By Inderjit Bhogal, who is working with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) on the Church of Sanctuary project.
We believe God dwells in our midst,
The refuge and shelter of our souls,
In whom is our sanctuary and in whom we live and have our being, and eternal life.
We believe the life of God flows in us and restores our soul.
We believe that the Spirit of God is upon us,
In darkness, and light, storms and stirrings,
In which God weaves with darkness and the “deep” to make life and love,
and calls us to protect all creation and life with carefulness, and to do all things with wisdom.
We believe Christ reveals the life of God, and how we can share in it,
By being fully human, embracing beauty and brokenness in life,
By seeking wholeness and the fulness of life for all,
Bearing the cost of suffering, and always keeping hope alive.
We commit ourselves to so live our lives in God that we reflect the likeness of Christ,
See the image of God in all people, those like us and those different from us,
Love ourselves that we may love our neighbour as our self, and,
Always act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Inderjit Bhogal, 29 March 2020
NOTE: You can use the word “mercy” or “tenderly” in the final line, which ever works best for you.
