Ou Beliefs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="313864a0.png" border=0 width="134" height="74" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ou Beliefs"><U>Our Beliefs</U></A></div> <div>  <A HREF="staff.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Staff"><U>Meet the Staff</U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming Events"><U>Upcoming Events</U></A></div> <div>  <A HREF="history.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our History "><U>Our History</U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Childrens Ministry"><U>Children's Ministry</U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="youth.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Youth Ministry"><U>Youth Ministry</U></A>  </div> <div>  <A HREF="adult.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adult Ministry"><U> Adult Ministry</U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="missions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>Missions/Outreach</U></A> </div> <div>   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Music Ministry"><U>Music Ministry</U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter"><U>Newsletter</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermons"><U>Sermons</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://sites.google.com/site/alphacoursefranklin/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://sites.google.com/site/alphacourse"><U>ALPHA</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.childrenschristiantheatre.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.childrenschristiantheatre.com"><U>Children's Christian Theatre (CCT)</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Building Process"><U>Our Journey </U></A></div> <div>   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Picture Gallery"><U>Picture Gallery</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#EEEEEE" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Faith Community Church & Faith Academy</B>    </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >     </FONT> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Faith Community Church Faith Academy"><U>Home</U></A>     <A HREF="church.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Faith Community Church"><U>Church</U></A>    <A HREF="academy.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>Academy</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>What We Believe...</B></div> <div> <B>We believe in Jesus of Nazareth as our Savior and in the mystery of God's </B></div> <div> <B>divine presence as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.</B></div> <div> We affirm the ancient creeds of the church: The Nicene, and the Apostolic.</div> <div> We believe that the local church is formed and united by a mutual covenant. </div> <div> Our covenant functions as our primary mission statement. We reaffirm our</div> <div> covenant regularly in worship.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Our covenant is:</B></div> <div> To glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,</div> <div> We humbly submit our efforts to teach and preach God's Word</div> <div> Become a spirit-filled community of faith</div> <div> And to uplift and support one another in God's Name. Amen<IMG SRC="23e94e70.jpg" border=0 width="148" height="231" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Holy Sacrament</B></div> <div> <B>We are a people of Word and Sacrament</B>. </div> <div> The Word of God as revealed in Holy Scripture is sacred in our community of faith. </div> <div> In the word we find full authority from God for purpose in our life journey.</div> <div> We observe two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper/Holy Communion.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Baptism </B>for infants/children is offered if one or both of the child's parents are Christians. Infant or child baptism is usually celebrated during worship on Sunday mornings. On occasion the baptism can be conducted at an alternative time due to the special circumstances or needs of the family. Infant and child baptism is also remembered by the giving of a handmade leaf with the baptized person name embroider on it and placed on a Baptismal banner representing the Tree of Life with the roots of the tree being Jesus, the Christ.</div> <div> Baptism for adults and youth is offered as an acknowledgement of a personal profession of faith in Christ. Adult or youth baptism usually celebrated during worship on Sunday mornings.</div> <div> Baptism is generally a requirement for church membership.</div> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>Holy Communion </B>is regularly celebrated the first Sunday of the month.<B><IMG SRC="1f3dd590.jpg" border=0 width="221" height="89" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> You need not be a member of our congregation to receive Holy Communion. Communion is reserved for those who believe in Jesus as Savior or have a desire to know him. All are welcome at the Table of the Lord. Holy Communion is also served in the pew or by Intinction (dipping in a common cup). We use  bread and grape juice in serving God's people the Elements. Our Reformed Tradition interprets Holy Communion as Christ's memorial of his sacrifice on the cross in the bread and wine. We emphasize Jesus words, `Do This in Remembrance of Me.'</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Membership</B></div> <div> <B>Church Membership is open to all baptized Christians. </B></div> <bR> <div> Membership begins by making a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as </div> <div> personal Savior, attending a membership introduction, and confirming one's </div> <div> baptim.  Youth are confirmed into membership at 9th grade and older.  All </div> <div> members have the responsibility to vote at all Congregational meetings. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Members agree to the church covenant and mutually agree to the giving of </div> <div> one's time, talent and treasure for the purpose of building up the body of </div> <div> Christ. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Active members are those who participate in the life of the church through </div> <div> attending worship, giving an offering, and helping the ministry of the </div> <div> church. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Associate members are those persons who have moved away, or for some other </div> <div> reason are not active in the church but wish to have a close tie to the </div> <div> church. These members do not have voting rights. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Inactive members are those persons who once were active but after some time </div> <div> are removed from the membership. </div> <div>  </div> <div> It is our goal to be a disciple making church for Jesus Christ. To welcome, </div> <div> Nurture and incorporate others into the God's beloved church. For us, the </div> <div> church is the people of God. </div> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>