Behold and Become.
OUR VISION
To connect the people of East Dallas with God and his people, so that we might behold God and become more like him.
“2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
”The glory of God is a human being fully alive, and the life of a human being consists in beholding God.” - St. Irenaeus”
OUR VALUES
AUTHENTICITY - God knows us and loves us, so we seek to be honest about who we truly are, and we trust that in his grace God loves us in our brokenness.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From BCP, Collect for Purity)
1 John 1:8 - "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
HOSPITALITY - God has welcomed us and called us to himself, so we invite the people of East Dallas to connect with God and with his people.
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
(From BCP, Morning Prayer II)
Romans 12:13 - "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."
MYSTERY - Through the redeeming love of the Son and the life-giving power of the Spirit, the Father calls us deeper into the divine life. We participate in this holy mystery through worship and community, through word and sacrament, and through the grace-charged gift of creation itself.
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(From BCP, Second Sunday after the Epiphany)
Ephesians 3:6 - "This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
2 Pet. 1:3-5 - "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,"
WHOLENESS/HEALING - In Christ we have seen both the face of God and the fullness of our humanity, so we trust God to transform us more and more into his image and likeness. As we are transformed, we are more and more able to love God and our neighbor.
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(From the BCP, The Transfiguration)
2 Cor. 3:18 - "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
ROOTEDNESS - Planted and established by God in Christ, we are called to East Dallas, to its people and its neighborhoods. Rooted in the soil of East Dallas, and nourished by the three life-giving streams of Scripture, Spirit, and Sacrament, we expect the slow work of growth together.