At UCC in Milton,
We Believe…
that God is love.
We Believe…
that whoever you are or wherever you are on life’s journey, you are worthy of dignity and respect.
We Believe…
that faith is not about certainty but about seeking to enter into the mystery of God.
We Believe…
that our faith compels us to work for justice and peace in the world.
We Believe…
that we don’t all have to think alike to be a part of the same community.
If you’d like a fuller explanation of what we believe, keep reading…
“I believe, help my unbelief.”
The gospel of Mark includes a powerful story of a parent seeking healing for their child. First, the disciples attempt to heal the child, but are not able to do so. Jesus arrives in the midst of this encounter and the parent immediately turns and pleads with Jesus to heal the child. Jesus tells the parent, “All things can be done for the one who believes.” The parent cries out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
Many, many of us travel in and inhabit this world and our faith within the cry of this parent, “I believe, help my unbelief.”
We choose to live in covenant as a congregation in the United Church of Christ and resonate deeply with three guiding principles in this covenant.
Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.
We believe in God’s continuing testament. We are committed to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and our heads and hearts are both welcomed in our worship.
Don’t put a period where God has placed a comma.
We believe the church’s mission is to change lives — individually, systemically and globally. We work to make transformation possible—in our selves, in our neighborhoods, in our community, in our commonwealth, in our world—and we trust in God’s grace.
The Sacraments of Baptism and Communion
Sacraments are ritual actions in worship which, according to Scripture, were instituted by Jesus. In the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion we ask the Holy Spirit to inspire our imaginations with the symbols of water, bread, and grape juice to make visible the grace, forgiveness, and presence of God in Christ.
The Sacraments of Baptism
Baptism marks a person’s welcome into the care of Christ’s church, and the beginning of their Christian journey of faith. It is a personal celebration in the lives of the individual candidates and their families. It is also a celebration within the congregation as well as a time to affirm its covenant to provide a place where the one baptized and their family will be supported and nurtured in the Christian faith. For this reason, baptism is celebrated in the presence of the community gathered for worship.
We find it deeply meaningful that the water used for baptisms at United Church is made up of waters that are brought to share with love from places where members of our congregation have felt especially connected to something sacred, something holy. Such places include Connecticut, Germany, Pennsylvania, France, New York City, Cleveland, London, Iowa, Colorado’s Blue River, Nantasket Beach, Michigan, Penobscot Bay, Ka Wai a Ha’o, a well in Menemsha on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Popham Beach, Bermuda, the island of St. Johns in the Caribbean, and even from as far away as Machu Picchu, Wolfgang’s Lake in Austria, the Indian Ocean near Durban, South Africa, and the River Jordan! These precious offerings are blessed, purified, and mixed together for use in our baptismal font.
At United Congregational Church, we practice baptism at every age, including infants, youth and adults, and arrangements are made with the Pastors in all cases. We welcome sponsors or godparents, though they are not required. We recognize baptisms from all parts of the Christian tradition, so there is no need to be re-baptized when you join the church.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Also known as The Lord’s Supper, the observance of Communion recalls the table fellowship Jesus shared with his disciples, and in particular the Last Supper on the night before his death. During Communion, we hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God. In the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup, we not only recall Jesus, but also know that Christ is present in the moment.
Communion is commonly celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Children are welcome at the table at the discretion of their parents. Communion is typcially served by the Deacons who bring the bread and cup to the congregation in the pews.
United Church is committed to inclusiveness. Because of that, our Communion elements consist of unfermented grape juice and gluten-free bread so that no one experiences a barrier to participation.
At United Church, the table is open to all who are present at worship. Our Invitation to the Communion Table clarifies why we celebrate the sacrament of Communion, and who is invited to participate:
WE come to this table not because we must, but because we may.
WE come not because we are strong, but because we are weak.
WE come not because we have perfect faith, but because we have questions and even doubts,
WE come because Jesus invites us to come and we will never be turned away.
