We will pray together. We will interact with love, respect and acceptance.
We will take the time to listen to each other without interrupting, judging or criticizing.
We will listen attentively until the other person is finished speaking.
If we disagree we will provide respectful, constructive feedback.
We will make every effort to relay the truth, never sharing unsubstantiated gossip.
We will refrain from making judgments based on second hand information.
We will always work together to reach a common goal & agreement that suits all parties.
We will honor confidentiality when it is asked for.
We will should always work toward the betterment of the entire congregation.
We will refrain from making judgments about one another.
We are a mixed group of Congregationalists and Methodists.
We are a worshiping community of faithful, participating Christians, who respect the environment, are inviting of all people, believing in social equality, integrity, honesty, humility, love, goodness, with concern for the suffering and unfortunate. We believe that worship is something deeper than words; it is where our life of faith is grounded.
Congregationalism is a religious ideal based upon freedom of interpretation. This freedom pertains not only to scriptural understanding, but also to the divine revelation that an
individual receives through the power of the Holy Spirit. This freedom also extends into our Church government. The local Church is an autonomous body. Each Church has the opportunity to associate freely with other churches of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (MACUCC) for the purposes of wider fellowship, nurturing vitality and covenant among member churches.
There is no hierarchy that can dictate a course of action to any Church body. Jesus said to
his disciples, “follow me.” He continues to call us in that way today, urging us to deepen our
spiritual connection to him so that we may serve others. We are sojourners together, not identical thinkers. We learn from each other and with each other.
Methodists believe in the view of free will, via God’s prevenient grace, as opposed to
absolute predestination. Salvation is possible by grace alone. Jesus’ atonement was for all people. It is a traditional position of the church that any disciplined theological work calls for
the careful use of reason. By reason, it is said, one reads and interprets Scripture. By reason one determines whether one’s Christian witness is clear. By reason one asks questions of
faith and seeks to understand God’s action and will.
As a Federated church, we realize each others values and each others contributions.
We are a union of believers who share common beliefs while maintaining our individual
polities. We share a common governance within the bylaws, policies and procedures of
UCC Federated. We honor our separate traditions by fulfilling the requirements of each denominational body. Romans 12:5 states, “So in Christ we who are many form one body,
and each member belongs to all the other.”