Englewood
Christian Church
Guiding
Vision
In Jesus of Nazareth God is calling people to fullness of
life, and we at Englewood Christian Church are seeking to respond in a faithful
way. Through prayerful discernment
we continue to discover God’s direction in our life together.
We invite others to join us on this lifelong journey, as we seek to
embody these core values:
Inclusion
Because Jesus was intentional about including those who were
pushed to the edges of society and not considered equal, we are intentional
about becoming an inclusive community, challenging ourselves to welcome those
who push us beyond our comfort zone. We
celebrate ethnic, cultural, social and theological diversity.
Galatians 3:28: “In
Jesus Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,
for all are one in Christ Jesus.”
Spiritual
Life
With the Holy Spirit leading us, we deepen our spiritual life
together. All that we do as a
congregation is grounded in the light of scripture and prayer.
Meaningful worship that engages our hearts and minds through the spoken
word, song, silence, sacraments, and the visual arts is foundational to our
being the Body of Christ together. Small
group and personal prayer/devotional life is encouraged for all.
Acts 2:42, 46: “They
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and the prayers. Day by
day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home
and ate their food with glad and generous hearts.”
Theological
Reflection
We are a congregation who encourages theological reflection
and discussion. Through serious
faith reflection we seek to shed light on contemporary life issues and how
Christ calls us to live. These
discussions respect and celebrate the diversity of thought that our members
bring to faith. We are challenged
to grow as we continue our faith journey.
Proverbs3:5-6: “Trust
in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.
In all your ways acknowledge God, and He will make straight your path.”
Justice
and Peace
God’s love and mercy are shown to the world through acts of
justice and peace. We work at
gaining understanding of those who are different from us. By lending a helping hand where possible, we act to oppose
oppression of any of God’s children. We
stand for peace in our homes and schools, in our community, and in the world.
Micah 6:6-8: “And
what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and
to walk humbly with your God.”
Isaiah
2:4: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their
spears into pruning hooks. Nation
will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Sharing
Our Faith
We have a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we
encourage all, individually and collectively, to find ways in which to share
their faith. By living as
Christians we demonstrate our faith to others.
We encourage each other to grow in faith by sharing often about God
working in our lives and in our church, so that the Realm of God may be
expressed on earth.
Matthew 28:18-20 “Go
into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I have commanded, and lo, I am with you always.”
Missional
Church
The church shines when we move outside our own walls and
become the hands and feet of Christ. With
scripture as the lamp to light our path, our worship, study, and prayer life
lead us to emulate Christ by expressing compassion through word and deed. We
become involved in the lives of others, especially those who are in need, and we
deliberately find ways to engage in ministry in our community.
For this we believe: In
Jesus of Nazareth, God calls all people to fullness of life now.
Mark 10:45 “For the
Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many.”
Adopted 2/20. 2008