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CONTENTS
A SHORT GUIDE TO THE APOSTLES’ CREED
DAYS 1 TO 5 ‘I BELIEVE IN GOD’
DAYS 6 TO 10 ‘THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH’
DAYS 11 TO 15 ‘I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD’
DAYS 16 TO 20 ‘SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED … ’
DAYS 21 TO 25 ‘ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN; HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN… HE WILL COME TO JUDGE … ’
DAYS 26 TO 30 ‘I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT’
DAYS 31 TO 35 ‘THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS’
DAYS 36 TO 40 ‘THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING’
In times of storm, when there is chaos and danger all around us, it is good to set our feet on rock. For all Christians, the creed is that solid ground. Whenever we say “I believe in God” in public or in private we are placing trust once more in God’s grace and goodness revealed in Christ, whatever might be happening in the world around us.
From earliest times, Christians have summarized and recited what we believe in short forms, often learned by heart. The Apostles’ Creed is the best known of these summaries.
Pilgrim Journeys invites you to spend 40 days reflecting on more of what these words mean.
Our hope and prayer is that these reflections will be helpful to many people as they make the journey to baptism and confirmation, providing a strong and deep foundation for faith and discipleship.
But any Christian will be blessed by revisiting the core and centre of the faith again and seeing these ancient truths in fresh ways. You may want to use these reflections in Lent – the traditional time when Christians prepare for and reflect on baptism – but they can be read with profit at any time of the year.
However you read this Pilgrim Journey, welcome. May Christ give you strength as you follow with us the Way of Jesus.
Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell
Pilgrim Journeys: The Creeds can be used at any time of year but is ideal for anyone to use daily during Lent – starting from Ash Wednesday* and either finishing 40 days later on Palm Sunday (if you use it every day) or on Easter Eve (if you use it every day except Sunday).
Those preparing for baptism, confirmation or the renewal of baptism promises may find it helpful as part of their preparation for that commitment. Members of Pilgrim groups who are spending six weeks exploring The Creeds (Book 5) together may find it helpful to use this daily material in between sessions.
The 40 daily reflections on The Apostles’ Creed are grouped in eight chapters of five days. Each day offers:
• A theme linked to a section of The Apostles’ Creed
• A short Bible reading that explores that theme
• An invitation to reflect on the reading
• A prompt to pause and consider what this might mean for you
• A suggestion of how to pray.
Across each group of five days we will explore what each section of The Apostles’ Creed means for us, for our faith and for how we live it out in everyday life.
At the end, you will find some possible next steps for you on your discipleship journey, as well as some further resources including other Pilgrim materials for you to explore.
* Ash Wednesday falls on the following dates over the coming years: 17 February in 2021; 2 March in 2022; 22 February in 2023; 14 February in 2024; 5 March in 2025; 18 February in 2026.
A SHORT GUIDE TO THE APOSTLES’ CREED
The Pilgrim Way: A short guide to the Christian Faith explores what it means to share and live out our faith and identity as followers of Jesus Christ. It is shaped around four core Christian texts, including The Apostles’ Creed.
This extract from The Pilgrim Way summarizes what this ancient statement of Christian belief – handed down through the ages – means for the Church of today.
You might like to read this before you embark on the daily reflections, and perhaps re-visit it each week, or even try learning it by heart.
