Wednesday, February 11, 2009

A Problem at Ithaca College

I have been spending some time following the heated controversy at Ithaca College around an article my daughter, Emily, wrote describing her experience in Hebron this past summer. You can also follow it at: http://www.ithaca.edu/icview/5148/

Monday, February 02, 2009

Many Sundays at Fairport United Methodist Church we affirm our faith together with an affirmation of faith that comes from the United Church of Canada. This past Sunday morning we reflected on the importance of a statement of faith for keeping ourselves focused on the fundamental beliefs that keep us rooted in our understanding of who God is, who we are, and how we are called to be followers of Jesus.

In times of anxiety and stress it is easy to become confused and set off-course. Our fears can warp our understanding and convince us that we are alone in an uncertain and meaningless world. Our frustrations can lead us to believe that we are not guests in God’s good world and that God has abandoned us. We can come to think that we have no calling to be evidence in this world that God is indeed with us and to celebrate that call together.

Because we can forget and lose focus, week by week we affirm:

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 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.