Creed for our Advent Pilgrimage

I believe in the promise of Christmas

and the importance of celebrating it in the church.

I believe in the God at the centre of Christmas,

whose hope for the world was imagined by prophets.

I believe in Mary,

who sang of turning the world upside down

and who allowed her life to be disrupted by God.

I believe in Joseph,

whose broken heart broke the rules

to do the right thing.

I believe in the smell of the stable –

I believe there is no place where God will not go.

I believe in the shepherds,

those simple ones open to hear the angels’ song.

I believe in the Magi,

the ones outside the faith, outside the community

who searched out the Holy.

I believe in Jesus,

born in poverty,

soon a refugee,

raised in faith,

lived seeking justice,

died speaking forgiveness,

rose with a love that could not be stopped.

I commit to use this season

to seek out the Holy

both in God among us,

and in God beyond us.

I open myself to an Advent journey of great joy

that will change my life.

(based on A Christmas Creed by Walter Russell Bowie)