Oh, NOW it Makes Sense!

The most satisfying piece of writing I have ever completed was the 30 pages I wrote in seminary called a “Credo.” Over the course of two semesters, we immersed ourselves in what theologians said about the various doctrines of the church (fun fact: one of those was member Marty Deschner’s father, John). However, the final project was to write our own credo about what we believed.

Though my beliefs have evolved somewhat since that writing 35 years ago, I can still say with reasoned and experiential confidence, This I believe!  It feels now like it did then: a place to stand and claim my source of being and my reason for the way I move through life. My credo gives me a grounded sense of worth and purpose, regardless of what comes my way in life. 

The Apostles’ Creed gave its writers and hearers that same sense of being, worth, and purpose. As we have stepped through our Apostles’ Creed series, I have been humbled by the comments of many who have found insight, joy, and strength in this sermon series about this ancient credo as we have visited the doctrines of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the church. One example: I learned of a member’s father who, at 97, never said the Apostles’ Creed because he didn’t “believe in the holy catholic church!” How sad that no one taught him along the way what that line in the Creed actually meant (universal church) … a hundred years before the Roman Catholic Church was created!  For others who have recited the Creed all their lives, there have been new realizations that, “Oh, NOW it makes sense.”  

This week, the Rev. Dr. Gayle Landis will be preaching on the ”forgiveness of sins.” She has also created a helpful study guide for class or personal use. It is available at our Welcome Center. My hope with this series is that we will feel even more strongly grounded in our faith and proud to say our own credo, This I believe! with our sisters and brothers in Christ at FUMC Plano.

Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,