|
SACRAMENTS
Outward signs of an invisible grace.
1. BAPTISM is the event that starts spiritual life through
membership in the Church. Infant Baptism allows parents/God-parents to
accept responsibility for child until Confirmation through their acceptance
of Jesus in their life. [Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16, Lk
5:17-26]
2. COMMUNION, also EUCHARIST, is the remembrance of Jesus’
Last Supper. Our faith converts bread to the Body and wine to the Blood of
our Savior. We consume as He directed. [Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:19-20; Jn 6 all; 1 Cor 10:16; and 11:27]
3. RECONCILIATION, also CONFESSION, is an event
through which one admits sins and hears God’s forgiveness and Biblical
counsel for improvement. General reconciliation is part of the Mass, but special counseling is available from the pastor upon request.
[2 Cor 5:16-20; Jms
5:16; 1 Jn 1:9]
4. CONFIRMATION is an event through which one confirms the
affirmations made by parents and sponsors during infant Baptism. It
is also the “altar call” experience in which, by the Holy Spirit, we learn
how to enter into an intimate relationship with Jesus by the use of the
gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Quinceañeras are conducted as Confirmation rites. [Jn 3 & 14:25-26]
5. MATRIMONY, also MARRIAGE, the event through which a couple
receive understanding of how to live together forever as husband and wife
in the same intimacy as Christ and the Church. Remarriage
is administered without judgment. [Gen 2:24; Mt 19:6 cf; Mk 10:11-12]
6. ANOINTING OF THE SICK. It is through this sacrament
that one can be healed physically, but most certainly spiritually (by
faith) through a deeper focus on the love of our Lord. [Mt 10:8; Mk
16:17-18; Jms 5:14-15]
7. HOLY ORDERS, also ORDINATION, is
the sacrament through which deacons, priests and bishops
are installed for service of the faithful. Apostolic Succession, which
traces the lines of consecration of a bishop back to the Apostles, is
maintained in this Church. As in the Roman Catholic Church, the priest
serves the bishop by helping the local community enter into a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. Our clergy
can be and often are married. [1 Tim 3:1-13; Tit 1:6-9; Acts 6:6;
Eph 4:11-13]
BELIEFS
THE BIBLE is the inspired and inerrant word of God available in
many translations and used to teach and equip. [2 Tim 3:16-17]
FAITH is the only way to understand and receive our salvation.
[Eph 2:8-9]
THE TRINITY is the description of 1 God in 3 Persons,
God the Father who is attributed with creation, God the Son who is our
redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit who is the life of the Church. [Mt 28:19]
THE CREEDS are Statements of fundamental Christian beliefs
developed by the first seven Councils of the Church known as the Apostle's,
Nicene, and Athenasian Creeds. These
explain our faith in plain, simple, and uncomplicated manners; Bible
summary.
THE COMMANDMENTS are basic guides for living
sound moral lives in our relationships with God and neighbors in the form
of Ten Commandments, and are fulfilled by Jesus’ command of love. [Mt
22:37-40]
THE CHURCH is the body of believers in Jesus Christ, Christ being
the head. The Catholic Charismatic church is a branch of the one, holy,
catholic (universal), and apostolic Church. [Eph 2:19-22; 5:23-24]
SIN is any unloving act against God’s creation that
separates us from God. Confessing our sin brings God’s forgiveness by our
faith in Christ’s death on the cross accomplished 2,000 years ago. [1 Jn 1:9]
SATAN is the accuser of mankind who lies, cheats, kills,
steals, and destroys through confusion of the truth. He is a defeated
being who has as much power over our will as we allow him to have.
God’s infinite love for us allows us free will choice between His love and
Satan's lies. [Jn 8:32]
SALVATION
is the redemption from eternal punishment, to an eternal life of glory with
God, not by works, but by faith in the grace of God trough the atoning
death of Jesus Christ. [Eph 2:8-9]
|
