today’s message comes from Pastor Tania. Our New Testament Lesson comes from Ephesians Chapter 2 Verses 13 -16. Our Gospel lesson is from Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 19 - 22.

Ionian Creed.

We believe that God is present in the darkness before dawn; in the waiting and uncertaintly where fear and courage join hands, conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. 

We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity. we affirm a faith that takes us beyond a safe place: into action, into vulnerability and onto the streets. we commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line; to bear responsibility, take risks, live powerfully and face humiliation; to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God's new community of hope.

Amen

Today we continue our review of the Apostles' Creed with the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed: We believe the the Holy Spirit. What did it take to say ‘I will leave what I know and go out?” How do we deal with the experience of absence. The life of following Christ is not defined by absence, but by presence.  Holy Spirit is present with us at all time.

Three ways that the Holy Spirit is with us:

Today’s message comes from Pastor Jason. Our New Testament Lesson comes from Acts: Chapter 1 Verses 6 - 8. Our Gospel lesson is from John Chapter 14, verses 25-27.

Masai Creed:

We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created Man and wanted Man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the Earth.

We have known this High God in darkness, and now we know Him in the light.God promised in the book of His word, the Bible, that He would save the world and all the nations and tribes.

We believe that God made good His promise by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left His home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, He rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.

We believe that all our sins are forgiven through Him. All who have faith in Him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love and share the bread together in love, to announce the Good News to others until Jesus comes again.

We are waiting for Him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.

 Today we continue our review of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed: Jesus rose and ascended into heaven. There are 4 broad areas of the life of Jesus: His incarnation, life & teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection.

What can we learn from Jesus resurrection? While others have been revived, Jesus is the only one who has been resurrected and who subsequently didn't die. Instead, he ascended. That resurrection turns despair into hope. Even though Jesus sits in judgement, it is judgement in the service of change.

Today’s message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our New Testament Lesson comes from Philippians Chapter 2, verses 5 - 11.

Our Gospel lesson is from Luke, Chapter 24, verses 46 - 53.

Contemporary Affirmation of Faith

We believe in you, O God, who spoke all life into being, author of heaven and earth, architect of time, quilter of the cosmos. You shape our bodies from the dust of the ground, and by your breath we are given life.

We believe in you, O God, who became incarnate in Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh, truly divine and truly human. You lived among us to reveal your justice, died among us to break the bonds of sin and death, and were raised among us to bring abundant life.

We believe in you, O God, who transforms us by the Holy Spirit, draws us into community, moves us to action, and inspires us to hope against hope. You breathe new life into a fallen world and equip us to proclaim the good news of resurrecting love. All thanks and praise to you, Oh God, our beginning and our end.

Amen.

Today we continue our review of the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed Who suffered under Pontius Pilate , was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. The focus on the cross is appropriate, because it confesses truth about the world.

The cross is an extraordinary affirmation of Article One.

Sin, death and evil are real; Redemption is needed.

The cross is the defining element of discipleship.

Today’s message comes from Pastor Jason. Our New Testament Lesson comes from First Corinthians Chapter 1, verses 18 - 25.

Our Gospel lesson is from Matthew, Chapter 16, verses 24 - 26.

Indigenous Creed:

We believe in Creator, Father-Mother Spirit, who called the world and all that is in it. Into being, who spoke the creative-forming word, and all came forth who created women and men and set them free to live in love, in obedience to the will of supreme love and in community with all.

We believe in Creator, Son and Brother, who, because of love beyond our understanding, love for creation, entered the world to share our humanity, to rejoice and despair; to set before us the paths of life and death, and walk them with us; to be rejected and die, but to finally conquer death and bind the world to himself for all time.

We believe in Creator, In-Dwelling Spirit, who invites us into community, that we may through faith and that community of oneness, experience uplifting and sustaining grace; that we may fulfill our human responsibility reach to out to our neighbor, whoever that may be; that we may rejoice in the constant nature of creation and wondrous joy of life itself.

We believe in Creator, whose word teaches us that all things grow together, the Circle of Life; that the paths of life and death, good and evil, too often come together, that choices are not clearly defined; but that we confidently and responsibly tread the path we choose and only the true One can be our judge. We believer in Creator, who is present and working in this world through all creation. AMEN. 

Jesus Christ is our Lord. This claim is often made as if the implications are self-evident, but it’s a phrase that needs unpacking, not the least because Lord isn’t a term we use much outside of church. This 3rd sermon in our series on the Apostles’ Creed focuses on this line: ““I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary.” After treating the somewhat edgy topic of the virgin birth, the sermon focuses on the more central question: What does it mean when we call Jesus Lord? Spoiler alert: It means that Jesus is different from any other kind of political leader. And also, it means Jesus loves us.

Today’s message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our Gospel lesson is from Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26 - 35, and our New Testament Lesson comes from Colossians Chapter 1, verses 15 - 19a.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette provides a restated creed:

I believe in God the Father, the Almighty God above, Maker of the earth and heaven which were formed in God’s great love.

And in Jesus, loving Jesus, God’s own Son, who makes us new. This the creed of generations, is the faith for our church too.

