"Therefore, brothers [and sisters], stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.”

2 Thessalonians 2:15

he Christian faith is an invitation into what is undoubtedly the most profound and beautiful love story ever. As the fountain of life and source of all goodness, God made all things, both seen and unseen, and filled them with his blessing. He created them to rejoice in the splendor of his radiance. God formed us in his own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to our Creator, we might serve all creation.

When our disobedience took us far from him, God did not abandon us to the power of death. In his infinite mercy he came to our help, so that in seeking him we might truly find him. Again and again he called us into covenant with him, and through the prophets He taught us to hope for salvation.

He loved the world so much that in the fullness of time he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill God's divine purpose, he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, he destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

That we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all. Accordingly, the Holy Spirit has preserved for us accounts of Christ's life and teachings in the Holy Gospels, and has also preserved for us a glimpse into the early Church through countless letters (the New Testament "Epistles"). Alongside the Hebrew Scriptures, we view these as the written Word of God, which guides us in our own lives, and has guided Christians for almost two millenia in discerning God's will for our lives and the Church.

The Sacred Tradition of the Christian faith has also been passed down to us through the ages from the Apostles to those who succeeded them in an unbroken chain of teaching. Saint Paul taught that we are to “…stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter…” (2 Thess. 2:15). For this reason, we recognize the gift of Sacred Tradition which God has given to lead us in our lives. Further, we believe that worship, prayer, love, fellowship, forgiveness, and good works are all important aspects in the life of a Christian believer enabling us to grow in truth and into the fullness of sanctification.

Standing firm and holding fast to the traditions we were taught, as Paul encourages us to do, we affirm the following creedal statements, which for almost two millenia Christians have held dear as containing the core fundamental tenets of the Christian faith:

The Apostles Creed (c.a. 215 A.D.)
The Nicene Creed (325 A.D.)

(The first four paragraphs on this page are adapted from the Eucharistic Prayer D from the 1979 Book of Common of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church of the United States of America.)