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What We Believe
We hold The Bible as the Holy Word of God and affirm our beliefs through the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed during our worship services. We pray our beliefs extend beyond our place of worship into the community and into all the world through our prayers, service, and witness.
God and God’s Love
God is our loving Heavenly Father who is the Creator of all things and the source of all love. God's Love is given first as a gift that is free, then as an invitation to respond by loving God in return and loving our neighbor as ourselves. God is also "our refuge and strength" (Ps. 46:1) as we strive to become more like Jesus.
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Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord
Jesus Christ, part of the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the son, and the Holy Spirit, became human and lived among us. Through his sacrifice on the Cross, Jesus redeemed us from our sins. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Jesus is also "the Good Shepherd" who guides us daily. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." (John 10:11) As we submit to the loving Shepherd, our lives are transformed, renewed, and empowered for Christian living. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
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Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our daily living. "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26) When Christ ascended into heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit as a comforter and presence in our lives to keep us connected to Him in a vital way.
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Balance of the Heart and Head
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37,38) With compassion, conviction and resources, we strive to fulfill Jesus' teaching to his disciples.
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The Bible
The Bible is God's Holy Word and the divine standard by which our beliefs and behaviors are measured. "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16,17) The Apostle Paul's advice to Timothy is confirmed in the Apostle John's Revelation on the island of Patmos in Revelation 21:5 "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new! Then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." We depend upon the Bible, God's Word, to be "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105)
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Disciplined Living
We "press on" to ever more faithful and courageous lives, listening for God's counsel in all the circumstances of life's experiences. We are committed to the disciplines of Prayer, Presence. Gifts, Service and Witness, as promoted by John Wesley, that keep us grounded in faith. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3: 12-14)
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Tradition
We are eternally grateful for the Body of Believers, called The Church, who have remained close to the tenets of Faith and Truth that have prevailed throughout the centuries. In an ever-changing world, it is imperative His people look to God's Word, and His Church who embrace it, to discern the path God would have us take. "They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common." (Acts 2: 42-44)
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Grace
Grace, undeserved love, is the cornerstone of the Church. God's Grace is equal to our every need and far beyond. Grace sustains us in troubled times, brings forgiveness when we have done wrong, brings unity to the brokenness and divisiveness of life and Grace brings strength for the journey of life. "Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home." (Amazing Grace, John Newton, 1725-1807) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2: 8-10)
We Believe in Three Means of Grace
Prevenient Grace
Experience Wesley's understanding of grace as God's continual presence in our lives, independent of our actions or response. It is a precious gift, always within reach yet capable of being declined. This divine grace ignites a longing to connect with God and equips us to accept His invitation for a relationship. Through this grace, we gain clarity in distinguishing between right and wrong, empowering us to live faithful Christ-centered lives. God initiates the bond with humanity, He actively pursues us!
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Justifying Grace
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). And in his letter to the Roman Christians, Paul wrote: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." (Romans 10:10) These verses demonstrate the justifying grace of God. They point to reconciliation, pardon, and restoration. Through the work of God in Christ our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with God is restored. According to John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, the image of God — which has been distorted by sin — is renewed within us through Christ’s death.
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Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying work of the Lord is a dynamic journey, not a one-time event. It involves experiencing God's transformative presence continuously shaping us into the individuals we are meant to be. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17) John Wesley referred to this aspect of God's grace as sanctification or holiness. Through God's sanctifying grace, we progress in emulating Jesus' way of life. By engaging in prayer, studying Scriptures, fasting, worshiping, and connecting with fellow believers, we deepen our relationship with God. Responding to human needs with compassion and advocating for justice in our communities enhances our ability to love our neighbors. Our thoughts, intentions, actions, and behavior become aligned with God's will, reflecting our unity with Him. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)