What do we believe? What do we believe?

Weekly Worship Weekly Worship Sept 10, 2011Sept 10, 2011

Christ Church United, Christ Church United, Deux MontagnesDeux Montagnes

One church, One church, Four kinds of believersFour kinds of believers Rom 14:1 Welcome with open arms Rom 14:1 Welcome with open arms

fellow believers who don't see things fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them own history to deal with. Treat them gently. gently.

Ritual of Gathering: Ritual of Gathering:

One: Though the storm clouds of doubt and fear One: Though the storm clouds of doubt and fear threaten to overcome usthreaten to overcome us

All: God leads us into ways of peace.All: God leads us into ways of peace.One: When the darkness of war and the deep pit of One: When the darkness of war and the deep pit of

anger reach toward usanger reach toward us

All: God lifts and carries us through All: God lifts and carries us through the darkness with hope and light.the darkness with hope and light.

One: Lord of hope and life, be with us today.One: Lord of hope and life, be with us today.

All: God of mercy and peace, lead our All: God of mercy and peace, lead our lives. AMEN.lives. AMEN.

Prayer of Approach Prayer of Approach

We sing and speak your praise, O We sing and speak your praise, O God, grateful for the many ways God, grateful for the many ways in which you have healed us. in which you have healed us. Keep our hearts, our minds, and Keep our hearts, our minds, and our spirits open to learn ways in our spirits open to learn ways in which we can offer healing love which we can offer healing love for others. We ask this in Jesus’ for others. We ask this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.name. AMEN.

Hymn Hymn

VU 806VU 806

O God our Help in Ages O God our Help in Ages Past Past

Mainliners Mainliners Four kinds of Four kinds of

believersbelievers

Rev. Warren Volmer,

Lakefield Ont.

•Biblical theology based on scholarly interpretations

•Practical implications of the gospel- living social justice

•“There’s something true and divine behind it all, but it has human hands on it.” “I’m not a literalist”

•Jesus is a role model for living

•Accept evolution, many paths to God

44%

IntuitivesIntuitives Four kinds of Four kinds of

believersbelievers

Rev. Bruce Sanguin, Vancouver BC

•Feel the presence of God, comfortable with ambiguity

•Prayer is very important

•“The Bible is part of my relationship with Jesus”

•Jesus is a role model for living, political rebel and prophet

•Religion should go beyond telling about God and encourage experience of the Divine.

35%

Traditionalists Traditionalists 13% Four kinds of believersFour kinds of believers

Rev. Nick Phillips

Carman United,

Sidney Mines NS.

•Faith based on more literal interpretation of the Bible.

•Divided on Creation vs Evolution

•Divided on other religions as paths to God

• Heaven and hell are real places

•Christ crucified, risen and exalted, at the centre of our lives and at the centre of the church.

Non ConformistsNon Conformists Four kinds Four kinds

of believers of believers

Rev. Nancy Steeves

Southminster-Steinhauer United, Edmonton, Alta.

•Rooted in Christian tradition, but with an emerging spirituality.

•Divinity permeates everything, but God is not a personality

•Jesus was real human whose reform of Judaism started a new religion.

• Rarely pray

•Admiration for moral teachings

•Strong concern about climate change

8%

Where are you?Where are you?

Romans 14: 1 - 14

Who is God?Who is God?

Hymn: Hymn:

VU 651 VU 651

Guide me O thou Guide me O thou Great JehovahGreat Jehovah

Who is God? Who is God?

God is the one only living and true God, a Spirit infinite, God is the one only living and true God, a Spirit infinite, eternal and unchangeable. eternal and unchangeable.

God is the Creator, Upholder and Sovereign Lord of all God is the Creator, Upholder and Sovereign Lord of all thingsthings

God has created and is creating. God works in us and God has created and is creating. God works in us and others by the spirit.others by the spirit.

God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description. perfect description.

None of the above, God is………None of the above, God is………

2) Do you personally believe in God? 2) Do you personally believe in God? Yes Yes No No It depends what you mean by “God”. It depends what you mean by “God”.

Who is God? Who is God?

3) Please choose the one that best describes your sense 3) Please choose the one that best describes your sense of God’s presence of God’s presence

I have direct ongoing sensory experiences of God I have direct ongoing sensory experiences of God

I have an intuitive sense of something beyond myselfI have an intuitive sense of something beyond myself

I have an intuitive sense of something within myself. I have an intuitive sense of something within myself.

I have not experienced God’s presence. I have not experienced God’s presence.

4) My relationship with God is: 4) My relationship with God is:

Close Close On-again, off-again On-again, off-again Ambiguous Ambiguous Non- Non-existentexistent

5) How comfortable are you with feminine images of God 5) How comfortable are you with feminine images of God

When I visualize God I When I visualize God I picture……..picture……..

Mainliners:

God

who has created and is creating

Intuitives:

God is experienced

as Holy Mystery

Traditionalists:

God is the one only living and true God, a Spirit infinite, eternal and unchangeable.

Non conformists:

Permeates everything but is not a personality

Let us Pray: Let us Pray:

Holy One, Holy One, Comforter, DisturberComforter, DisturberInterpreter, EnthuserInterpreter, EnthuserHeavenly friend, LamplighterHeavenly friend, LamplighterWe pray that your presence be We pray that your presence be

made known here, that we hear made known here, that we hear your voice and feel your love. your voice and feel your love.

