For John, I have taken a bit of a different approach. Following are two scanned images of what I turned in. First, is the creed itself, in the form of a flow chart, with illustrations. Second, is a reduced copy of the flow chart, with explainations of the illustrations. Enjoy! (And remember that you can click on the images to see a larger view.)
Here is the creed for Luke/Acts. In case of screen resolution/width issues, I have put it in first as the form I composed it in (it ought to look like an angel), and second in typical format. It is again an acrostic.
This is part 2 in the creed series: Matthew. Where as the Markan Creed was written to be read aloud, in a rushing, rhythmic pattern, Matthew is of a more relaxed pace.
Gathered here, we are
Gathered for one purpose:
Goodness, and
Guidance
Oh Lord who has called us,
Our deepest questions answered;
Oh Lord who has challenged us,
Our deepest beliefs realigned;
Do not leave us,
Disciples we have been
Don’t stop guiding us now that we are
Disciples no more, but apostles.
Under new authority: to
Us has been given the authority
Using us for God’s will
Us, who Jesus taught
No longer learners
Now we have been taught
Now we are sent out
Now we lead
Into the world:
I am we and we are light.
Individuals joining to be groups:
I am we and we are salt
To serve or not to serve
To obey or not to obey
The choice belongs
To all and all must choose
Every person has the choice
Every being has the ability
Each choice we make turns toward or away.
Even now we are called to be
Salt, we are
Salt, required for life;
Salt, we are called to be
Salt.
Professing repentance,
Proclaiming the only Father, God
Prophets and law guiding,
Praying even for our enemies.
Enemies and even evil which is temptation
Evil turns away from God’s will
Evil, the Evil, can be held back
Each must turn to the
One who is the Son of God,
Only He is our teacher,
Only He rose from the dead
Only He did we meet in Galilee.
Prescribed for us on the Mount, we
Pray as we have been taught, we
Pray as even He did that Night for God’s will, we
Pray for relationship, to be ourselves
Light, we are
Light required for life;
Light, we are called to be
Light.
Each of us is called
Each of us: to be leaders now
Each of us is called
Each of us: to do God’s will
So we have an assignment in my New Testament class involving each of the four Gospels. We are studying each one in turn, and as we finish each, we are to write a creed from the point of view of the specific Gospel writer. So, we just finished Mark, and I wrote a Markan Creed.
Go now,
Go and follow,
Go preach what has been heard:
Out with the old
Out with dusty prayers
Out with rigid divisive laws
Demand change
Desire the kingdom
Demons, sickness, and death can no longer stand
By meeting Jesus
By seeing him even crucified
By acting, seeing, following, there is
Resurrection!
Redemption!
Rejoice!
Expect now apocalypse
Expect now newness
Expect now salvation
Abandon your old life
And move forward
And preach repentance
Knead dough worthy
Knead dough not of Herod or Pharisee
Knead dough of Christ
Sown now are the seeds, though
Seeds fall on different soils, and
Soils determine the harvest.
Tell others
Teach what he taught
Tell all the world what he has done:
He spoke in parables
He healed, he taught, he gave,
He goes ahead to Galilee
Run to
Run towards
Run forward
Onward, followers
Onward believers,
Onward seekers!
Unbelief, if ye have it, cast aside!
Unbelief will be your downfall
Unbelief keeps you from healing
Go ahead
Go forward
Galilee brings the promise:
Hope given for change;
He waits ahead for us
He promises the reign of God.
