The ten points from Gene Kraus's opening sermon at 2004 Annual Meeting.

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The sermon is divided into 11 clips below

1.      Blessed to be United Church of Christ

2.      A Trinitarian Church
First the blessing is God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our lives. From the preamble of the UCC Constitution:
The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world.

3.      Enriched by Diversity
We are enriched by diversity. We welcome all, we are an incredibly diverse church and this diversity enriches us.

4.      A Pilgrim People
We are a people on a journey. We don't necessarily know the destination of this journey but we do know that we are on this journey together and that we support each other.

5.      A Godly Community
We travel together and we are a community. We don't get to choose who is in this community, God chooses. We are defined by who God invites. In the United Church of Christ we make room for whom ever God invites.

6.      Baptized
When you are baptized you become a child of God and no one can take that away from you. We take the middle road, baptism is not magic nor does baptism have to take place at a particular time and in a particular way.

7.      Welcome at Christ's Table
All God's people need to be welcome at the table. We do not fence the table.

8.      Servants with Christ
We are servants with the servant Christ. We are called and equipped to be in service to others. We are blessed to be called to ministry in the United Church of Christ.

9.      People of the Living Word
We are people of the living word. The word of God is not static, it is living and indeed God is still speaking.

10.  A Shalom People
We are a people of peace and justice.

11.  Filled with Hope
We are a people of hope and possibilities. The kingdom of God is being birthed among us

We are indeed blessed to be United Church of Christ.