Faith Statement

Bonded by the breath of the Holy Spirit, the community of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ seeks to follow Jesus, to worship God and share the gospel in word and action.   One expression of our faith is our United Church of Christ Statement of Faith composed over 50 years ago when the Evangelical Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church covenanted together as the United Church of Christ.

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith in the form of a doxology

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:

You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.

You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.

History

In the 1840s, German Reformed immigrants met for worship southwest of Orrville. Eventually, St. John’s Classis granted permission for congregants north of the state road (Lincoln Highway) to form a church in Orrville (now Christ UCC) and for congregants south of the state road to plant a church in Apple Creek, St. Peter’s Reformed Church. In 1867, the work of erecting the current brick building in the Gothic style was begun. Upon the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed denominations, the church became known as St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957, at the merger of the Congregational-Christian denomination with the Evangelical and Reformed, the church became known as St. Peter’s United Church of Christ. Since 1919, four descendants of the church have been ordained into ministry. In addition, one descendant has been consecrated as a missionary. Folks of all ages from Wayne and surrounding counties still gather in the historic sanctuary to worship God, to be Christ’s disciples, to encounter the Spirit.

Credit: Ohio Memory Online Scrapbook.