Core Value Definitions

Worshipping Christ

Worship is at the heart of who we are as Christians. Worship serves as the means by which we encounter God’s Word, both read and preached and encounter Christ through the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. It is when we gather together as a community by regularly attending worship that we are fed and nourished. It is through worship that we move out into the world as disciples of Christ. We are committed to worship that is diverse, inspiring and meaningful.

Responsiveness

Because the power of God’s love through Christ Jesus is transforming and inspiring, we respond in love with practices of Christian stewardship. As members of the baptized, we hold ourselves accountable to Christ’s church especially as it is embodied in the community of St. Philip. We recognize that to be responsive to God’s loving act in Christ, we must follow Jesus’ model in benevolence to our community, to our country, and to the entirety of God’s creation. We are responsible to be generous in our giving, honest in our confronting, and diligent in our evaluating.

Outreach

Good news is news that ought to be shared. To be an outreaching church we will show hospitality and welcome to the stranger who comes to worship. We additionally will foster an environment that demonstrates kindness, models inclusiveness, practices fairness, and shows love for the outcast. While caring for matters inside the church, we also will move beyond our walls and doors to proclaim Christ’s gospel. We commit ourselves to extending invitation into a relationship with Jesus, to show Christ’s mercy without expectation of return, and to model Christ’s forgiveness.

Love

Jesus says, “Love one another. As I have loved you love one another.” The building block for our community of faith is to be love. We will show love for ourselves as individuals. We will show our love and care for each other as part of this community. We will show love and care for the people of world. We will show love for God our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier.

Trust in Christ

With humility we commit ourselves to prayerful listening to God’s purposes for our lives through St. Philip. By trusting in the promises of Christ, we will risk ministry for the sake of the church. By faith we will strengthen, build up, change, and reform who we are as a church.

Living the Faith through Education

Christian learning is a lifelong endeavor that constantly needs nurture and support. It incorporates not only learning, but also teaching, and varied experiences. Together as community we will pray regularly, study scripture, and continue to seek God’s revelation in our current context. As a part of living the faith through education we will be active in raising faithful children, provide opportunities for learning for all ages, and foster experiences that strengthen relationship with God.

Living the Faith through Service

We are called into God’s world for service. God’s gives spiritual gifts that are to be exercised in God’s kingdom. To that end, we will use our gifts to serve humanity with empathy and compassion.