What We Believe
At Guilford Park, our faith is grounded in Scripture and shaped by the historic confessions of the Church. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we share the beliefs Christians have professed for centuries, expressed most simply in the words of the Apostles' Creed and lived out in worship, service, and love of neighbor. What follows is a brief introduction to the convictions at the heart of our community.
God
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. God is a God of love, and that love is powerful beyond measure. From the beginning, God has been at work in creation and in human history, calling a people into covenant and inviting all of us into relationship. We worship this one God, who is above all and through all and in all.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord. In him, God took on our humanity—fully God and fully human in one person. He was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day he rose again. Having been raised from the dead, he reigns with compassion and justice over all things in heaven and on earth. We believe that everything needed for our salvation has been offered to us in him. By loving and serving Christ above all else, we give glory and honor to God.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. Apart from the Spirit, Christ can neither be loved, nor known, nor served. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to Christ, unites us to him, leads us to repentance, and empowers us to live in his service. It is by the grace of the Spirit that faith comes alive in us, engendering a desire for good and holy living that naturally leads to acts of love and justice.
Scripture
We believe that God speaks to us through the Word—in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and supremely in Jesus Christ, the living Word. We read, study, and proclaim the Bible together as the witness to God's saving work, trusting the Spirit to illumine our understanding and guide our lives. As a congregation, no one needs to leave their brain at the door; we engage Scripture thoughtfully and faithfully, applying our faith with both head and heart.
The Sacraments
We celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In Baptism we are claimed as God's own, grafted into the body of Christ, and renewed in holiness of life by the Spirit. At the Lord's Table, the body and blood of Christ are food and drink for the soul, just as bread and wine nourish the body—a testimony of our unity with Christ, who died and was raised for our sake. We practice an open table, welcoming all who seek to follow Jesus.
The Church
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church—the whole company of God's people, of every age, nation, and tongue, gathered in worship and sent out in service. Christ alone is the head of the Church, and we are his body. As members of this larger family, we strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, caring for the poor and afflicted, welcoming all without exception, and bearing with one another in love.
Guilford Park is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). To learn more about our denomination and what Presbyterians believe, visit www.pcusa.org.
God
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. God is a God of love, and that love is powerful beyond measure. From the beginning, God has been at work in creation and in human history, calling a people into covenant and inviting all of us into relationship. We worship this one God, who is above all and through all and in all.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord. In him, God took on our humanity—fully God and fully human in one person. He was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day he rose again. Having been raised from the dead, he reigns with compassion and justice over all things in heaven and on earth. We believe that everything needed for our salvation has been offered to us in him. By loving and serving Christ above all else, we give glory and honor to God.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. Apart from the Spirit, Christ can neither be loved, nor known, nor served. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to Christ, unites us to him, leads us to repentance, and empowers us to live in his service. It is by the grace of the Spirit that faith comes alive in us, engendering a desire for good and holy living that naturally leads to acts of love and justice.
Scripture
We believe that God speaks to us through the Word—in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and supremely in Jesus Christ, the living Word. We read, study, and proclaim the Bible together as the witness to God's saving work, trusting the Spirit to illumine our understanding and guide our lives. As a congregation, no one needs to leave their brain at the door; we engage Scripture thoughtfully and faithfully, applying our faith with both head and heart.
The Sacraments
We celebrate two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. In Baptism we are claimed as God's own, grafted into the body of Christ, and renewed in holiness of life by the Spirit. At the Lord's Table, the body and blood of Christ are food and drink for the soul, just as bread and wine nourish the body—a testimony of our unity with Christ, who died and was raised for our sake. We practice an open table, welcoming all who seek to follow Jesus.
The Church
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church—the whole company of God's people, of every age, nation, and tongue, gathered in worship and sent out in service. Christ alone is the head of the Church, and we are his body. As members of this larger family, we strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, caring for the poor and afflicted, welcoming all without exception, and bearing with one another in love.
Guilford Park is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). To learn more about our denomination and what Presbyterians believe, visit www.pcusa.org.