Worship

The Creeds

The word “Creed” comes from the Latin word “credo” which means, “I believe.” The Creeds are the statements of our basic beliefs as Christians. In the Episcopal Church, we say both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed in public services of worship. The Creed of St. Athanasius is typically not used in public worship.

The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed dates from the early years of the Christian Church and was used as a personal statement of faith at Baptism. The the Episcopal Church, the Apostles’ Creed is said publicly the services of daily Morning and Evening Prayer. Since it is a baptismal creed, it is said as the statement of faith at baptisms (using question and answer format), at the renewal of our baptismal vows, and at confirmation. It is also can be said at weddings and in the context of the burial rite and in private devotions. The Apostles’ Creed can be found in The Book of Common Prayer on pages 53, 66, 96, 120, 292, 304, and 496 within these different services. It reads as follows:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

Similar to the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed was originally written and adopted in the year 325 by early bishops meeting at the Council of Nicaea (in modern day Turkey). In 381, it was amended at the First Council of Constantinople, and the amended form is referred to as the Nicene or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. It is a statement of the Christian faith is said together, publically, during services of the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and Major Feasts. It can be found on pages 326 and 358 in The Book of Common Prayer. It reads as follows:

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 and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from 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 worshiped 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.