A Pentecost Creed

The creed below may be used on Pentecost Sunday or on any of the Sundays immediately after Pentecost.

One advantage to this form of the creed is that it does not require overburdened congregations to learn any new or complicated responses. In addition, it helps people understand the real meaning of "Amen." As the litany continues and the "Amen" grows in volume, a person can hear his or her individual response blend in with the full response of the community. This type of creed offers a challenge to individuals to question their faith and reaffirm it on more mature levels. "Do I believe this or …?" is the question that must be asked, and each person must come to his or her own answer. Recovering the Pentecostal faith that fired the first disciples is not outside the reach of any of us. If we wish to change the world we must first change ourselves. Pentecost, we know, changed a motley crew of simple men and women into giants of faith and power. Leader: Let all those who believe that there is only one God, our all-powerful Father, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that God is the Creator of all that exists in the universe respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Father's only son and that he is equal to the Father in every way, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that Jesus became a human being through the power of the Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that Jesus truly suffered and died and that by his death he redeemed us from the power of evil, respond "Amen." And let all those who believe that he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, and is the giver of life, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that the Spirit came down upon the disciples at Pentecost and still works in the midst of the church today, respond "Amen." Let all those who believe that Jesus established one, holy, universal, and apostolic church, and that it is called to share in God's eternal life, respond "Amen." This is the faith of the church and our faith. We are proud to profess it and give thanks to God.