Our Words of Faith?

Our Words of Faith:
Cherished, Honoured, and Living

Introducing statements of faith from and for
The United Church of Canada
Are they “Our Words of Faith”, or not so much?

Our national United Church is asking local churches what we believe.
Our council will speak for us, whether to claim any or all of 3 statements of faith:

Statement of Faith (1940)
A New Creed (1968/80/94)
A Song of Faith (2006)

Join us 4 Sundays (Nov 20, 27, Dec 4, 11)
Over a bag lunch after worship Noon to 1:30pm

Repeated 4 Tuesdays 7:30pm to 9pm
(Nov 22, 29, Dec 6, 13)

Are any of these
“Our Words of Faith: Cherished, Honoured, & Living?”

Come once or try all 4 sessions
Read ahead – or follow along –


Our Words of Faith?

Our national church is asking local congregations what we believe.

Since 1925, our United Church ‘Basis of Union’ already says that scripture is our main standard, and ‘Articles of Faith’ clarify our interpretation of scripture. Do we believe even that stuff, here and now, us, at Thornhill UC? Are these historic statements “Our Words of Faith”?

Each of 3 statements of faith may be recognized in 2012 as a ‘subordinate standard of faith’ and included in our Basis of Union through this year’s process: 1940 Statement of Faith, A New Creed (1968/80/94), and A Song of Faith (2006). Are these, any more than the others, “Our Words of Faith”?

Is each, or any, of these 3 statements ‘cherished’, ‘honoured’, & ‘living’?
According to you? According to us? According to whom?

Do each, or any of these ‘words of faith’ reflect

a) continuity with historic, older expressions you knew?

b) the practice of the United Church as you experience it now (emerging)?

c) the faith of our worshipping community at Thornhill UC?

How would you vote, if you were a council member? Join the conversation, here onsite on 4 Sundays, repeated 4 Tuesdays, or online at www.hereticslikeus.com. Background reading is posted there, and copied at the church in November, then notes from our 4 sessions will be posted online and copied at the church.

1. Older Words of Faith Sun Nov 20 noon, repeated Tues Nov 22 7:30pm
We’ll start with the older words:Bible, creeds, Basis of Union, Articles of Faith

2. Mid-Century Meanings Sun Nov 27 noon, repeated Tues Nov 29 7:30pm
We’ll visit some 1940 words, written amid World Wars & Depression

3. Modern Poetry Sun Dec 4 noon, repeated Tues Dec 6 7:30pm
We’ll echo a ‘New Creed’, from ‘hip’ 1968, revised ‘80 & ‘94

4. Post-Modern Lyrics Sun Dec 4 noon, repeated Tues Dec 6 7:30pm
We’ll sample a ‘Song of Faith’ to see if we can sing along to it

Cherished, Honoured, and Living? Read more...