Mission and Vision Statement
MISSION
Preamble
The Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, was the first church in Middlebury and is now in its third century. We are a community that seeks to live by the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth that we love God with our whole heart and mind and that we love our neighbor as ourselves. In this spirit, we affirm universal and unconditional equality and acceptance of all. We affirm but one orthodoxy: a love of truth that is a sincere desire to understand how the world is and our place in it. With our whole heart, we desire to promote, among ourselves and in the world, compassion, justice, and peace, for such is the Kingdom of God.
Statement
Our Mission is to live as Jesus taught, loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
VISION
Therefore, looking to the future with hope, our church community will be defined by all of these characteristics:
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The life of Jesus of Nazareth will be the standard for all that we do individually and collectively.
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We will reflect continuing growth in our understanding of our place in the world and our responsibility in it.
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Children and Youth will be central to the life of our church and will be unconditionally accepted in it.
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Our search for truth and a sustaining faith in God will be evident.
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Communal worship in many forms will be vital to church life as will our support and encouragement for each other in our individual spiritual journeys.
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Education in the ways of Jesus of Nazareth will be an essential and exciting part of our programs for children, youth, and adults.
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We will be active and responsible stewards of Earth.
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We will be practicing radical hospitality and welcoming all with unconditional equality and acceptance.
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We will be caring with compassion for our church family and neighbors near and far.
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We will be working for justice and peace among all people.
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We will be committing our time, our treasure and our talents to fulfill this vision for our church.