WHO WE ARE? WHAT DO WE BELIEVE ?
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Our mission is to follow Jesus Christ as his faithful disciples.
We are spiritually part of the world-wide family of Anglican Churches, which trace their roots to the British Isles.
We Believe:
- That Grace and Salvation are found in Jesus Christ alone;
- The Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God;
- The Creeds(as the standard of faith) mean exactly what they say;
- Christian Morality of The Bible is the sole guide for the Church;
- The Sacraments convey Grace and through them Christ is known and present;
- The Apostolic Ministry of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons was instituted by Christ;
- The worship of the parish is rooted in The Bible, is guided by the teachings of the early Christian Fathers, and is structured in the scriptural foundations of the traditional Book of Common Prayer;
- We do not compromise on matters of faith, doctrine, or morality.
We believe in the power of prayer. Therefore, we pray to the Lord to lead, heal, and transform our lives, our churches, our communities, and the world.
THE MISSION OF OUR CHURCH
A Return to the Faith
Our catholic and reformed faith has a prophetic message for Christians today. For more than a generation now, churches have purposely abandoned tradition with the idea that this was necessary to attract believers in the modern world. In a replay of ancient iconoclasm, crosses and pictures were torn down and religious symbols were discouraged. Talk of sin was muted. The focus came to be whatever might attract a larger crowd. Religion became another consumer product.
The inordinate desire for what is new, coupled with the abandonment of the received faith, has had negative consequences. Much that is called Christianity today is not very Christian in any biblical or historic sense. As one commentator said, "She who marries the spirit of the age becomes a widow in the next generation." This is why St. Paul told the Thessalonians, "Stand fast , and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle" (Thessalonians 2:15). We call for a return to the "faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
A Return to the Bible
As a reformed church, we also realize that many people who think of themselves as Christians need to be introduced to the Jesus of the Bible. Many of the problems in the church in the modern world result from ignorance of the Bible. Church leaders were able to promote non-biblical teachings and practices because the people did not know the Bible. Consequently, we emphasize Bible reading and study.
The tradition of the church provides a fruitful environment for Bible study. We follow the church calendar that leads us to worship through the life of Jesus, from birth to Ascension, each year. We follow a plan for daily Bible reading that takes us through the Bible each year. Our services are composed of biblical prayers and expressions. Our church members are exposed to a great deal more Bible than is typical for those who attend what are known as "Bible churches."
A Return to Prayer
We believe that prayer is essential to the Christian life. The church's life of prayer is centered in the Lord's Supper, or Holy Communion, which we celebrate each Sunday. The life of prayer is encouraged through daily prayer, which incorporated the praying of the Psalms, Bible reading and prayers. These daily prayers are perpetuated in the Anglican Tradition in the services of Morning and Evening Prayer. Many Christians do not have a daily sense of communion with God in Christ because they do not pray. We encourage people to begin a life of prayer.
Tradition: Past and Present
Traditional Christians are often accused of being stuck in the past. However, the greater danger for Christians today is an uncritical acceptance of new teachings and practices. Because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8), the faith of the past is the wave of the future. As God said through the prophet Jeremiah, "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).
Diocese of the Transfiguration
unitedanglicanchurch.com