The APOSTLE'S CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty.
from thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic** Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.



In 1997, I made a pivotal transition in my spiritual life and made a decision to take my vows of membership in the United Methodist Church, FUMC Wichita Falls, Texas- then under the pastorate of Dr. Robert Allen. The compassion expressed through Dr. Allen, as well as the beauty of the Organ is still remembered in the privacy of my prayers and thoughts. It was in the early worship service each Sunday that I, along with the other worshipers, would gather together in the Nave of the church. It was an amazing experience to enter through the Narthex and walk down the center aisle with the Rose Window above the high altar and floating clerestory windows giving the space an ethereal appearance.

One of the key factors that caused me to develop such a passion for worship is really simply put this way... "The Apostle's Creed". Never before had I heard corporate worship resound with the confidence of voices stating collectively in unison what "WE" believe.

I learned in the beauty of that sanctuary the closeness of God, yet, at the same time the majesty and splendor that He encompasses.

It was my visual "Sermon through Symbols". A tremendous foundation was laid not only in those experiences during the worship hours, but also in the footsteps of my father- The Reverend Bobby Jon Christmas.

Just as these two men of faith have passed from this life in the physical sense, let it be said: "May they rest in peace and rise in glory".