St. Paul Coptic Church Chicago 45.1.0

Our Core Values

Christ-Centered Ancient Church with Modern Day Relevance

• We are an Orthodox Church "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Our roots trace back to first-century Christianity in Alexandria. Our heritage is enriched by two millennia of commitment to the Gospel in doctrine, liturgy, church life, and enduring persecutions. Our message to the modern world is personal, universal, and ever relevant: Christ Jesus came into the world, was crucified, died, and rose again to save sinners.

Faithful to the Greatest Commandments – Love God and Your Neighbor

• "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets," Jesus said. We strive to live passionate lives for God by seeking Him every day through prayer, Bible reading, service, giving, witnessing, and in all our endeavors. We also overflow with love towards the surrounding community, eager to minister to their physical, emotional, social, or spiritual needs. We thrive on sharing Christ's unconditional love with everyone we meet through both words and actions.

Mission Minded – Laboring with Faith, Diligence and Humility

• "Go" was Christ's final instruction to His church before ascending. We are enthusiastic about carrying on the mission of those early Christians with a mission-oriented mindset. Content but never complacent, always laboring to bring positive change in the world. Undeterred by obstacles but viewing them as opportunities; always filled with faith in God's power. Joyful in God's blessings upon us but quick to extend them to others; consistently diligent in utilizing our God-given talents. Ablaze with zeal for the Truth yet sharing it with gentleness and respect; always showing genuine humility to all individuals. Serving humanity for God's Glory.

Committed to Unity in Diversity

• We are a multicultural community unified in the body of Christ, the Church. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body," and although we are diverse, we "are all one in Christ Jesus"; One God, One Faith, One Hope. We believe that worship is the strongest anchor for our unity that transcends language, culture, and ethnicity. It is through worship that we learn how to rejoice together, celebrate together, and mourn together because we share a common connection with God that brings us closer to each other. We assemble to be transformed by Christ's presence among us during the liturgy which serves as the heart of our life as a family. In all our interactions, we are dedicated to being an authentic community deeply rooted in genuine love so that collectively we may experience the love of Christ.

Seeker Friendly

• We consider every individual who walks into our church as the most significant person in the world. That individual is sent by God and should be cherished and embraced as such. We all bear the responsibility of fostering a welcoming environment where no one feels isolated.