We humans are creatures of desire. Our passionate desire can fix on different objects, people and ambitions, but it is really a desire for the ultimate truth, beauty and goodness, what we call God: ‘our heart is restless until it rests in you’ (St Augustine). Our faith is in Jesus Christ, truly God and truly human, crucified and risen from the dead.

‘God is love, and those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them’ (1 John 4:16). Love is the mystery at the heart of the Universe and at the heart of our faith. God loves each one of us and, as Christians, we are called to love God and love our neighbour.

‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). God created all things and then in love became part of creation in Jesus Christ who is fully divine and fully human. Human evil killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross but God’s love is more powerful than the powers of evil so Jesus rose from the dead and offered us a way of sharing God’s life.

Jesus had an intimate relationship with the God of Israel whom he called ‘Father’. His followers noticed that Jesus taught and did things which made it clear that he was the Son of God and shared the identity of the one God of Israel. The Apostle Thomas called Jesus, ‘My Lord and my God’ (John 20:28). Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit on his followers after he had risen from the dead and the experience of the Spirit showed them that the Spirit is also God. Jesus thus revealed to us the Holy Trinity: there is one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is not a solitary power but a communion of love.

The To keep alive this communion of love on earth after his return to the Father, Jesus founded a community, the Church, and set up simple rituals, the Sacraments, using natural elements such as bread, wine, oil, and water to share divine power with us. This community, guided by the Holy Spirit and led by Bishops, put together writings that recorded God’s dealings with humanity in Israel and the Church into the what we call the Bible, a book which is actually a collection of books: the word of God in human words.

To find our more about Christianity come and worship with us and speak to Fr Stephen, the Provost, or a member of our ministry team.