“To live by Faith, to be known by Love, and to be a voice of Hope.”
Greetings from the faith community known as First Presbyterian Church of Sanford, North Carolina. Our church is a large inclusive family and our relationships with others are extremely important. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we desire to be shaped by God’s word in scripture. We seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit as we offer support for one another along the journey of faith. Our goal is to be a church where people can see God’s Word in action and feel that same spirit which gives us new life.
When you visit First Presbyterian, be assured we would like to know you by name and to have the opportunity to affirm God’s unique gifts in your life. The adventure of faith which we share has two major priorities: we want to grow in our love and appreciation for what God has done for us, especially through Jesus Christ, and to love one another responsibly, faithfully and joyfully. Our desire is that all who come to First Presbyterian Church of Sanford, North Carolina will experience this love of God and neighbor. Members, staff and clergy share a passion for pastoral care and visitation, as well as an emphasis on Christian Education for all ages. As we combine worship and music, study and devotion, service and mission, we open ourselves to God’s intention for creation.
We hope even the youngest member will experience a sense of belonging and affirmation within the family of God. We hope new and long time members will experience the security and peace of God in our midst. For every age, from infant to our most senior member, we would like to live out God’s concern, interest and affection for every person.
First Presbyterian is governed by its Session consisting of the pastor and the elders in active service. Deacons are also elected to serve in their respective capacities of congregational care. Much of the church work is done by the committees of the church, supported by various staff resources.
We are part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the largest denomination of Presbyterians in the nation, one which has roots that are traced to the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Our heritage and much of what we believe began with John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.
Like other Presbyterian congregations, we seek to be faithful to the tradition of our forebears by offering meaningful worship that engages the entire person — heart, mind, body and soul. We also seek to respond to the calling of our Lord to love our neighbors and to share the gospel of Jesus’ redeeming love with the world.
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Presbyterian USA
We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a church with roots in the Protestant Reformation. We affirm the sovereignty of God, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and central importance of the Scriptures in shaping our lives and our life together. In our governance and in our theology, we are guided by a two-part constitution: the Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. The Book of Confessions is a collection of creeds, catechisms and theological statements, rooted in Scripture, which help us understand who God is, and how we are to live as God’s people.
The Book of Confession comprises the following creeds, catechisms, and statements of faith:
- The Nicene Creed
- The Apostles Creed
- The Scots Confession
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- The Second Helvetic Confession
- The Westminster Confession of Faith
- The Larger Catechism
- The Shorter Catechism
- The Theological Declaration of Barmen
- The Confession of 1967
- A Brief Statement of Faith Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
While the Book of Order is largely concerned with organization and order, it also reminds us why the church exists. The first chapter affirms that the great ends of the church are the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind; the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God; the maintenance of divine worship; the preservation of the truth; the promotion of social righteousness; and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
For more information about Presbyterianism, see the Presbyterian Church (USA) https://www.pcusa.org/.
