Unit 6 - Creeds and Prayers

Unit 6, Assignment 2 – The Nicene Creed

Now to the next Creed. But first a prayer:
God, our helper and friend; as we prepare for the feast of Easter we pray that you will help us to remember why we celebrate Easter and to be grateful for what Jesus did for us and for whole humankind.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed is the most widespread or ecumenical Christian statement of faith. Since its original formulation it continues to be used in the Roman Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Anglican, Lutheran, and most other Protestant Churches.

As we already found when looking at the Apostles’ Creed, the purpose of a creed is to act as a yardstick of correct belief. It was hoped that by memorizing this summary of the faith, people without theological training would still be able to recognize deviations from beliefs based on the Bible.

The Nicene Creed, both in its original and revised formulas, is a condemnation of specific errors. Thus, as different variations in Christian belief turned up in the fourth century and were seen as threats, new phrases were seen to be needed, like amendments to a constitution.

The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicaea year 325 and at the Council of Ephesus year 384. Those councils met to combat heresies and to declare that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. That is why this creed places so much stress upon the two natures of Christ; that He is both God and Man (see the second paragraph).

To the majority of modern Christians, the Nicene Creed is regarded as the most important expression of Christian faith. In this traditional belief, all "proper" Christians affirm the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is referred to by Roman Catholics and Orthodox as the "symbol of faith," and it is often part of Christian worship services.
For the Eastern Orthodox Churches this is the only creed that they use and they only agree to the earliest forms of it; which differs a little bit from the text that we use.

The Nicene Creed is universally used as a Eucharistic creed (remember that the Apostles’ Creed is a baptismal creed). We tend to use it on major holidays, while the Apostles’ Creed is used more often and on “ordinary” Sundays and weekdays.

The Creed was originally written in Greek, which was the language spoken at the big councils at that time, and first translated to Latin. Here is the English translation from the Book of Alternative Services that we use today:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.


Assignments:
When was the Nicene Creed written?

When do we use it in our church?

Which one do you prefer: the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed? Why?

Unit 6 - Creeds and Prayers

Unit 6, Assignment 1 – The Apostles’ Creed

Before you start, take some time for a prayer:
God, our loving Father, you know me better than anybody else. You know all the things that I am afraid of and all the things that I am happy for. Share my joys and comfort and help me in my fears.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.


Now we will start to look at Creeds and Prayers.
First out is the Apostles' Creed, sometimes called Symbol of the Apostles. It is an early statement of Christian belief. When the people who knew Jesus personally and who had heard his teachings died there was a need to summarize the Christian faith to protect it from false teachings, called heresies. So the Apostles’ Creed is a summary that could easily be learned by people. It is widely used by a number of Christian Churches today including the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheranism, the Anglican Communion, and Western Orthodoxy.

The Apostles’ Creed appears to have been originally formulated as a refutation of Gnosticism, an early heresy. This can be seen in almost every phrase. For example, the creed says that Christ was born and suffered and died on the cross. This seems to be a statement directly against the heretical teaching, which says that Christ only appeared to become man, and that he did not truly suffer and die, but only appeared as if he did. The Apostles' Creed, as well as other creeds, was written as an example of the apostles' teachings, and defended the Gospel of Christ.

The name of the Creed comes from the fact that, being composed of twelve articles, it was earlier believed to have been written by the Twelve Apostles, each of whom was supposed to have contributed an article under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

Many hypotheses exist concerning the date and nature of the origin of the Apostles' Creed. It was apparently developed from what scholars have identified as "the Old Roman Symbol" of the 1st or 2nd century and influenced later by the Nicene Creed, that we will look at next week. Some historians place the origin of the Apostles' Creed as late as 5th century. The earliest known concrete historical evidence of the creed's existence as it is titled today is a letter of the Council of Milan in year 390.

The Creed was first written in Greek, the major language at that time. Here is the English translation from the Book of Alternative Services:




I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.




The Apostles’ Creed (and also the Nicene Creed that we will look at in the next assignment) is in three paragraphs (=parts). Each paragraph speaks of One of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, that teaches us that God is a fellowship of three Persons in One God. The First Person is the Father: God bringing us into being and keeping us in existence. He is the Creator of all things. The Second Person is the Son: God in Jesus Christ who came to die and save us. He is the Redeemer of all mankind. The Third Person is the Holy Spirit: God guiding and strengthening his people. He is the Sanctifier, making holy the people of God.


The Apostles’ Creed is a Baptismal creed. We use the Apostles' Creed in form of questions in our rites of Baptism. During a Baptism the Priest asks the people: “Do you believe in God the Father?” and the people answer with the first part of the Apostles’ Creed. Then the second part and the third. In your Confirmation you will renew your own baptismal covenants by answering the same questions.
The Apostles’ Creed is also used in many other prayers and services in our Church today.


Assignments:
Why was the Apostles’ Creed written?

