Our Vision : Called 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, with all Christians, are called by God to be the heart,
hands and voice of Christ.
Our Vision means:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Commission3 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)
1 John 15:12, 13:34
2 Philippians 2:7.
3 Matthew 28:19-20.