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  3. What We Believe

What We Believe

A Faith Rooted in Love and Community

Our Beliefs

Faith at Bostwick Lake Congregational UCC is open-hearted, life-affirming, and deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. We believe in a God whose love knows no bounds, a faith that embraces questions and exploration, and a community where all are welcome.

As a family of faith, we are grounded in our core values:

01

God’s Love for All

We believe God loves all people no matter their ethnicity, sexuality, political persuasion, color of skin or economic standing. God's love knows no bounds.
02

Being a Community of Faith, Hope, and Love

We strive to be a welcoming community of faith, sharing our lives, hopes, and challenges in trust while fostering belonging, care, and connection.
03

Justice and Compassion

Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we strive to embody and live out his transformative teachings of compassion and justice, committing ourselves to loving our neighbor in concrete and tangible ways.
04

For the Sake of the Community

We seek to contribute positively to the community of Cannon Township, to support the individuals and families that live here, inviting the community to experience the goodness and love of God.
05

Healing and Reconciliation

As people who know forgiveness in Christ, we seek to practice humility, grace and forgiveness, actively seeking to break down walls of hostility and promote healing and reconciliation within our faith community and the community of Cannon Township.
06

The Guidance of the Holy Spirit

As a community, we seek to be attentive to the movement of the Spirit among us, to lead and guide our steps in ways that are faithful to the beauty of God's kingdom and God's love for the world.
What We Believe

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit

We embrace an open-hearted and life-affirming faith rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the enduring presence of God and the Holy Spirit. Recognizing that not everyone imagines or experiences God in the same way, we celebrate the rich diversity of spiritual journeys within our community.

Our beliefs are built on these core foundations:
  • We Believe in the Triune God:
  • Creator – The source of all life, who calls us to love, nurture, and protect creation.
  • Jesus Christ – The crucified and risen Savior, whose teachings guide us in love, justice, and discipleship.
  • Holy Spirit – The presence of God within and among us, renewing and empowering the Church.
  • A Persistent Search for God:

We embrace a faith that encourages questions, exploration, and a lifelong journey of discovering God’s presence in our lives.

  • The Sacrament of Baptism:

Baptism is a sacred act that unites us as one community of faith, symbolizing God’s unwavering love and our belonging in the Body of Christ.

  • The Sacrament of Communion:

We believe in an open table, where all people are invited to share in the bread and cup as a reminder of Christ’s love and our call to live in unity, justice, and peace.

  • A United and Uniting Church:

Inspired by Jesus’ prayer that “they may all be one” (John 17:21), we seek unity amid diversity, building bridges across differences and centering love as our greatest creed.

  • Service and Stewardship:

We believe faith is action. We are called to serve, care for those in need, and protect the integrity of God’s creation.

  • The Power of Peace:

We are committed to nonviolence and reconciliation, working toward a just and peaceful world at every level—local, national, and global.

  • A Prophetic Church:

We follow in the tradition of prophets and apostles, speaking truth to power, advocating for justice, and uplifting the oppressed.

  • The Unique Value of Every Person:

Every person is beloved by God, deserving of love, dignity, and a faith family where they are cherished and included.

Our Denomination

A Church That Listens

We are proud to be a part of the United Church of Christ (UCC)—a uniting church as well as a united church. At the heart of our denomination is the belief in a God who still speaks. We trust that there is yet more light and truth to break forth from God’s Holy Word, reminding us to remain open to new understandings and revelations.

The UCC often uses the symbol of a comma to represent our belief in a “Stillspeaking God,” a God who continues to guide and inspire us in every generation. Or, as comedienne Gracie Allen famously put it, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” This belief shapes our identity and reminds us to listen for God’s voice in new and transformative ways.
Bostwick Lake Congregational UCC