What is it about? Can you summarize it?!

Read on page 626 in the Book of Alternative Services how the Apostles’ Creed will be used at your Confirmation (if you don’t have the book at home you can borrow one from the church!).

Christian Spirituality Part 2

Confirmation Class - March 26, 2007

Assignment 2, Christian Spirituality


Let’s begin with a prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are my Saviour: forgive my sins and set me free.
Lord Jesus, you are my teacher: teach me wisdom and guide me to truth.
Lord Jesus, you are my Lord: be at the center of my life.
Lord Jesus, you are my friend and guide: hear my prayers and give me your comfort. Amen.

You are unique! This isn’t news to you or to anyone – but sometimes we need to repeat it to ourselves. We need to remind ourselves about our own uniqueness because we are each a child of God, and yet we all come together to work and worship. How can we do that – given our individual strengths and weaknesses?

The scripture writer Paul, used the image of the physical body to explain this. Check out 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. He writes that although we may each be a different “part” we can all work together to make a strong body – in effect – a body of Christ here on earth.

So, we each are unique and each have different gifts! Again, this isn’t rocket science! I used to love math but really hated English class – but my sister was born to write. How could we possibly be sisters, in the same family… different gifts – unique! So, it’s the same when we talk about our “spiritual” life. My sister and I have different “spiritual” gifts but we are each working together to bring glory to God.

The history of the Christian Church since the time of its beginning can be seen to follow the teachings of Jesus and his disciples. There are basically six ways in which people have come to express this “following”. Here’s what the Renovare program says:

The history of the Church has been marked by movements, a word used to describe how God’s Spirit has moved upon individuals and groups of people with a particular mission. Usually such a movement has emphasized one of six traditions – bringing a focused renewal to the church.

1. In the fourth century men and women fled city life to begin cloisters and monasteries where they emphasized the importance of solitude, meditation, and prayer. The Church was strengthened by their emphasis upon the intimacy with God, and a Contemplative Movement was born.

2. In the early 18th century John Wesley and his friends formed a group nicknamed “the Holy Club” and began to focus on “morals” and the need for Christians to overcome sinful habits. They developed a “method” and the Church once again took sin seriously. The purifying effects of the Methodist effort were dramatic, and it became the Holiness Movement.

3. In the 17th century the Church witnessed a new outbreak of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men and women who were called “Quakers”, led by the ministry of George Fox. The active presence of the Spirit in the lives of believers became the overpowering principle behind scores of conversions. The active role of the spirit was at the center of their worship, and it propelled them to evangelism, missions, and social concern. This is an example of the Charismatic Movement.

4. In the late 12th century Francis of Assisi and a group of followers abandoned their former lives and went about the Italian countryside, caring for the sick, the poor and the lame. Countless men and women followed Francis’ lead, forming the Franciscan and Poor Clare Orders. Their impact on disease and poverty was remarkable, and they became an example of a Social Justice Movement.

5. In the 16th century Martin Luther and others proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ after discovering its message anew in the Bible. This message of hope and victory was expressed by clergy and laity in sermons and mission efforts. In the Church it was a wonderful example of the Evangelical Movement.

6. In the 18th century a man named Zinzendorf built a village on his estate. Initially divided, the group who gathered in this community became unified when they experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit after Zinzendorf led them in daily Bible studies and in formulating the “Brotherly Agreement”. These later became known as the Moravians and they joyfully served God – praying, evangelizing and helping others – in the midst of baking, teaching, weaving and raising families. This is an example of an Incarnational Movement.


Six examples of different communities all of whom serve and worship God. Our end goal is the same but each group emphasizes a particular strength or “method”.

Contemplatives - quiet meditation and focus on the mystery of God’s work

Holiness - focusing on a virtuous and healthy life, turning again and again from sin and any action that calls us to move away from God’s grace and love.

Charismatic - waiting for the “sound” of God’s call to us and focusing on the power of God’s Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.

Social Justice - finding a way to serve God by serving those in need.

Evangelical - God’s Word through Holy Scripture is the message and the focus of all work and worship.

Incarnational - Living out daily life, acknowledging that all we do – is done to bring glory to God.


So, here’s the question for you to consider. Do you feel that you are drawn to one “movement” or another given your own personality? If you could start your own “Movement” what might its focus or work be?

So the Assignment is to pick one of the following six which appeals to you and then answer the accompanying question.

Contemplative Movement read the passage Mark 14:32-36 Jesus often “went out to pray” and here in the garden Jesus prays knowing that the journey to the cross is just ahead of him. How do you think that his prayer connected him to God?
Try writing a personal prayer to God (this can be a private exercise), or try praying each day for 5 minutes dedicated to silence with and in the presence of God.

Holiness Movement read Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was tempted as we have been, to do what he wanted to get him out of a bad situation. Have you ever been tempted to do something that you knew wasn’t “life giving” – and how did you respond? Do you think that connecting to God at that decision-making moment may have helped?
Try “Going a day without saying anything negative or anything dishonest.”

