PASTORAL LETTER July 2026

To all God’s Beloved in the Zion United Church of Christ, Steubenville, OH, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from our Triune God, the Holy One of Israel.

Last month, on the first Sunday in June, an Affirmation of Faith following the Sermon returned to our order of worship. While members remember it being part of our worship in the past, it seems that no one can remember when or why it dropped out of our regular Sunday liturgy.

While The United Church of Christ does not require that an Affirmation of Faith in the form of the Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ, a creed, or a church covenant follow the sermon, the 1986 Book of Worship United Church of Christ suggests its use in both Orders for the Service of Word and Sacrament and one of its three Orders for the Service of the Word.

When we celebrate the Sacrament of Communion, as we usually do the first Sunday of the month, we are now using the Nicene Creed following the sermon because it is particularly appropriate for use when celebrating the Lord’s Supper. On non-Eucharist Sundays we generally are employing the Apostles’ Creed, historically associated with Baptism and entrance into church membership. Occasionally we will be utilizing other Affirmations of Faith included in the 1986 Book of Worship United Church of Christ such as the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith Adapted by Robert V. Moss.

Affirmations of Faith serve to connect us with the communion of saints, that great cloud of witness who have come before us in the Christian faith. Affirmations of Faith such as the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed remind us of the theological affirmations the church wrestled with in its formative years, especially the mystery of the triune God and the incarnation of the eternal Word of God in Jesus Christ.

Affirmations of Faith such as the historic creeds and other statements encapsulate our historic faith and help us make sense of Scripture, but they are not the Gospel. And just like scripture, all creeds ought to be interpreted in the context of their historical setting, remembering that Jesus Christ, as the incarnation of the eternal word of God, is the sole standard of our faith.

Some words and phrases in the Nicene Creed and Apostles’ creed might seem questionable, even troubling and possible stumbling blocks, especially when we are not aware of their historical context and meaning and why they were included. If you feel that you cannot affirm every word and phrase in any creed or Affirmation of faith, that is okay. Don’t say those phrases or phrases. Always feel free to ask me questions about anything in an Affirmation of Faith that troubles you and we can wrestle with it together.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

John Edward Harris