Our identity, ethos and purpose
This symbol is Our Saviour's logo. We want to express what our congregation is:
- People who live under the cross of Jesus.
- People united in Jesus, and s able to hold hands in the fellowship of the congregation.
- People lifting hands to God in joy and worship.
- People living in the world and wishing to be of service to community around them.
Our motto is: Called to Worship. Chosen to serve.
- Living by grace
Over the years we have been enriched in our understanding of the concept of God’s grace and love freely given to all people through Jesus Christ. We believe this to influence everything we are and do as a congregational community. - Word and sacrament
The Holy Spirit works primarily through the Living Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion to create and sustain faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that our congregation is only as strong as the contact we have Word and Sacraments. - Members of the one christian church
We are members of the Christian church throughout the world, past, present and future. We confess the teachings of the Church as they are presented in the Trinitarian creeds and in the Confessions of the Lutheran Church. We are ecumenical in outlook and strive to work together with other Christians in witness and ministry to our community. Currently, Taizé services have begun to build ecumenical relationships. - Under the cross of Christ
We believe that God has chosen to reveal Himself fully to us in the person, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We also believe that we are called to live under the cross, according to the circumstances of our lives.
We understand that God is creatively at work not only in the peace, joy and success of our lives, but also in the trouble, adversity, failure, weakness and suffering we experience. We believe that just as God will bring life and resurrection out of death, so does He bring life to us as a congregation and as individuals, as we take up our cross and walk hand in hand with Him. - Saints and sinners
We believe that we are a community of saints, each of whom is fully forgiven and accepted by God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are called to look upon each other as God sees us, precious people, loved by Him.
At the same time we are sinners. We are still tempted into sin, which shows itself in our pride, greed, anger, jealousy, hatred, envy and selfishness. We are called to confess our sins before God and to one another. We are called to have compassion on each other in our struggles with the devil, the world and ourselves. - The church is people - called out by God
The church is a community of people called by God to worship and witness, as a response to His love. We believe that the structure of our congregation, and the building in which we meet, should serve people and help to equip them for ministry. We have sought in the architecture of our 'House of the Church’ to promote a sense of warmth and homeliness, of light and openness, of contact with nature, of peace and contemplation, and flexibility in our worship and service of our Lord. - The priesthood of all believers
We believe that each member of the church is gifted by the Holy Spirit for the good of the Christian community, and that the greatest gift is love. We seek to minister to each other and with each other, according to the abilities and opportunities given us.
We believe that the Pastor has a specific role within the priesthood of all believers, to preach the Word, to administer the Sacraments, to be a shepherd and to equip, encourage and empower all for ministry, both as individuals and as members of a team. - Having the mind of Christ - bearing fruit
We are called to be humble servants to each other and to the community in which we live, following the example of Christ, who humbled Himself and came as a servant. We believe that in the spirit of the incarnation of Jesus, our service should be down to earth, engaging with the ordinary everyday existence.
We are to seek the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. - The whole person
As we minister to each other and to the community in which we live, we seek to minister to the whole person. We believe that all persons, created in the image of God, are intended to enjoy complete wholeness in relationship with Him, in relationship with their fellows and with themselves. We understand that the integrity of this wholeness is broken by sin, but we uphold that in Christ all things have been made new. By grace we are called to grow in our faith and to participate with Christ in the divine life of God which we will ultimately experience fully in the Resurrection. - Our calling
We believe that our congregation is called to the following areas of ministry. It is our sincere purpose to seek constantly to fulfil this calling.
- Worship
Our first calling is to gather together to receive the Word of God and the Sacraments. to pray, to sing praises and to honour God.
- Care
To care for people in the congregation and the community, according to our resources and as we have opportunity. To care for the whole person.
It has always been a particular vision of Our Saviour's that the congregation be a base for a family life ministry to the surrounding community. To this end Our Saviour's managed the Family Life Support Service, providing a venue for counselling and support groups, and is currently reviewing this in relation to spirituality and spiritual growth opportunities.
- Evangelism
To reach out into the community in which we live with the Gospel, doing this with love, non-judgementally and with understanding.
- Fellowship
To foster opportunities for people to meet, to share and to enjoy life together, to grow in understanding and compassion for each other.
- Education
To provide opportunities for all age groups to grow in their understanding of, and their appreciation of the Christian faith in their lives.
- Service/Stewardship
To give of ourselves, our time, energy and money for the good of the congregation, the wider church and the community in which we live.
- Worship