Who We Are

Mission, Vision, and Core Values Statements –2020 and Beyond
Preamble – Identity Statement of Who We Are as Trinity UCC: TUCC is more than a building, it is our home, our safe place of refuge, spiritual growth, reflection, and worship. Together we forge a Christian fellowship that is committed to the community by responding to the needs of our congregation, neighbors, and those in crisis. We welcome those from all walks of life and create disciples of Christ for the present and the times to come.

Mission Statement TUCC exists to Love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Vision Statement In Ten years, TUCC will be a church that is a vibrant and diverse community of Christians that welcomes and seeks out people from all walks of life, and that supports the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs that challenge the community and its members.

Core Values of Trinity United Church of Christ
• Love God
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your mind.” You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (NRSV).
• Compassionate Love of Everyone
We love one another, as Jesus calls us to love everyone, saying “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” John 13:34

• Welcoming Inclusion
We welcome everyone, wherever they are on life’s journey, with an open heart and open arms.
• Christian Discipleship and Service
We worship, pray, study, serve, & share God’s Blessings with everyone.
• Inspiring Worship
We come together as a community of faith to connect our spirits with God, through inspiring worship, music, and prayer.
• Committed to Community
We help our neighbors in need whenever we can, with a generosity of spirit & resources, whether they live close or far away.
• Reaching out to all Generations
We bring together children and adults of all ages to share God’s word and the teachings of Jesus Christ, working towards upholding our traditions and memories while creating new ones.
• Peace and Justice
Rooted in the teachings of scripture, we are called to witness and work with God for a more just, fair, and peaceful society.
• Bible as the Foundation of our Faith
We read, study, and pray Scripture, the testimony, and reflections of God’s people, in order to walk closer with God and become the people God wants us to be.

Faith

Trinity United Church of Christ in Manchester, Maryland

Our faith is 2,000 years old. Our thinking is not.

We believe in God’s continuing testament. This is why we are committed to hearing God’s ancient story anew and afresh in our lives and in the world today. We try to remain attentive to God’s creative movement in the world. Religion and science are not mutually exclusive, and your head and heart are both welcomed into our places of worship. We prepare our members and leaders to be engaged in ministry in the present and future church, and we embrace all kinds of communities and new modes of thinking. Why? Because God is still speaking.

What We Believe

Testimonies of Faith

We believe in the triune God: Creator, resurrected Christ, the sole Head of the church, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God in the world.

We believe that each person is unique and valuable. It is the will of God that every person belong to a family of faith where they have a strong sense of being valued and loved.

We believe that each person is on a spiritual journey and that each of us is at a different stage of that journey.

We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship with God, engendering love, strengthening faith, dissolving guilt, and giving life purpose and direction.

We believe that all of the baptized ‘belong body and soul to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ No matter who – no matter what – no matter where we are on life’s journey – notwithstanding race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, class or creed – we all belong to God and to one worldwide community of faith. All persons baptized – past, present and future – are connected to each other and to God through the sacrament of baptism. We baptize during worship when the community is present because baptism includes the community’s promise of ‘love, support and care’ for the baptized – and we promise that we won’t take it back – no matter where your journey leads you.

We believe that all people of faith are invited to join Christ at Christ’s table for the sacrament of Communion. Just as many grains of wheat are gathered to make one loaf of bread and many grapes are gathered to make one cup of wine, we, the many people of God, are made one in the body of Christ, the church. The breaking of bread and the pouring of wine reminds us of the costliness of Christ’s sacrifice and the discipleship to which we are all called. In the breaking of bread, we remember and celebrate Christ’s presence among us along with a ‘cloud of witnesses’ – our ancestors, family and friends who have gone before us. It is a great mystery; we claim it by faith.

We believe the UCC is called to be a united and uniting church. “That they may all be one.” (John 17:21) “In essentials–unity, in nonessentials–diversity, in all things–charity,” These UCC mottos survive because they touch core values deep within us. The UCC has no rigid formulation of doctrine or attachment to creeds or structures. Its overarching creed is love. UCC pastors and teachers are known for their commitment to excellence in theological preparation, interpretation of the scripture and justice advocacy. Even so, love and unity in the midst of our diversity are our greatest assets.

We believe that God calls us to be servants in the service of others and to be good stewards of the earth’s resources. ‘To believe is to care; to care is to do.’

We believe that the UCC is called to be a prophetic church. As in the tradition of the prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and comfort the afflicted.

We believe in the power of peace, and work for nonviolent solutions to local, national, and international problems.

We are a people of possibility. In the UCC, members, congregations and structures have the breathing room to explore and to hear … for after all, God is still speaking, …

Learn more about our Testimonies of Faith

Our Faith Story

Trinity’s story is a faith story as its members continue to look to the Bible to discern God’s will in a modern age. The center of our faith is Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, who calls us to discover the way of discipleship in our time. The Holy Spirit gathers us and empowers us for ministry. We practice infant and believer’s baptism and open communion. Our common faith is summarized in the statement of faith of the United Church of Christ. We invite you to join us in our faith journey and invite you to help write the next chapter of Trinity’s story in the new millennium.

The Larger Church

Trinity is part of the United Church of Christ, which is made up of four separate former denominations: The Reformed Church, the Evangelical Synod of North America, the Congregational Church, and the Christian Church. The Congregational and Christian Churches merged, as did the Evangelical and Reformed Church. These mergers were completed by the mid 1930’s. In 1957 the Evangelical and Reformed Churches and the Christian churches merged to form the present day United Church of Christ. Trinity is in covenant fellowship with 41 other churches of the Catoctin Association and with the nearly 200 congregations of the Central Atlantic Conference which covers an area from New Jersey to Richmond, Virginia and from the Shenandoah Valley to the Chesapeake Bay.