Our vision for Tree of Life Church is:
- A church with Christ at its center, offering a vibrant worship experience;
- A church where people are nurtured in faith and find Sabbath rest;
- A diverse, multigenerational community of faith that welcomes all people;
- A congregation that reaches out in concrete ways to share God’s love with others.
We believe that God is calling us and sending us to be in ministry with people with differing abilities and their families.
Tree of Life Disability Ministry
Mission and Core Beliefs Statement
Our Mission:
Is to create and support a community of faith where people of all abilities and disabilities are welcomed, supported, and encouraged to grow in leadership and faith. We strive to provide a safe, joyful, and accepting environment for people to use their talents in service of God and the community.
Our Mission grows out of our core beliefs:
- All People Are Made in God’s Image
As Genesis 1:23 tells us, humans are made in God’s image and are all considered to be Loved of God. This connects all people, including all of our differences. We recognize and honor the beauty of all of God’s creation.
- God Gives Us All Gifts to Share
Because we are made in the image of God, all humans have gifts and talents that are meant to be treasured, used, shared and celebrated. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, the body of Christ is made up of many parts each used for a specific purpose. We recognize that we want to joyfully share our talents and we provide a space for all to do so.
- Jesus Wants Us to Offer Hospitality to Everyone
In the parable of the Great Feast (Luke 14: 15-24), we are reminded that all are welcome at God’s table. We aim to live out God’s Great Feast here on earth, by treating all who come to our doors as honored parts of the community.
- Jesus Teaches Us to Be Friends
Jesus saw us as the beloved children of God we are and called us friends (John 15:15). As Jesus offered friendship to all, we are called to open our hearts to friendship in the same way in mutually supportive relationships. When we are friends, we are able to accept who we each are and enjoy what our friends have to offer.
(Please note: This statement of belief is not comprehensive. We affirm the beliefs held by the PC(USA) in our Book of Confessions. The beliefs named here are those that apply specifically to the disability ministry of this congregation.)
5/20/2021
