Our Name
United - We unite with a larger body of like-minded Reformed Christians known corporately as the United Reformed Churches in North America. We are also in ecclesiastical relationship with all other NAPARC churches (go here for more info).
Reformed – We affirm the central truths of the Protestant Reformation, truths that are contained in the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort. We stand in line with the confessional Presbyterian and Reformed saints who have gone before us, and fully appreciate the Westminster Standards along with the Three Forms of Unity (the three confessions above).
Church – We assemble as the people of God for the purpose of worship, study, prayer, fellowship, and service. We are a community in the world, but not of it.
Our Purpose
The United Reformed Church of Sunnyside first worshipped together in July of 2007, under the shepherding care of the consistory at Grace URC in Kennewick. We organized as a local congregation in October, 2008.
We exist to worship and glorify the Triune God by proclaiming the centerpiece of the Christian faith: the gospel of Jesus Christ. We desire to exalt Christ and humble ourselves before him.
We teach and preach the whole counsel of God, contained in the Bible and call all people to repentance and saving faith in Christ.
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What We Believe
The Bible is our holy and divine book and the only divine source of the regulation, foundation, and confirmation of our faith. We believe without doubt everything contained in it because the Holy Spirit testifies to us that the Scriptures are from God.
We believe that Adam broke the covenant of works that God had established with him. Through the sin of Adam, sin and death spread to all people. Therefore, all people stand guilty and condemned before God and deserve eternal punishment, in body and soul.
We believe that God did not leave people in wickedness and sin, but carried out his plan which he made before the foundation of the world: a plan to send his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to earn eternal life for, and bear the sin of, God’s chosen people, the elect. We preach that salvation comes through faith alone, not by works. We are justified (declared righteous) only by faith, a faith that rests in, receives, and trusts Jesus Christ alone.
We believe that good works follow faith. After we experience God’s saving grace in bringing us from darkness into light, God the Spirit enables us to do truly good works – works that are not perfect, yet are a true beginning of obedience to God’s law. We adhere to the Heidelberg Catechism’s structure of sin, salvation and service, or guilt, grace, and gratitude.
We affirm the truths taught by the Reformational documents of the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession, and Canons of Dort, as well as the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, and Athanasian Creed.
Our Worship
We gather together, following God’s command, to worship on the Lord’s Day, Sunday. We believe that children of believing parent(s) are members of God’s covenant of grace and belong in the worship service.
The focus of our worship is God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are humbled by his almighty power, consuming holiness, and eternal majesty. Therefore, we worship in reverence and awe. We are able to come to him only through the blood of Jesus Christ. We follow the regulative principle of worship: we worship God only in the way he has commanded in his word.
We believe that, because we are members of God’s covenant of grace, the worship service is dialogical. That is, God speaks to us, and we respond. We follow an order of worship that is biblical and structured. Our liturgy reflects our Reformed beliefs.
Since the preaching of the word is a primary way God gives his people grace, it is central to our worship services. We celebrate Holy Communion monthly and baptize children of believers in their infancy. We depend upon God to bless these means of grace according to his promise.
The elders of the church, along with the minister, oversee the worship and people of God. Our Presbyterian/Reformed church government is centered around the worship of the triune God. Thus, the elders and minister guard the worship, shepherd the flock, and have ruling authority under Christ and his word. The deacons’ care is that of mercy. In accordance with biblical and Reformed teaching, we only elect and ordain men to these three offices.
Our Service to Neighbor
In addition to corporate, Lord’s Day worship services, the URC of Sunnyside also seeks to build one another up in the faith. We practice the communion of the saints in the following ways:
Sunday School: children and adults are instructed in the truths of the Christian faith in Catechetical lessons, and theological discussions.
Mid-week Bible Study: children and adults gather to learn and discuss the Bible, including what the Bible is, the history of God’s people, individual Bible book lessons, and other such topics.
Missions and Outreach: we believe that since all people are lost in sin, the good news of the gospel must go out to all peoples. We support missionaries, evangelism, and other outreach programs to bring the gospel to those who, like us, need redemption from sin through Christ. We are evangelical: we exist because of the gospel and in order to proclaim the gospel.
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Contacts and Location
For more information about the URC of Sunnyside, or the Reformed faith in general, please contact Rev. Shane Lems: 509.837.3363. His email is pastorlems@gmail.com