beliefs text

One God

We believe in the one true eternal God revealed in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Everlasting Life

Christ came to give us full, authentic, eternal life. Though we still live in this imperfect world we have a taste of the beauty that is to come. As people in Christ’s kingdom we seek to live in such a way that there is a glimpse of the life to come in our temporal existence here on earth.

Forgiveness of Sin

God rescued us in and through Jesus, who died for our sins on a cross. We do not fully understand this, but we know that our sins have been forgiven, our lives have been changed, and the chains have been removed. Jesus died for us and set us free so that we might live for him.

Ministry of all Believers

Every follower of Christ is called to recognize that they have not only been called into a new relationship with God, but that they have also been called into a new relationship with people. Every believer is entrusted with the responsibilities of discipleship, prayer, leading in worship and administering the sacraments.

Freedom of Belief

Christians are called to gather around one essential belief:

a faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the world. Aside form this there is freedom of belief in non-essential issues when one is genuinely seeking God through prayer and the study of Scripture.

Unity of the Church

We believe that all Christians regardless of denomination or tradition are called to set aside their differences and celebrate the common bond that we have in Jesus Christ.

Scripture

We have confidence in the Holy Scriptures as the most complete revelation of God’s redemptive work in history. We approach this subject humbly recognizing that it is impossible to capture the fullness of God in finite human language written by flawed individuals. Still we trust that God was at work in the writing and compiling of the Bible and we trust the Bible as our standard of truth.

Baptism

In baptism, the old self-centered life is set aside and washed away, and a new life of trust in God begins. At Canvas we practice believer’s baptism by immersion, however other traditions of baptism are honored.

Daily Devotional


February 23, 2012

May 23

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Prayer:

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O Thou who has order this wondrous world, and who knowest all things in earth and heaven: So fill our hearts with trust in thee that by night and day, at all times and in all seasons, we may without fear commit all that we have and hope to be to thy never-failing love, for this life and the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm:

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Psalm 131

Daily Scripture Reading:

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Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-8 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14

Reading for Reflection:

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Excerpts from Interior Castle (Teresa of Avila) - Selection 2 of 11 God appeals to us through other good people, through sermons, or through the reading of good books. Sometimes he calls through our sicknesses and our trials as he bids us to pray. However feeble such prayers may be, God values them highly. God looks into our souls and perceives our desires. If our desires are good, we cannot fail. Nevertheless, the assaults of the devils that are made upon the soul are terrible. Again, this is why the soul suffers more at this stage than does the beginner. Whereas before the soul was somewhat deaf and blind and had no will to resist, now it has begun to hear and see and resist as one who is about to gain victory. It is at this stage that the devils will attack the soul with the earthly pleasures of this world, like snakes who bite with deadly poison. They trick the soul into thinking that such pleasures will last an eternity; they remind the soul of the high esteem in which it is held in the world; they place before it the many friends and relatives who will disagree with the manner of life you have now begun.

Prayers:

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for the church, for others, for myself

Reflection:

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silent and written

Benediction:

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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.