>>> God's New People*
*Eph. 1-4

37.
In our world, bent under the weight of sin,
Christ gathers a new community.[1]
Satan and his evil forces
seek whom they may confuse and swallow;[2]
but Jesus builds his church,[3]
his Spirit guides,
and grace abounds.

[1 1 Pet. 5:8-11]
[2 1 Cor. 3:10-17]
[3 Matt. 16:13-19]

38.
The church is the fellowship of those[1]
who confess Jesus as Lord.
She is the Bride of Christ,
his chosen partner,[2]
loved by Jesus and loving him:[3]
delighting in his presence,
seeking him in prayer,[4]
silent before the mystery of his love.

[1 Rev. 21:9]
[2 1 Pet. 2:4-10]
[3 Eph. 2]
[4 Col. 1:1-23; 3:1-17]

39.
Our new life in Christ[1]
is celebrated and nourished
in the fellowship of congregations[2]
where God's name is praised,
his Word proclaimed,[3]
his way taught;
where sins are confessed,[4]
prayers and gifts are offered,[5]
and sacraments are celebrated.

[1 Acts 2:41-47]
[2 Eph. 4:1-5:20]
[3 Rom. 10]
[4 Eph. 3:1-13]
[5 Matt. 6:5-15]

40.
God meets us in the sacraments,[1]
holy acts in which his deeds[2]
elicit our response.
God reminds and assures us in baptism,[3]
whether of those newly born or newly converted,[4]
that his covenant love saves us,
that he washes away our guilt,[5]
gives us the Spirit,
and expects our love in return.
In the supper our Lord offers[6]
the bread and cup to believers
to guarantee our share
in his death and resurrection,
and to unite us to him[7]
and to each other.
We take this food gladly,[8]
announcing as we eat
that Jesus is our life
and that he shall come again[9]
to call us to the Supper of the Lamb.

[1 Gen. 17]
[2 Ex. 12]
[3 Matt. 28:18-20]
[4 Acts 2:37-41]
[5 Col. 2:9-14]
[6 Matt. 26:26-29]
[7 1 Cor. 10:16-17]
[8 1 Cor. 11:17-34]
[9 Rev. 19:6-9]

41.
The Spirit empowers each member[1]
to take part in the ministry of all,
so that hurts are healed
and all may rejoice[2]
in the life and growth of the fellowship.

[1 1 Cor. 12-13]
[2 1 Cor. 1:1-9]

42.
The church is a gathering[1]
of forgiven sinners,
called to be holy,[2]
dedicated to service.
Saved by the patient grace of God,[3]
we deal patiently with others.
Knowing our own weakness and failures,
we bring good news to all sinners
with understanding of their condition,
and with hope in God.

[1 Eph. 2]
[2 1 Pet. 1]
[3 Matt. 5:43-48]

43.
We grieve that the church[1]
which shares one Spirit, one faith, one hope,
and spans all time, place, race, and language[2]
has become a broken communion in a broken world.
When we struggle for the purity of the church
and for the righteousness God demands,
we pray for saintly courage.
When our pride or blindness blocks
the unity of God's household,
we seek forgiveness.
We marvel that the Lord gathers the broken pieces[3]
to do his work,
and that he blesses us still
with joy, new members,
and surprising evidences of unity.
We commit ourselves to seeking and expressing
the oneness of all who follow Jesus.

[1 Eph. 4]
[2 Gal. 3:26-29]
[3 John 17]