About Newman Congregational Church

Mission Statement

 

We are an inclusive Christian community dedicated to living Jesus' message of love, peace, and justice through joyful worship, compassionate service, radical hospitality and responsible stewardship.

 

About the UCC

The United Church of Christ embraces a theological heritage that affirms the Bible as the authoritative witness to the Word of God, the creeds of the ecumenical councils, and the confessions of the Reformation. The UCC has roots in the "covenantal" tradition - meaning there is no centralized authority or hierarchy that can impose any doctrine or form of worship on its members. Christ alone is Head of the church. We seek a balance between freedom of conscience and accountability to the apostolic faith. The UCC therefore receives the historic creeds and confessions of our ancestors as testimonies, but not tests, of the faith.

 

What We Believe

We believe in God, The Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:

  • God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.
  • God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
  • God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.
  • God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant, faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.
  • God calls us into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
  • God promises to all who trust in the gospel; forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God. Amen.

 

Newman's Statement of Openness and Affirmation*

We, the members of Newman Congregational Church, first gathered in 1643, welcome all who seek to worship with us. We declare that our congregation is open to all who wish to share God's light and we embrace all who proclaim God's love, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, status, ability, sexual orientation or gender identity. We welcome all people, in families, or as partners, couples or single persons, and pray that together we will work toward justice and peace throughout our community, our country and our world.

We especially declare our openness to and affirmation of all who have been diminished by prejudice, bigotry and oppression. We marvel at the many children of God and their varied talents. Yet we acknowledge that the world's views have often prevailed and that these same brothers and sisters in Christ have at times been neglected or met with silence. We resolve that this church shall continue to seek ways to affirm and include all people as equal brothers and sisters.

Our mission work is an important part of our worship; we deeply care for those in our community and for all God's children worldwide. Blessed by the bountiful care of God and by the support and love of one another, this Church seeks to affirm all members of our fellowship and all who live in the greater community.

We invite all to worship with us in a caring and open environment. We are an open and affirming congregation. Resting in the guidance and inspiration of Scripture and believing that there are many interpretations of the Word, we acknowledge that God encompasses, yet surpasses, the written word, and we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our continuing quest to be open and appreciative of all of our many differences. We appreciate deeply the opportunity to affirm God's love with every person who desires to be a part of our congregation.

Voted September 28, 2008

* Many thanks to our friends at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Plymouth, New Hampshire, from whom we have borrowed ideas and phrases.