Second Reformed Church

Sharing the Good news

We Proclaim our Faith in Jesus Christ

Light of the World

WE WORSHIP the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. WE BELIEVE Jesus, the Son of God, entered into this broken world to redeem a fallen humanity, and reconcile us to God who created us in his image. WE BELIEVE God is fully revealed in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ who is both fully human and fully God. 

Jesus does for us what we can never do for ourselves. He saves us from ourselves for his purpose, his glory, and for eternal life. By his death and resurrection, we can live in hope for a better life in this world and in eternity with God.

WE BELIEVE the testimony of the Apostle John—GOD IS LOVE! 

Lord and Savior

Christ cleans, renews, and uplifts! By the simple act of receiving Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior, we experience a new and abundant life intended for ALL people. Christ stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, calling us out of darkness into his glorious light.  

"by his wounds we are healed"

We affirm the Holy Scriptures

WE BELIEVE the Bible is the Word of God and the only rule for our faith and practice. WE BELIEVE the Bible testifies of God’s love for us, the full expression of which is found in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

WE BELIEVE the Bible can help transform our lives, molding us into the kind of people God has called us to be, and indeed created us to be. 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” WE ENCOURAGE all people to read and study the Holy Scriptures for spiritual nourishment and instruction. 

With the Bible as our rule for truth and living, we are a confessional church, embracing three ecumenical creeds (Apostles’ CreedNicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed), and three Reformed Confessions (Heidelberg CatechismBelgic Confession, and the Canons of Dordt), as well as the Belhar Confession. And WE ACCEPT each of these creeds as an historic and faithful witness to the Word of God. They root us in the historic Christian faith, provide unity with our sisters and brothers, and guide our contemporary confession of faith in our daily life.

We celebrate the sacraments as gifts of God

Churches of the Reformed tradition celebrate two sacraments: baptism and communion (also known as the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist). WE AFFIRM these two sacraments to be ordained by God and instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ (see Matthew 28:19-20 and Matthew 26:26-29). These sacraments point us to God’s grace and assure us that God’s promises are true.

In baptism we are united with Christ as members of his body, the church, and receive a new name—Christian. We are washed clean and welcomed into the Body of Christ by God’s grace. At the communion table, we join with the church in every time and place to give thanks for our salvation in Christ whose spirit is present with us, and by whose grace we are nourished and given strength.

In remembrance of the sacrifice of Christ

The elements of the bread and wine are signs and seals of Christ’s broken body and spilled blood on the cross, sacrificed for our sins. They point us to God’s grace and assure us that Christ is present with us—visible forms of an invisible grace.

Communion was initiated by Jesus on the night he was betrayed. While celebrating the Passover with his disciples, he asked them to remember his sacrifice. Jesus is the promised Messiah—the unblemished Lamb slain for the sins of the world. Our celebration of Communion unites all Christians in relationship with him. All who have confessed their faith in Jesus Christ and who have been baptized into membership in a Christian church are welcome at the Lord’s table.

These sacraments of baptism and communion are “gifts of God for the people of God,” and a visible and tangible means of experiencing God’s immeasurable grace and unfathomable goodness—the same grace and goodness we have come to know from God’s Word made flesh—Jesus Christ!