One holy, catholic and apostolic church

Pastor Andrew Gibson I’d love to welcome you all to our service here at Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast. My name is Andrew Gibson, and I am the senior pastor here at CFC and it is such a joy to be with you today.

Our focus as we gather today is to celebrate the unity and oneness of the God we worship, that we see reflected in us his church, the one, holy, apostolic and catholic church which the Nicene creed states so wonderfully. We will have different members of the church taking part tonight, I will set some context and background on the creed, Alison Robinson one of the elders here at Christian Fellowship Church will read from the gospel of John, Esther Simpson from Willowfield church of Ireland will then share some thoughts from those scriptures and Father Conor McGrath from St Colmcilles will lead us in prayers. And our sung worship will be lead by the team here at CFC.

Lets pray as we begin. Father God, the alpha and omega, the one who was and is and is to come. Receive the honour, glory and praise that is due your name. We worship you a Holy God, and so may the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to you in Jesus name. Amen

Let’s stand if you are able and worship together with the song King of Kings

Song - King of Kings (Hillsong Worship: Ingram/ Ligertwood/ Fraser )

Andrew Gibson

Not many of us if any today would say with confidence that we live in a world that is not experiencing significant division. Polarising and partisan views are a dominant narrative in our world today. Yet the church, Christ’s body here on earth, have been called to a different narrative, a oneness, a holiness, a unity story that reflects the God we worship. 1700 years ago, it was also a time of division. Different teachings and interpretations about the nature of Jesus and what Christianity was in its essence were becoming more prevalent and doctrinal fidelity and orthodoxy became of paramount importance.

We seem to be somewhat prone to division and disagreement as human beings! And it has be said that the Christian Church has not been immune from them., We would have to acknowledge with shame that those who claimed to follow Christ have often said about and done things to fellow Christians that are far from the Spirit of Christ - often as a result of sinful human pride and the desire for earthly power. And yet we believe the church can once more be a prophetic demonstration and declaration for unity in our world.

Whatever we may believe about Emperor Constantine with regard to the sincerity or motives behind his conversion, when he called all the bishops of the world to meet in Nicaea, he catalysed something so significant and powerful that 1700 years later is still held to by Christians across the world today and is the very reason why we join together today.

The creed states many truths, a doctrinal floor if you like that we all stand on as Christians together across denominational lines today. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians hold to and can speak and will recite the creed out today in unity. The line we will focus in on today specifically is “we believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” reflecting the unity and holiness of our God, three yet one. We believe that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof and so we too as his body are catholic, across this earth, universal and together. Jesus spent time with his disciples, passing on his way, his truth and his life. The apostles took these foundations, beliefs and practises that Jesus established and His body has grown from then to now on these very same apostolic foundations.

In an age of division, where a narrative exists that speaks of disunity, a better narrative exists that speaks of unity. We celebrate that story in this service today, if you are able would you stand as we sing the Creed song together.

Song Creed song (The God we love) (City Alight :Thompson/ Robinson/ Redman)

Alison Robinson John 17:20-26 (NIV)

‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

‘Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

‘Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.’

Esther SimpsonSermon

We all love an answer to prayer. There’s something amazing about praying and then seeing the fruit of that.

So I want to suggest is that us being here together, either in this building or listening at home, this right now, this is an answer to prayer. And not just anybody’s prayer. We are an answer to a prayer that God prayed himself.

Now, before we get carried away with ourselves, we are not the whole answer to the prayer and this side of eternity, we won’t see a full answer to that prayer.

The night before he died, Jesus, having prayed for himself and then for his disciples, turns to pray for “all those who will believe…through [the] message” (v20), and that’s us. Here we are, a tiny glimpse, a shining foretaste of what we wait and long to see in all its fullness.

