What is a Creed
A creed is the key elements of Christian faith condensed into a short summary. We read or recite them during the service as an expression of unity and reminder of the core foundations of our faith.
The two creeds you will hear most often in our services are below:
Apostle’s Creed
The Apostles’ Creed developed from the baptismal vows of the early church. It reflects the whole church’s understanding of the teaching of Scripture about the work of Christ. The Creed emphasizes that Jesus did indeed suffer and die, and will indeed come again.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come 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.
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith of the early Christian church. It was adopted at the Council of Nicea in AD 325 and amended at the 1st Council of Constantinople in AD 381. The occasion for the Creed was the heresy of Arianism, which taught that God the Son was a created being, hence not fully God. In opposition to this, the Creed requires that Christians affirm the belief that God the Son was “begotten, not made” and “very God of very God.”
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets;
And we believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*The word "catholic" with a lowercase "c" means "universal" and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic (upper case "C") Church.