Our beliefs
Embracing all people at Orient Congregational Church.
Our Covenant
We are a community of faith called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in the way of Jesus, by embracing all persons in all walks and ways of life in our worship and celebration, nurture and growth, love and service. We honor and support the church’s mission and vision, to share in the life and work of the church, and to seek justice, embrace kindness and walk humbly together, listening for the voice of a still-speaking God.
Vision
OCC’s vision is to be a community of believers that embraces and seeks to enact the infinite love and grace of God in our church, community and world.
Mission
Our Church seeks to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ by representing Him to our Church family, the Orient community and the world. We seek to nurture one another in our spiritual life. We accomplish this by welcoming all to our membership by offering worship and learning opportunities for all ages and by proclaiming and demonstrating God’s love through our interactions with people everywhere. We support these intentions by providing thought-provoking and challenging worship, celebration of the Sacraments, outreach opportunities, inspiring music, a comprehensive Christian education experience and responsible and committed stewardship, all within a framework of local Church governance that is responsive to the entire membership.
Our Church’s Mission Statement
Purpose:
To love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbor as ourselves (Mt. 22)
Mission:
United in Spirit and inspired by God’s grace, we welcome all, love all, and seek justice for all.
Our Church seeks to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ by representing Him to our Church family, the Orient community and the world. We seek to nurture one another in our spiritual life. We accomplish this by welcoming all to our membership by offering worship and learning opportunities for all ages and by proclaiming and demonstrating God’s love through our interactions with people everywhere. We support these intentions by providing thought-provoking and challenging worship, celebration of the Sacraments, outreach opportunities, inspiring music, a comprehensive Christian education experience and responsible and committed stewardship, all within a framework of local Church governance that is responsive to the entire membership.
Our Polity:
The governance of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose it as church members. With complete autonomy, it is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body. It recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation as a member of the Suffolk Association, the New York Conference, and the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, and it is in fellowship with all Churches which acknowledge Jesus Christ to be their divine Lord and Redeemer.