Bishop Eric Menees
Dear brothers and sisters,
I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! Today we are continuing our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s Pastoral Rites section. Last week, as we examined the Burial of the Dead we looked at the lessons and the sermon, today we look at the creed.
Almost every time we gather for Christian worship, an important part of the service is the congregation together confessing our faith in creedal form, but it’s not always the same creed. Most of us are familiar with the Nicene Creed each Sunday, but it may surprise you to learn that creed is only confessed during the Eucharist when it’s Sunday or another major feast day. The Nicene Creed was written in 325 as a statement about what the church as a whole believed. For that reason, it’s confessed on the major days the church gathers, not only as a statement of what the church as a whole believes but what we as members of that body believe.
The Apostles’ Creed was first put together before the Nicene Creed, but wasn’t written down in its current form until the 4th century. While the Nicene Creed was created as a creed for the church as a whole, the Apostles’ Creed began as a creed for individuals. Originally, this creed was confessed by people about to be baptized, and it was taught as part of their formation for baptism. This was usually the first creed a Christian confessed.
To this day the Apostles’ Creed is used for baptisms, and that’s why it’s also used for funerals. It’s a reminder that the person being buried has been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection as well as the promises and the hope that brings. It’s one of a number things in the burial that point to the resurrection, like the paschal candle and the color white which is also used for Easter. It’s not only a reminder of the promises the person being buried was baptized into, but that all of those confessing the creed were baptized into those promises as well. Confessing this creed expresses our hope in the resurrection.
I pray you all a blessed Third Sunday in Lent!
The Officiant invites the people to stand and says
Let us confess the Faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed:
Officiant and People
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
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