Faith Statement and Covenant
Hingham Congregational Church UCC Covenant
We promise to walk together in Christian love, cherishing the presence of God the Creator, Jesus the Word, and the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Comforter.
Seeking God’s will for our faith community, the human family, and all of creation, we agree to give witness to the life and teachings of Jesus, our risen Savior, and through our actions and ideals, invite the world to a deeper love.
With the Spirit as our guide, we promise to be faithful in worship and support of Hingham Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. We aspire to offer all that we are and all that we have for the fulfillment of God’s Realm of justice and peace.
We warmly welcome all, without judgement, to accompany us on this journey, embracing diversity of belief, respecting freedom of conscience, and striving to become more deeply aware of the grace of God.
As approved by the congregation of the Hingham Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in January, 2019
Faith Statement
The following is a statement of our common beliefs as a local Christian faith community.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. The Creator, Christ and the Holy Spirit guide and bring about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world. We believe that our faith is most centrally about relationships: with God, through Jesus Christ and with each other.
We believe the Bible is our sacred guidebook. We believe the scriptures are the source of God’s word and truth for us, although we do not interpret the Bible literally. We discern this truth through communal study and prayer.
We believe that all persons baptized – past, present and future – are connected to each other and to God through the sacrament of Christian baptism. We baptize during the worship service when the community is present, because Christian baptism expects the faith community’s promise of love, support and care for the baptized.
We believe that all people of Christian faith are invited to gather at Christ’s table for the sacrament of Holy Communion. The breaking of bread and drinking of the cup remind us of Christ’s sacrifice and the discipleship to which we are called. We remember and celebrate Christ’s presence with us in the sacrament.
We believe in the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life. God’s grace is available to us through our own, individual relationships with God.
We believe that each person is on a spiritual journey, and that each of us is at a different stage along that journey. Our focus is on progress upon our personal journey and accountability before God to continue that journey. Through formal and informal Christian education we share our beliefs with one another to build a foundation of faith for our youth and ourselves.
We believe that each person is unique and valuable. It is the will of God that every person belongs to a family of faith where all people know themselves valued and loved.
We believe that HCC is called to be a united and uniting church. “We are many members and we are one.” (John 17:21). We seek to live according to the UCC motto: “In essentials–unity, in nonessentials–diversity, in all things–charity,”we all belong to God and to one worldwide community of faith, and we welcome all persons of every race, ethnicity, class, age, gender, physical or mental ability, or sexual orientation to take part in the sacraments and life of our church. The supremacy of love and unity in the midst of our diversity are our greatest values.
We believe that God calls us to be servants in the service of others. To believe is to care, to care is to do. God calls us to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to minister to the oppressed and to care for the under-served.
We believe in the power of peace. Through outreach and personal commitments, we are working together to promote social justice and to achieve nonviolent solutions to local, national and international problems.
As approved by the congregation of the Hingham Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in May of 2007.