Yes, Jesus prays that we’d be one. And we can stop there, but actually the sentence doesn’t. So let’s look at the things that he prays for:

1) He prays that they’d be one: “I in them and you in me” (v23). That’s a big ask. He’s spent 3 years with his disciples, including fishermen, radicals, tax collectors. He knows that oneness is not an easy thing. Luke records that the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest even as they eat the Passover together. We can be the same. The argument of the Upper Room has echoed throughout Christian history, often rancorous and strident in nature, to the extent that it seems we have forgotten Jesus’ prayer. In the midst of that conversation in the Upper Room, in the midst of our current disagreements across and within denominations, we need to hear Jesus’s voice louder, praying, “Father, may they be one.” (v21)

In the creed we say, “We believe in the one…” 

2) “May they be one as we are one” (v22). The Oneness of the Father and the Son is a holy oneness, a set apart oneness, a sacred oneness. God does not just want us to be one so that we can enjoy ‘club membership’. He wants us to be one so that we are set apart, so that our lives look different, so that it’s obvious that we are his.

“We believe in the one, holy…”

3) “May they be one, Father, as we are one…I in them and you in me…so that the world” (v23). This is not a secret society, or some hidden club. We are one and holy for the world - the whole world, all of the world, every part of the world, every nation of the world.

“We believe in one, holy, catholic…”

4) “I pray that they may be one, Father as we are one, I in them and you in me…so that the world may know that you have sent me” (v21-23). In Romans 10:14 St Paul writes, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” ‘Apostolic’ has connections with leadership, but primarily the apostles were the witnesses; those who had witnessed the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the ones who witnessed to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. And all of us can do that. We don’t need to be specially trained to tell others about what Jesus has done in our lives, about who Jesus is.

“We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.”

The bishops at Nicaea and at subsequent councils succinctly summarised in four words the prayer that Jesus prayed for all of us the night before he died. It maybe takes greater faith for us to say these words 1700 years on, but it does not make them any less bound to be fulfilled. What Jesus has asked of the Father he will be given. When we state that we believe in “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church,” we are not doing so believing we can summon it. We are declaring it because Jesus has prayed it and everything he asks of the Father will be fulfilled.

Let’s finish by joining in that same prayer that Jesus prayed: 

Father, We pray that we may be one - Jesus in us and you in him. Father may we be one so that the world will know that you have sent Jesus. Amen.

Song: Glorify thy name (Adkins)

Father Conor McGrath - Prayers

1. Division in the world

Lord Jesus Christ, you prayed that your disciples may be one as you and the Father are one. In a world torn by division and strife, draw us into your unity and peace.

Lord, build your Church in love.

2. Division at the time of Nicaea

Holy Spirit, you guided the early Church in times of difficulty and trial. Guard us today from confusion, and lead us always into the truth that sets us free.

Lord, build your Church in love.

3. The Council of Nicaea

Father of all, you gathered your people from many nations in Nicaea, to proclaim the faith handed down by the apostles. Gather us now in faith and charity, that we may glorify your name.

Lord, build your Church in love.

4. The disciple's sacrifice

Lord God, you called your servants to travel far and bear many burdens for the sake of your Church. Strengthen us also in dedication, that we may carry your Gospel wherever you send us.

Lord, build your Church in love.

5. The Creed formed

Eternal Word, you are true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father. We praise you for the gift of faith that unites us across time and place.

Lord, build your Church in love.

6. One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic

O God, you are holy, and you make your Church holy. You are one, and you make your people one. You are Lord of all nations, and you send us out on the apostolic mission.

Lord, build your Church in love.

7. Apostolic foundations

Christ our Rock, you built your Church on the foundation of the apostles. Root us deeply in your Word, and raise us up as living stones in your spiritual house.

Lord, build your Church in love.

8. A better story

God of unity, in you is the story of peace and reconciliation. Heal what is broken, gather what is scattered, and bring us all into your kingdom of light.

Lord, build your Church in love.

Song Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty (NICEA JB Dykes)

Fr Conor McGrath and Congregation The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Song Not by might (Robin Mark)

Andrew Gibson

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit by with us all, evermore, Amen.

Closing Announcement Morning Service from the Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast was led by Pastor Andrew Gibson. The preacher was Esther Simpson and the music was led by Dave Robb. The producer was Bert Tosh.

Next week in Sunday Worship Rev Kate Bottley will explore 'Sheela Na Gigs' and female spirituality after celebrating her 50th birthday this year.