Our Vision : To be Christ in our time…

 

As Christ was embodied in Jesus of Nazareth for thirty-three years of earthly ministry, He is now embodied in His Church in every place and time.  Thus we, the members of Abington Presbyterian Church, are called by God to be the heart, hands and voice of Christ.

Our vision means:
Ÿ    Proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God for our daily lives.

We are united in accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We believe that as Lord, Christ sets the standard for living life to its fullest, in accord with the will of God.  As Savior, He assures us of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness.

Ÿ    Celebrating God’s grace through worship.

Worship is the point where Christian faith and daily life intersect, where we hear the Word of God through scripture, preaching, prayer, music, and the sacraments.  As Jesus Christ was faithful in the worship of Almighty God, we will follow his example in corporate, small group, and individual worship experiences.

Ÿ    Loving, forgiving, and including all others.

We are nourished and thrive when we obey our Lord’s command to “love one another as I have loved you.”[1] In our church, we will accept all who proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, appreciate our differences, and embrace diversity in building a stronger congregation. 

Ÿ    Engaging everyone in Bible-based education.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we will nurture our faith through the study of the Bible, theology, church history, ethics and social issues.  We will provide opportunities for all to be engaged in strengthening their faith and encourage each member in the process.

Ÿ    Reaching out with unconditional love and support to those in need.

Jesus Christ prayed that we would love the world as He loved it, and serve the world as He served it.  As we “empty ourselves”[2] in His name to those who are in need in our community, in our nation, and around the world, we fulfill our reason for being.

·      Inviting others to become His followers and welcoming them into our community of faith.

Our Great Commission[3] is to go out and invite others to come into our Church, for worship and fellowship, to learn and to serve others, and to experience the special warmth of a sacred place.

·      Recognizing God’s claim on our time, talents, and treasure, and our responsibility to use our resources effectively in service to the Lord.

We are blessed with a multitude of gifts, including talented people, important ministries, and beautiful buildings.  As responsible stewards, we commit ourselves to the support of our personnel, our programs, and our physical plant in the name of Christ.  Our programs and personal relationships must encourage development of a faith strong enough to support active participation and service.

(From Report of the Plan for Ministry Committee, Abington Presbyterian Church, May 1999)