Prayer and Youth Rewrite of Our Statement of Faith

[liralen]

So... one of the reasons the United Church of Christ is not actually considered a "real" church by some denominations is that the UCC has no test of faith. That's right, you don't have to actually have your faith tested to join the UCC, as in you can actually join and do stuff even if you don't have any, yet, perhaps, or are on a search of sorts. The statement we have is written not as a test, but as something that folks can say when they decide that they can.

The last confirmation class of teenagers decided to take apart our statement of faith, build collages on sections of it, and then rewrite it in their own words. And a while back I promised I'd post it. Plus, I found a benediction I just died over after all the Bleach stuff I've been writing, it really fits.



The benediction is short... so it first.

Jesus said, "You ought always to pray and not to faint."
Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger women and men
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; but for power equal to your tasks.
Then the doing of your work will be no miracle -- you will be the miracle.
Every day you will wonder at yourself and the richness of life,
which has come to you by the grace of God.


Now the youths' Statement of Faith:

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
And to your deeds we testify.

We believe that your creation is awesome!
We see all the amazing and awesome people you have created,
And all the animals and plants, even insects.
We see how you choose the day of our birth
And the day of our death, when we return to you.

You look with special love to help everyone from being pointless and doing horrible things.
You compare people and nations to your perspective
As proclaimed by the prophets an disciples, both ancient and modern.

We are the ambassadors of God! Jesus came and taught us that suffering is an opportunity to practice faith and show compassion.

You give us the courage to look deeper into everyday things,
To find the extraordinary in the ordinary, the friend in the stranger,
Refreshing us, forgiving us, and letting us forgive ourselves and others.

You gather us into your community to walk in your footsteps.
To practice compassion and hospitality, to celebrate what's right in your world
And overcome that which is wrong. To receive the gift of your spirit
And to share your bread with those who are forgotten.
To live into your vision for all human kind.

Comments

[grey-lady.livejournal.com]

Wow. I think you have some wise kids in that confirmation class.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they're a lot deeper than anyone thought they would be. It was pretty impressive.

[ross-teneyck.livejournal.com]

Last year we worked with our Sunday School class (5th-7th grade, that year) over several weeks to write their own creed. It ended up being a great process, and I think a wonderful creed as a result:

http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~teneyck/liturgy/standrewscreed.html

I'm surprised every now and again at how orthodox these kids tend to be, when given an open field. (Not in everything, of course, but in many ways.) I'd say it just goes to show, but I'm not actually sure what it goes to show :)

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have no idea, either exactly what it shows, other than, perhaps, that some of those core concepts do light something specific within many people in a way that's most well said in simple terms...

That is a very clear, clean creed!!

[ginnyvos.livejournal.com]

I love how short it is and how it doesn't presume. The youth's statement is beautiful too, but I do like the first one. What is this 'test of fate' thing?

I am not a christian by the long run, but this kind of thing makes me smile. I can imagine how people would want to be part of this kind of church.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I love the benediction, it seems to touch the heart of an aspect of existence. And, yes, it does not presume a darned thing.

Test of faith... you have to have a certain amount of faith, of belief in God, Jesus, Christ, the Holy Spirit and all that in order to actually join and be a member of many Christian denominations. You have to say the Creed and Mean It, and then you can join.

The UCC doesn't have that. You can join and never say the Statement of Faith.

Benediction and Youth Creed

[(Anonymous)]

Phyllis, We were both impressed by the depth of the young people's rendition of the UCC statement of faith. It is beautifully written. And I personally loved the benedictiion. Where did that come from?

Re: Benediction and Youth Creed

[liralen.livejournal.com]

We were all very impressed, too!

It's actually in the back of the black hymnal! I was really impressed, too, I think it's number 875.