Vision
At Creekside we are creating a community that connects faith in Jesus Christ with the realities of everyday life. Our vision is to be a reflection of Jesus in our community and in the world through Authentic Life, Abundant Love and Generous Faith.
Since its founding, Creekside has been about creating a community where people can connect their faith in Jesus Christ with the realities of everyday life. This initial statement combines two key ideas which are the heart of Creekside.
Community - Creekside is working to create a community that encourages and supports people as they work to live out their faith. This community in turn is a place where people can share their struggles and triumphs. While community within Creekside is one of our greatest strengths, we are also very focused on bringing God’s love to the community outside of Creekside. We are a small community that has a vital role in a larger community. Our church has a missional focus of bringing Christ’s kingdom out into the community, rather than expecting the community to come to us. Creekside desires to include the community of Redmond, not merely the people who attend on Sundays. WE DON’T HAVE A BIG CHURCH, BUT WE HAVE A LARGE IMPACT.
Connecting faith in Jesus Christ with the realities of everyday life - Creekside wants faith to be more than a Sunday morning thing. Faith is meant to permeate every aspect of life so that each person can live out God’s will for their life.
Authentic Life.
"I came so that they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." John 10:10 – The Message
Living authentically means striving to be transparent, honest and genuine in all relationships. At Creekside, this is a key to the ‘more and better life’ that Jesus came to reveal. Though difficult and even messy at times, this means acknowledging and sharing struggles and then asking for support. It means sharing joys and triumphs so that others can join in on the celebration! Being authentic is central to living a life full of purpose and passion within a community.
Abundant Love.
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:12 - NIV
Creekside’s passion is to love others without limits. As awareness of God’s unconditional love grows, it is impossible not to have it overflow and touch others. Creekside’s hope is to share this abundant, overflowing love with our community and the world.
Generous Faith.
"We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well..." I Thessalonians 2:8 - NIV
Creekside strives to be a generous community, so that through our generosity with time, talent, resources and love we can participate with God in bringing His Kingdom to earth now.
Who We Are
Everyone is on a journey. Creekside is a community of faith where the journey is walked together. It is a group of people that learns, questions, ponders, acts, speaks, shares, listens, watches and gives together. It is a community where faith in Jesus Christ is not only a noun but a verb as we attempt to live in ‘the way of Jesus’ every day. Although Creekside is a church, it is a church that desires not just to be a place, but to be a catalyst for change in lives, neighborhoods and the world. We desire to be a community where people of all ages are:
- Welcome and safe, finding friendship and encouragement
- Astonished at the wonder of God's deep love
- Invited to experience a new way of life with Jesus
- Not spectators, but actively using time, talents, and resources to serve God and others
- Representing Jesus in homes, workplaces, schools and neighborhoods
- Serving God in our local community and around the world
What We Believe
Creekside is a part of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Therefore we affirm these core beliefs:
We believe that the central message of Christianity lies in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. God longs to be in an intimate relationship with each one of us. This relationship begins through experiencing a spiritual birth, transforming our lives through the forgiveness of sins. New life in Christ is for all who commit their lives to Him.
We believe in The Bible. The Scriptures are God's message of truth, and the only perfect authority to teach us what to believe and how to live. We desire our lives to be shaped by the powerful and living Word of God.
We believe in a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. Christ lives within us through His Spirit, who enables our obedience to Christ and conforms us to his image; who guides us to continue Christ's mission in the world, and equips us as individuals and binds us together as Christ's body.
We believe in the Church as a community of believers, that is, we all share in the ministry of the church. The church is not an institution, organization, or building. It is a grace-filled fellowship of believers who participate in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. It is a family of equals.
We believe in the whole mission of the Church. We come together to carry out God's mission, both near and far, including evangelism, Christian formation, and ministries of compassion, mercy, and justice. We follow Christ's two central calls. The Great Commandment calls us to love the Lord our God and our neighbors as ourselves. The Great Commission sends us out into all the world to make disciples.
We believe in the reality of freedom in Christ. We recognize that differences of opinion exist concerning theological issues, worship styles and the way we live out the Christian faith. But we believe that these differences are overcome through sharing a common life in Jesus. We believe that each person is unique and so is their experience in Christ.
In essentials - agreement
In the non-essentials - freedom
And in all - love.
For a more detailed explanation of these affirmations, check the ECC Web Site.
What We Care About
We Care About People and Their Lives
Each individual has significance and is an integral part of the Creekside community. We strive to listen and to provide resources that meet people where they are and help them get to where God is calling them. We prayerfully endeavor to be authentic, supportive, compassionate and full of grace and mercy as we explore and apply our faith in Jesus Christ together. Small groups play a large role in helping us experience life together in genuine and practical ways.
We Care About All Generations
We commit to provide challenging, encouraging and relevant opportunities for children, teens and adults to learn, discover, explore and act out their faith, both individually and together. We value the learning opportunities and growth that come from intergenerational experiences.
We Care About the Bible
The dynamic, transforming power of the Word of God directs both the life of the church and the life of each believer.
We Care About Our Backyard and the World
We are going "Glocal". It is our funny little way of saying that we want our faith to have both global and local impact. As followers of Christ, we each have a unique call to be a part of bringing God's hopes, dreams and visions to this earth, both in our local community and around the world.