AmenAmenAdapted from A Wee Worship Book, Wild

Goose

Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus?

Hymn: Hymn: VU 352 VU 352

I Danced in the I Danced in the MorningMorning

Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus?

(Choose all that apply) (Choose all that apply) Son of God Son of God Divinely inspired prophet Divinely inspired prophetPolitical Rebel Political Rebel Social Justice Advocate Social Justice AdvocateJewish reformer Jewish reformer Somebody’s invention Somebody’s invention Other ____________________________Other ____________________________

2) Do you believe that Jesus was born of a 2) Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? virgin?

Yes Yes No No No Opinion No Opinion

Who was Jesus? Who was Jesus?

3) Please choose the one that best 3) Please choose the one that best describes your beliefs about the describes your beliefs about the resurrection: resurrection:

Physical return of Jesus’ body to life Physical return of Jesus’ body to life Spiritual return of Jesus that others felt Spiritual return of Jesus that others felt It’s a story told to support the idea that It’s a story told to support the idea that

Jesus was son of GodJesus was son of GodNone of the above. It was None of the above. It was

____________________________________________

Mainliners:

Jesus is a role model for living

(Open arms for everyone)

Intuitives:

Role model for living, prophet, rebel, but main relationship is with God directly

Traditionalists:

Son of God, born of a virgin, my personal saviour.

Non conformists:

Jesus is a real human whose

reform of Judaism started a new

religion.

Let us Pray: Let us Pray: Lord, make our hearts places of peaceLord, make our hearts places of peaceAnd our minds harbours of tranquilityAnd our minds harbours of tranquilitySow in our souls true love for you and Sow in our souls true love for you and

for one another;for one another;And root deeply within us friendship, And root deeply within us friendship,

unity and reverence. unity and reverence. May we give peace to each other May we give peace to each other

sincerely and receive it beautifully. sincerely and receive it beautifully. Amen Amen

Adapted from A Wee Worship Book, Wild

Goose

Who is Jesus?Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus?

Hymn: Hymn:

VU 581 VU 581

When We are LivingWhen We are Living

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Minute for Mission: African Minute for Mission: African Appeal Appeal

OfferingOffering

*Offertory Hymn*Offertory Hymn VU 542 VU 542

We Give You but Your OwnWe Give You but Your Own

Prayer Prayer

To whom do you pray?To whom do you pray?

God God

Jesus Jesus

Other___________Other___________

I don’t pray I don’t pray

The Bible The Bible I last read the Bible: I last read the Bible: Today Today this month this month this year this year

over a year ago over a year ago never never

Who wrote the Bible? Who wrote the Bible? God, using humans as scribes God, using humans as scribes Humans inspired by the Holy Humans inspired by the Holy

SpiritSpirit Humans who were trying to Humans who were trying to

advance religious understanding advance religious understanding Other ________________________Other ________________________

Afterlife Afterlife

4) What do you think happens after death? 4) What do you think happens after death? We go to heaven or hell depending on how we’ve lived We go to heaven or hell depending on how we’ve lived

our lives our lives Everyone is reconciled to God and goes to Heaven Everyone is reconciled to God and goes to Heaven Our souls leave our bodies and live on in some form Our souls leave our bodies and live on in some form We are reincarnated as another person or animal We are reincarnated as another person or animal We cease to exist We cease to exist I don’t know I don’t know

5) Please select one response that best represents your 5) Please select one response that best represents your beliefs: beliefs:

Heaven Hell Heaven Hell is a real place, not of this worldis a real place, not of this world is the best/worst parts of this world is the best/worst parts of this world may or may not be real, but I’m going to live as may or may not be real, but I’m going to live as

if it isif it is is a myth is a myth

Other Beliefs Other Beliefs

Other denominations and faiths Other denominations and faiths

1) Are all major world religions equal paths to God? 1) Are all major world religions equal paths to God? Yes Yes No No Not sure Not sure

2) Do you believe that the Christian God is the God of other 2) Do you believe that the Christian God is the God of other religions? religions?

Yes Yes No No Not sure Not sure

3) If you were to attend a service of another church which would 3) If you were to attend a service of another church which would you pick? Why? _________________________________________you pick? Why? _________________________________________

4) If you were to attend a service of another religious, which 4) If you were to attend a service of another religious, which

would you pick? Why?would you pick? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________

Mainliners:

Read the bible monthly

Pray but don’t always get answers

Are unsure about an afterlife

Intuitives:

Read the bible monthly

Pray often for centering and calm

Souls live on in some form

Traditionalists:

Believe the bible is the Word of God, dictated or divinely inspired

Believe that heaven and hell are real places

Non conformists:

The bible is not very important to faith

Rarely or never pray

This life is not a dress rehearsal for the next

life.

Let us Pray: Let us Pray: Generous God, you gave us voices, Generous God, you gave us voices,

no two the same to praise you. no two the same to praise you. Wise God, you gave us minds, no two Wise God, you gave us minds, no two

the same, to know you. the same, to know you. Loving God, you gave us hearts, no Loving God, you gave us hearts, no

two the same, to live the life you two the same, to live the life you give. give.

Help us to be as welcoming and open Help us to be as welcoming and open as you are. Help us to believeas you are. Help us to believe

Amen Amen

Hymn: Hymn:

MVU 1 MVU 1

Let us build a house Let us build a house

Where are you?Where are you?

Romans 14: 1 - 14