Iona – Affirmation of Faith

Today, during The Seattle’s School’s “Sacred Assembly” – which is part of our learning community’s back to school rituals – Paul Steinke shared an all-age “Affirmation of the Faith” from Scotland’s Iona Community. I loved it so much. Paul let me snap a photo of it. I typed it up, am posting it here, and I already have the Iona Abbey Worship Book on order.

ALL               We believe in God.

Child            Tell me about God?  What does God do?

Voice A        God makes the stars and spiders.

Voice B        God is warm and bright and full of colour.

Voice C        God is our friend – who loves us and calls us by name.

All                 We believe in Jesus.

Child            What is [Jesus] like?  Tell me about him.

Voice A        He was exciting.

Voice B        He told lots of stories.

Voice C        He listened to people – he made them think.

Voice A        Some people didn’t like Jesus.

                      They told lies about him.

                      He was sentenced to death and killed.

Voice B        But God brought Jesus back to life again.

Voice C        Following Jesus is an adventure – a journey – a good surprise.

All                 We believe in the Holy Spirit.

Child            Tell me about her?  What does she do?

Voice A        She helps us remember what Jesus said.

Voice B        She lets us know how much God loves us.

Voice C        She helps us to love other people.

Voice A        She’s someone we can’t see but feel

Voice B        Like the wind blowing in our hair

Voice C        Like the warmth of a candle flame.

All                 We believe in the Church.

Child            This church here?

Voice A        Every church, all of them together.

Voice B        Not the buildings,

                      But all the people who love God.

Voice C        All of us working together with God to make the world beautiful.

All                 We believe God calls us.

Child            To do what?

Voice A        To love people.

Voice B        To forgive them when they hurt us.

Voice C        To trust and not be afraid.

Voice A        To help make the world the place God wants it to be.

Voice B        To care for the world and enjoy it.

Voice C        Amen.

Child            Pardon?

Voice A        Amen – it means so be it, Ok, let it happen.

Child            Oh, Ok – Amen.

All                 Amen

Iona Abbey Worship Book

Peace, dwight