Congregational Church of South Dennis
Home
About Us
Directions to our Church
Greetings and Welcome
Staff & Officers
News
Union Circle
United Church of Christ
Still Speaking
Cape & Islands UCC
A Baby Center
Housing Assistance Corp.
The Hunger Site
Prayer Circle

The Sea Captains' Church

"Blest Be the Tie That Binds"

In 1765, John Fawcett became pastor of a small, impoverished Baptist church at Wainsgate, England. He served faithfully for seven years, despite a small income and a growing family. It seemed only practical that he move to a church that paid a larger salary. When he received the call to a large an influential church in London, he accepted.

Moving day soon arrived. Men, women and children stood around the wagons, weeping over the loss of their beloved pastor.

Seated on packed cases, Fawcett and his wife could not restrain their tears. They and the church members were remembering the times when he had stood with a family mourning the death of a loved one, or with a young husand as he anxiously awaited the arrival of his firstborn. Or, with Bible in hand, how Pastor John quietly and earnestly shown the way of salvation to a lost one.

Finally, Mrs. Fawcett tearfully told her husband, "I cannot bear to leave. How can we go?" He confessed that he had the same feelings. Abruptly, he ordered the men to unload the wagons.

He stayed and ministered to their needs for 54 years, with a salary which never rose above the equivalent of $200.00 a year.

That incident -- as well as others occuring over the years -- inspired Fawcett to write the beloved hymn "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" to describe the bond of love he and his wife felt for his parishioners.

That same tie binds the members of the Congregational Church of South Dennis to each other. As long as that love remains, we will remain bound to each other and our church.

Cheryl Cerbone, Chairman, Board of Deacons


"Dear Lord we ask you to cover us with Your protection against all harm and evil and to bind every spirit that may come against us. Into Your hands Dear Lord I commend my body, mind, soul and spirit. "

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, 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, likewise 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 that a wedding is a sacrament. Couples spend great resources of time, money, emotion and thought to create a time for celebrating what has become the most important thing in their lives - commitment to each other in marriage. They stop “regular life” for a day in which they ask God and their families and friends to listen as they make clear statements about what they value most in life and how they want to be understood and respected - that is - as “husband” and “wife”.

We are delighted to have the opportunity to assist both member and non-member couples in celebrating this sacramental event in their lives. It is an emotionally powerful experience, and we are committed to making it an intimate, happy, and honest one. Wedding celebrations should be appropriate and significant for each couple, while also consistent with the life and ministry of The Congregational Church of South Dennis.

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.’ At the Congregational Church of South Dennis, we served our Lord through the support of the missions of the United Church of Christ, the Cape Cod Council of Churches and those agencies that serve the needs of the poor, the sick and homeless on the Cape and Islands. We individually strive to serve through the dedication of our time and talents.

We believe that we are called to be a united and uniting church. “That they all may be one.” (John 17:21) “In essentials unity, in nonessentials diversity, in all things charity,”

We believe that we are 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 to comfort the afflicted.

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

We believe we are a people of infinite possibility.

These mottos survive because they touch a core values deep within us. The Congregational Church of South Dennis has no rigid formulation of doctrine or attachment to creeds or structures. Its overarching creed is love. The supremacy of love and unity in the midst of our diversity are our greatest assets.



American Bible Society
Web tools and hosting powered by ForMinistry, a service of the American Bible Society.
The content of this website is the responsibility of this website's editor and
does not necessarily reflect the views of the American Bible Society.
© 2006
     
Progress