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The Vision

Joining God in the Renewal of All Things

God is on a mission to bring renewal to every human heart, every family and every community. Saltwater Vineyard exists to join Him in this mission by loving God, loving people and doing life together.

Why church?

We love reading the story of Jesus. As we read the New Testament, we notice how He commissioned and empowered His followers to love people and journey together in intentional community. Throughout the centuries, people from various cultural backgrounds have gathered to worship, study scripture, pray, dialogue through questions, and invite others to consider the claims of Jesus. This has come to be known as a church.

Depending on what your faith background has been, there may be a few things about Saltwater Vineyard that feel unique. First of all, you can expect casual dress and people from a variety of backgrounds including retired folks, young families, single moms, college students, folks on the recovery journey and young professionals. Come as you are and you will be loved.

Our gatherings include a time of reflection and expression through the use of song and art, prayer for our individual needs and the needs of our community, a teaching from Scripture with application to our real life challenges, and a time for connecting as a community, often around food. We have lots of amazing children who are joining us in this journey and having their own faith encounters.

 

 

 

Our values

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1. We are a church with a neighboring culture and a global vision. Our goal is to join God in the renewal of all things where we live, work, go to school, shop, community events, and wherever else we are. God is already working for reconciliation, love, justice and truth and we get to join God in this renewal both here in the Saco Bay area and from a global perspective. This means partnering with other churches/ministries as well as serving in our schools, at work, and at community gatherings.

2. We love God. God, as revealed in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, is our compass and our vision.

3. We love people. This is what it means to love God well. Jesus connected love of people directly with what it means to love God. No matter our limps, questions, struggles, doubts, fears, anxieties, beauty, talents, strengths, and potential, our aim is to love well and deeply as God loves us.

4. We love life. God has created us to live fully. We do believe that our best life is one connected deeply to our God, our maker and the one who sustains us. We love to celebrate, to laugh, and, more than anything else, to help others experience the deep peace that comes from relationship with God.

You are welcome here. 

With all your questions, 

doubts, 

beauty, 

struggles, 

talents, 

fears, 

anxieties,

strengths,

and potential.

Come and see

what God can do.

 

 

Our Beliefs

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As an orthodox Christian community, connected to the Vineyard Network of churches, we ascribe to the historical creeds of the church (Apostolic and Nicene Creeds) as proclamations of our essential beliefs.

In essential beliefs, we have UNITY

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:3-6

In non-essentials, we have LIBERTY

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind...So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister...For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:5, 12-13, 17

Paul emphasizes throughout Romans 14-15 that there are areas of belief and practice that are non-essential. They are not immoral in themselves, but if they offend one's conscience or are a stumbling block, often because of past experiences like addiction or trauma, they become destructive to a particular person. We all have things that can cause negative cycles in our minds and hearts that are not necessarily stumbling blocks for others. We do not impose these types of restrictions on other people, but instead focus on what is life-giving and help each other avoid what is difficult.

In all our beliefs and practices, we show LOVE

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now.
— Rick Warren

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

 

Have a Question or Comment?

Reach out to us today!