Charismatic Movement read John 14:15-17, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15 Jesus reminded his friends that when he was gone from them they would have an “advocate”. Have you ever had a friend be an advocate for you – or stand up for you? Have you ever been an advocate for someone else? How was that experience a “life-giving” one for you? Have you ever known God’s presence with you at any time – giving you support or strength, how has that made the connection between you and God seem stronger?
Try thinking of which of the “gifts of the spirit” best describes you and which one of them you may need to work on (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

Social Justice Movement read Matthew 25:31 – 46 Jesus asks us to be attentive to the things we do in life, keeping in mind the needs of others. Have you ever found yourself caring for some one else? Has someone reached out to help you? Would it make a difference to you if the person you were helping was “Jesus in disguise?”
Try reaching out to someone this week in a way that is helpful and caring – write an encouraging letter or help someone who needs a hand.

Evangelical Movement read Luke 4:16-20; 42-44 Jesus read the scriptures (the bible) to the members of his church and it was as if they were hearing it for the first time. Have you ever heard a reading and had a “light bulb” go off in your head – like “yeah, that makes sense!” Were you ever part of a youth group or Sunday School class and heard a bible story that really seemed to make particular sense or spoke to a situation in your life? How about a video (like a Veggie Tale? Or something else) that gave you an insight about God or your relationship with others? What did you learn or remember as significant?
Try reading one of the shorter books of the bible out loud – try one of Paul’s letters (for example, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Timothy, Thessalonians). How do you think that the early Christians would respond to hearing this for the first time?

Incarnational Movement read Luke 13:10-17 Jesus taught his followers that there was no time that was “incorrect” for doing God’s work – and this included time at work or school or play. Here’s a particular situation: Winter Break is a time of Christmas for Christians and Spring Break is a time of Good Friday and Easter for Christians. How do you celebrate these “holy times” in the midst of a society which wants to keep the “religious side out of it”. Do you think this is a good idea?
Try this week to bring God into every decision and deed that you do. Take a moment to receive Holy Communion and know that God is filling you for service. What will you do with this gift?

If you’ve come this far – congratulations! Just to sign off here’s a prayer that has been a favorite for many: Footprints in the Sand

This poem was originally written in 1939 by Mary Stevenson.
There have been a couple other versions since then by other poets in addition to the 'author unknown' edition.


One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.



He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."



The LORD replied:

"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Christian Spirituality

Confirmation Class – March 20, 2007

Assignment 1 - Christian Spirituality


Our next gathering will be with everyone – Parents too! – at the home of Bishop Jim Cruickshank (I'll e-mail each of you with the exact address)

What to bring to eat?

Elizabeth – I’ll BBQ a salmon for us to share.
Euper’s – a salad or appy’s
Gutjahr’s – bread or desert
Hart’s - desert
Maxwell – main course
Emma – appy’s

So, let’s continue with a prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

As we begin to talk about “Christian Spirituality” – check it out on the “Google” page – Wow! 1, 980,000 hits – so, you can’t tell me that people aren’t talking about this. Though I would echo what you were saying last Thursday, this isn’t the stuff that we talk about to our school buddies.

It’s actually interesting that when we do “marriage preparation courses” here at St. Mary’s some of the couples have never discussed with each other any sense of “spirituality”. Often times we ask “our mate” what church you go to, and then make assumptions about what it is “you believe” from there.

Well, here’s what the opening web page from St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church had to say about the subject:

Defining Spirituality - What is Spirituality?

"Spirituality" = derived from Hebrew ruach, which had a range of meanings:
- spirit
- breath
- wind
- that which gives life and animation to something

Spirituality:
- that which animates a person's life of faith
- that which moves a person's faith to greater depths and perfection

Defining Spirituality - What is Christian Spirituality?

Elements of Christianity:
- 1. a set of beliefs, found in the Creeds and doctrines of the Church

- 2. a set of values, based on:
- hope and promise of redemption
- love of others
- denial of self

- 3. a way of life

- The real, human life in which our beliefs and values are embodied and expressed
- Christianity Spirituality is part of our way of life as Christians


Defining Spirituality - What is Christian Spirituality?

Christianity Spirituality is the quest for a fulfilled and authentic life that involves
- taking the beliefs and values of Christianity
- and weaving them into the fabric of our lives
- so that they "animate," provide the "breath" and "spirit" and "fire" for our lives


So, here’s a question to start our task to learn about Christian Spirituality.

1. Having read these suggestions, what would you describe as being “spiritual”? Try focusing on a particular topic, like music or art, and answer this query – why do I consider this (music or art) to be “spiritual” – or a representation of something spiritual?

2. Does Christian spirituality have to be different from “other” spirituality?

You can respond via the blog or email me at enorthcott@stmaryskerrisdale.ca