Faith Formation Activities

Family Creed

As a Christian community we profess our faith through the reciting of the creed. This profession is not merely a saying of words, but a challenge to live our lives in a Christian manner. For example, when we state our belief in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, we are called to live our lives in healthy relationship to the created world, being good stewards of the environment and of all living creatures.

As households of faith we sometimes live an unspoken creed about who we want to be as family—what values we hold, how we wish to relate to one another, what gifts or legacy we want to share with the world. We must move beyond the unspoken creed to a clear articulation of what we believe about our home. We can then be clear about what is most important.

Take some time to create a household creed using the reflection questions below. Use a “we believe” style—see the example below—and post it in a prominent place in your home. Use your creed to gauge how well your household practices what it believes.

What is most important to your household about how you treat one another? How will you profess to treat one another with positive listening, respect for each other’s space, and so on?
What values are most important for your household? Honesty, fair play, simplicity, and so on?
What special gifts does your household try to share with the world?
What aspects of your Christian faith do you hope your household is recognized for?

Here is a sample creed.

“We believe that active listening and mutual respect make a healthy home.
We believe that honesty, simple living, and care for others make the world a better place.
We believe that we are called to share the gifts of hospitality, care for the earth, and Christian witness with those around us.
We believe in peace over war, love over hate, life over death.
We believe that God loves us and calls us to love one another.
Amen.”