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What we believe

Our Beliefs

As members of the living Body of Christ at First United Methodist Church, we are called to love as Christ loved.  We believe that we are to love and welcome all persons---and by that we mean ALL, because each and every person is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth.

Therefore we welcome and affirm persons of every race, socioeconomic status, family make-up, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental and physical ability, and faith history. We invite ALL persons to join us on our journey as we strive to practice loving acceptance of each person and respectful discussion of our differences.

To fully experience this welcome, we encourage visitors and new members to become involved in a small group within the Church, such as a Sunday School class, Bible study, Wednesday night study, ministry group, or volunteer opportunity.

Core Beliefs

We describe God in three persons.  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God.  Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

  • We believe in one God, who created the world and all that is in it.

  • We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe.

  • We believe that God is loving.  We can experience God's love and grace.

  • We believe that Jesus was human.  He lived as a man and died when he was cruicified.

  • We believe that Jesus is divine.  He is the Son of God.

  • We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today.  (Christ and Messiah mean the same thing - God's anointed.)

  • We believe that Jesus is our Savior.  In Christ we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. 

  • We believe that Jesus is our Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his.

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us.

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God.

  • We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God's will and empowers us to live obediently.

  • We believe that God created human beings in God's images.

  • We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God.

  • We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.

  • We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extenstion of Christ's life and ministry in the world today.

  • We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

  • We believe that the church is "the communion of saints," a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. 

  • We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

  • We believe that the Bible is God's Word.

  • We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.

  • We believe that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures).

  • We believe that the kingdom or reign of God is both present reality and future hope.  We believe that wherever God's will is done, the kingdom or reign of God is present.  It was present in Jesus' ministry, and it is also present in our world whenever persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing.

  • We believe that although the fulfillment of God's kingdom-the complete restoration of creation-is still to come.

  • We believe that the church is called to be both witness to the vision of what God's kingdom will be like and a participant in helping to bring it to completion.

  • We believe that the reign of God is both personal and social.  Personally, we display the kingdom of God as our hearts and minds are transformed and we become more Christ-like.  Socially, God's vision for the kingdom includes the restoration and transformation of all of creation.

With many other Protestants, we recognize the two sacraments in which Christ himself participated: Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

  • Through baptism we are joined with the church and with Christians everywhere.

  • Baptism is a symbol of new life and a sign of God's love and forgiveness of our sins.

  • Persons of any age can be baptized.

  • We baptize by sprinkling, immersion or pouring.

  • A person receives the sacrament of baptism only once in his or her life.

  • The Lord's Supper is a holy meal of bread and wine that symbolizes the body and blood of Christ.

  • The Lord's Supper recalls the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and celebrates the unity of all the members of God's family.

  • By sharing this meal, we give thanks for Christ's sacrifice and are nourished and empowered to go into the world in mission and ministry.

  • We practice "open Communion," welcoming all who love Christ, repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.

For more information, check out the United Methodist Church website