
Our Mission
Our Vision
These dimensions constitute both a vertical and horizontal plane. The unique message of Christianity among all other forms of religion in the world is that God condescended to people who were not even able to stand in his holy presence. He communicated truth about his nature and his plan for his creation in ages to come. The supreme form of communication is embodied in the God-man Jesus Christ who is God in flesh, living and seated at the right hand of the Father. What we have today of God's revelation of himself stands in the form of the Holy Scripture which is fully able to make us wise unto salvation and to give us everything we could possibly need to know about our salvation and growth in it.
Thus, the vertical plane is a downward condescending of God to man and not an upward movement of man towards God. Believers of all ages then make it their business to know as much as they can about this God who so graciously reveals himself to them. This takes the form of both propositions to be believed from the Scripture (creeds) and worship to be given towards God as he continually reveals grace to them in the form of word and sacrament (communion with God). Thus, the first and greatest commandment is obeyed by believers throughout history as they love the Lord their God with all their hearts, minds, soul, and strength.
The other dimension of the faith is a horizontal dimension. It takes place as believers fellowship together with one another, always spurring each other on towards good works as they see the Day of the Lord approaching. It sees them taking care of each others physical and emotional needs and coming together to worship God. In this, community with each other is taught and the second commandment to love your neighbor as yourself is fulfilled. This is the mission of our church and is the mission of the Church given to her by God himself. What follows are summaries of our values as they embody these vertical and horizontal dimensions of biblical Christianity.
Our Purpose
Worship is foremost. We do not come to church primarily to feel better or be entertained, but to worship the one true and living God through the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit. We gather on the Lord's Day to give God the glory that is due to His name. In a day when most worship services are entertainment-oriented and man-centered, we strive to be reverent and God-centered. We are not interested in featuring popular personalities and introducing fashionable elements that the Bible does not allow. Also, instead of the light and frothy music of the modern church, our singing focuses on biblical and Reformed hymnody and the Psalms. The basic elements of true worship are: reading and exposition of the Scriptures; prayer; singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; baptism and the Lord's Supper; giving of tithes and offerings. We seek to implement all of these elements in holy and joyful reverence. "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (Psalm 29:2)
A second underlying purpose is edification of the body. The people of God need to be strengthened and built up in order to fight the good fight of faith and to resolutely live in a world that is not a friend to grace and godliness. The Christian life was not intended by God to be lived in isolation, but in the context of a visible body of believers called the church. Edification occurs through the public ministry of the Word and the mutual ministry of the members as they interact with one another on a daily basis (see Ephesians 4:12-16 & 1 Thessalonians 5:14). We labor to see Christians sanctified and homes ordered according to biblical principles. According to the predestinating purposes of God, we desire to see Christ formed in every member (Galatians 4:19) and every member conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).