Jesus by God’s Holy Spirit was so wondrously conceived, Born unto the Virgin Mary, who your promises believed.

Jesus suffering under Pilate, on a cross was crucified. Soldiers mocked hi, friends denied him; he hung there until he died.

So it was, our Lord was buried, in a borrowed tomb he lay. To the dead he then descended, where was joy on earth that day?

There’s more to God’s great story: In three days he rose again. He ascended into heaven and he sits at God’s right hand.

I believe what God has promised: Christ will come as he has said. He will judge the nations’ peoples, both the living and the dead.

I believe God’s Holy Spirit makes the church one family. We’re surrounded by God’s people, saints who in our Lord believe.

I believe that God forgives us for the times we turn away, And that God will raise our bodies on that resurrection day.

We rejoice that we’ll live forever, singing praise to God’s great name. This the creed of generations is the faith that we proclaim.

Today we explore the first article of the Apostles' Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Some are concerned that  the use of the word Father is less inclusive and depicts a stern, sterile relationship. The original word was Abba in Aramaic; which was papa or daddy - signifying deep intimacy and trust. Some also question why an almighty creator would allow the evils that we see in today's world. Another way to frame this question might be why do humans allow the evils to continue?

Today's message is from Pastor Tania. Our Gospel comes from Luke, Chapter 12, Verses 22-31, and our scripture reading is Genesis 1, verses 24-27.

Contemporary Lutheran Affirmation of Faith:

We trust in God, the Creator of all that is, of galaxies and forests, oceans and deserts, creatures and every human being. God speaks life into existence, calls creation good, and remains faithful to the world God has made.We belive that the earth is no ours to possess, but a gift to recieve with gratitude, to share with justice and tend with humility.

We trust in Jesus Christ, Godsl living Word among us, born into this world, sharing our joys and suffering. In his life, he proclaimed God's kingdom of mercy. In his death, he entered the depths of human pain. In his resurrection, he opened the way to new life for all creation. Through Christ, we are forgiven, freed from the need to justify ourselves, and called into lives of faith, hope and love. 

We trust in the Holy Spirit, present and active in the church and in the world. Gathering people into communities of grace, awakening faith, renewing hears, and equipping us for service. The Spirit moves among all peoples, inspires care for our neighbors, and calls us to seek justice, make peace and protect the flourishing of creation.

We trust that God has not abandoned the world, and is even now making all things new. Therefore we live in hope: for the healing of the earth, for reconciliation among people, for the renewal of the church, and for the resurrection life promised in Christ.

To God- Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit, be glory now and forever.

Amen.

A creed is a formal statement of core beliefs or guiding principles. Often a creed is composed of ‘I Believe’ statements and these statements could and should lead to actions informed by the creed. Living out the actions resulting from the creed tells outside observers who we are. The Apostles’ Creed is neither written in the bible, nor was it written by Apostles. However, it is an encapsulation of the entire bible, and captures the Triune nature of God. There are three articles in the Apostles’ Creed, each starting with an ‘I believe’ statement.

Today’s message is brought to us by Pastor Jason, and the scripture reading comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, Chapter 2, verses 5 - 11.  After Jason’s message, Pastor Tania leads the congregation in the Ionian Creed.

Ionian Creed:

We believe that God is present in the darkness before the dawn; in the waiting and uncertainty where fear and courage join hands. Conflict and caring link arms, and the sun rises over barbed wire. We believe in a with-us God who sits down in our midst to share our humanity.

We affirm a faith that takes us beyond a safe place: into action, into vulnerability and onto the streets.

We commit ourselves to work for change and put ourselves on the line; to bear responsibility, take risks, live powerfully and face humiliation; to stand with those on the edge; to choose life and be used by the Spirit for God’s new community of hope. Amen

Guests are a blessing. Jesus told the Disciples to go out and share the good news, and that they would be showered with hospitality. Hospitality is the process of a stanger taken under protection of the host for a given time during the period of hospitality. The disciples needed hospitality because of the dangers of the world and their vulnerability. Sometimes the roles of those who need welcome and those who offer welcome can change and both parties can do both the welcoming and receiving  welcome.

Today's message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our Gospel comes from John  Chapter 10, verses 40-42. Our scripture lesson is Psalm 100.

The Gospel of John tells us that we are freed by faith alone, and crucified in Christ. However, our culture is trying to remove our remembrances of the sacrifices and the contributions of our non-white brothers and sisters with the intent that we forget. Westwood stands diametrically opposed to this attempt to rewrite history. 

Today's message comes from Pastor Jason. Our Gospel comes from John  Chapter 8, verses 31 - 36. Our scripture lesson is from 2 Samuel, Chapter 13, verses 20-22.

The church exists for all of the people of the world. It doesn't exist to keep us comfortable and cloistered behind our walls. When we live the mission and the Holy Spirit gets unleashed, the endings are unimaginable. Each of us has the good news of God's gift to be shared anywhere and everywhere.

Today's message comes from Pastor Sarah. Our scripture lesson comes from Psalm 100, and our Gospel comes from Matthew Chapter's 9 verse 35 to Chapter 10, verse 8.