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This week for our devotions, Pastor Brook is looking at several quotes from the book “Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep.” This is a book we are studying through the Lent and Easter Season. Our first gathering is on Monday, March 11th at 7pm at the church.
“In times of deep pain in my own life, the belief of the church has carried me. When we confess the creeds in worship, we don’t say, “I believe in God the Father . . .” because some weeks I do and some weeks, I can’t climb that high. Instead, we confess, “We believe . . .” Belief isn’t a feeling inside of us, but a reality outside of us into which we enter, and when we find our faith faltering, sometimes all we can do is fall on the faith of the saints. We believe together. Thank God belief isn’t left to me and my ever-fluctuating faithfulness.”
― Tish Harrison Warren, Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep
When I was a kid (and when I say that I mean up to age 30), I hated creeds! I thought someone was forcing me to believe something I didn’t even understand! I often crossed my fingers on the parts I couldn’t quite come to fully embracing. But Tish Warren has a different perspective on belief. She understands we don’t believe sometimes. Creeds aren’t meant to force us to believe, they are meant to help us get through times of disbelief! And so today, I share one of my favorite creeds: The Affirmation of Faith from the Church of Canada.
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.
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