Once a year we read the texts below as a church, to God, to the elders and to each other.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church worldwide,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our Pledge to Jesus our Lord
Lord Jesus, you died for our sins, and you ransomed us for God. You marked us as your own, by sending us the Spirit. You promised resurrection, and promised an inheritance. (1 Cor 15:3; Eph 1:13-14)
So like the first disciples, we want to leave what holds us back, and follow you. We present our bodies to God our Father as living sacrifices. This is our worship, the only right response to his mercy. (Mark 1:16-20; Rom 12:1)
We want to bring you glory by our bodies, whether by living or by dying. (Php 1:20)
We will keep the great commands you gave us, to love our God with all we have, and to love each other as ourselves. (Mk 12:28-34)
Lord Jesus, we can only say this because you promise help. You say, the God who calls us is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thess 5:24)
You say, God works among us, so that we will want to do what pleases him, and so that we will do it. You say, the God who began a good work in us, will complete it for the day of Jesus Christ. (Php 2:13; 1:6)
You say, you are able to keep us from falling, and to bring us into God’s glorious presence, blameless and full of joy. And you offer us forgiveness for our daily failures. (Jude 24-25; Heb 4:16)
So we present ourselves to you as living sacrifices, trusting in these promises from you. Amen.
Covenant of Membership
As a believer in Christ, whether a baptized adult or a believing child, I want to covenant with the rest of you at Kleefeld Christian Community. This is what I covenant before God:
I will meet regularly with you. (Heb 10:25)
I will encourage you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, by urging you to live a life full of love and good deeds, more and more as Christ’s return gets closer. (Mt 6:33; Heb 10:24-25)
I will offer myself to God, so He can use me to help you – spiritually, physically, and emotionally. (Jn 13:14-17; James 2:15-17; 1 John 3:17-18)
I will guard the unity of the Body, so I do not grieve the Holy Spirit. This means that I will speak to you and about you only in ways that will build you up. (Eph 4:3, 29-30)
Because God has forgiven me and keeps forgiving me, I will forgive you when you hurt or offend me. (Col 3:12-13)
I will pray for you, share your happiness and your tears. I will accept your help and your gifts with thankfulness, as wholeheartedly as I offer you my help and my gifts. (Eph 6:18; Rom 12:15; 1 Cor 14:26)
I will encourage you, help you, be patient with you, and work to do and say what is good for you. (1 Thess 5:14-15)
Together with you I offer myself, my prayers, my tithes and offerings, and my service to God’s work at the Kleefeld Christian Community. (Eph 6:18; Php 2:3-4; 1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 9:6-ll)
Lord, make our love increase and overflow, for each other and for everyone else.
(1 Thess 3:12)
Elders’ Pledge to the Congregation
You are the church that God bought for himself with the blood of his own Son. Therefore we the elders will guard ourselves and all of you. (Acts 20:28). We will watch over you, not because we must, but because we are willing, as God wants us to be.
We will not oversee you for personal gain, but will be eager to serve. We will not lord it over you who God placed in our care, but will be examples to you.
We will pray for you, lead and encourage you, nurture and guide you, as shepherds under the Chief Shepherd. (1 Peter 5:2-4)
May the God who calls us be faithful to help us.
Congregation’s Pledge to the Elders
Since the Holy Spirit has chosen you to lead and guard this church, we will pray for you. (Acts 20:28; 1 Thess. 5:17). We will pray that God protects you and your families from the evil one.
We will respect you as leaders, honouring the direction you give. (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17). We will make your task easier by keeping the unity of the faith and by using our gifts to serve the Lord.
We recognize your commitment to us, to your family, and to other duties to which the Lord has called you. Therefore, we pledge to support, encourage, and uphold you, as elders of this church.
May the God who calls us be faithful to help us.