Maitland Presbyterian Church is a part of the PC(USA) denomination.
At the core of Presbyterian identity is a secure hope in the grace of God in Jesus Christ, a hope that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, empowers us to live lives of gratitude: “In affirming with the earliest Christians that Jesus is Lord, the Church confesses that he is its hope, and that the Church, as Christ’s body, is bound to his authority and thus free to live in the lively, joyous reality of the grace of God.” (Book of Order F-1.0204)
This strong emphasis on the grace of God in Jesus Christ is our heritage from the founder of the Reformed tradition, John Calvin. The name Presbyterian comes from the Greek term in the New Testament for elder, presbuteros, a term used 72 times in the New Testament.
Presbyterians are distinctive in two major ways. They adhere to a pattern of religious thought known as Reformed theology and a form of government that stresses the active, representational leadership of both ministers and church members.
The PC(USA) recently released a series of statements on the denomination's stand on specific issues. They stated "The General Assembly affirms its conviction that neither the Church as the body of Christ, nor Christians as individuals, can be neutral or indifferent toward evil in the world; affirms its responsibility to speak on social and moral issues for the encouragement and instruction of the Church and its members." These can be seen below:
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to share some feedback regarding today's sermon. Unfortunately, I felt quite unwelcome and judged during the service. The political tone of the sermon was particularly off-putting, and I found it difficult to connect with the message.
Additionally, I have noticed some comments about the Catholic Church that I believe are not accurate. While I understand that differing opinions exist, I feel it is important to approach such topics with respect and understanding.
I hope you will take some time to reflect on this feedback and consider the impact it may have on your congregation. It might be beneficial to listen to different perspectives and understand why attendance at the 11 am…