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SYMBOL OF FAITH: THE SEAL OF THE PC(USA)

By: John Reiter

Posted: May 25, 2022

Category: Daily Devotional

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

“The seal of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is a symbolic statement of the church’s heritage, identity, and mission in contemporary form. Its power depends on both its simplicity and complexity, as well as its traditional and enduring qualities. The basic symbols in the seal are the cross, Scripture, the dove, and flames.” Also represented are symbols of the pulpit/lectern, Bible, trinity, cup, and fish. “In 1 Corinthians, Paul described the church as a body with many members, illustrating the pluralism of the church and the many gifts which God gives to its members. So also the seal’s individual parts, when taken together, form an encompassing visual and symbolic unity, while not exhausting the richness of possible interpretations.” Adapted from the PC(USA) website: https://oga.pcusa.org/section/stated-clerk/stated-clerk/seal/

Prayer

Holy God, we thank You for the gift of the church. We rejoice that we are called to be a community of faith, supporting, loving, and strengthening one another. We celebrate the myriad of ways You call us to serve You and Your people. Help us to be mindful of how we can be Your church in the world today. Amen.