statement of faith

Today was All Saints Day at church and it was amazing! I love this Sunday every year, because one, it's a reminder of the gift of eternal life that is waiting at the end of this life for those who believe, two, it gives encouragement to those who are having difficult times and three, we get to sing some kick-ass hymns during the church service!! This is more of a personal post, written for my own enjoyment and peace of mind--it is not meant to be a sermon or anything like that. But for any who are interested, the following are the lyrics of my favorite hymn "For All the Saints" and then the words of the Nicene Creed, which basically spells out the basis of my faith.

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and Earth
and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God,
Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father
by whom all things were made.
Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man
and was crucified also for us under Pontious Pilate.
He suffered and was buried
and on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into Heaven
and He shall come again with glory, to judge both the living and the dead
whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and Giver of life
who proceeded from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.
Who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy christian and apostolic church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins
and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.