Reason, Our Protection

When we read something confusing in the Bible, it's okay to stop and ask questions instead of just accepting it without thinking. Our ability to reason helps us tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and teachings that people create for their own purposes. The church should be a safe place where everyone can ask questions and wrestle with their doubts without being judged. Join us for worship on Sunday as we continue to explore what it means to follow God with both our hearts and our minds.

Our traditions give shape and structure to our faith. But if those traditions don’t match what Jesus taught, it can lead us away from what really matters. In Matthew 15:1 - 9, Jesus challenges the religious leaders for holding onto traditions that hurt people instead of helping them know God. This Sunday, we’ll look at how our framework—our traditions—should support a faith that’s built on knowing and following Christ. See you there!

On Sunday, we kick off a new sermon series, "The House the LORD Built." In October, Pastors Adam and Val guide us through a keystone practice of the United Methodist Church that John Wesley taught to help us apply and understand the Christian faith, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This first week, we examine the foundation of our faith - Scripture. Come hear how Scripture, especially when we study it as a whole —not just the parts we like—can help us build a life that is fulfilling and enduring.

In the final sermon in our series, "Beyond the Walls", we listen to the words of the prophet, Micah.  He reminds us of what the Lord Himself requires of us: "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly..." As we prepare for next weekend's Worship Without Walls, let's remember to live out these words in our service to others. We'll see you Sunday!

In Romans, chapter 12, the Apostle Paul asks us to "...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." What does it mean to present our bodies to God? We say we are the Church Universal, the Body of Christ, the hands and feet of Jesus, one body - this Sunday, we explore this idea both literally and figuratively within the context of our sermon series, Beyond the Walls. See you Sunday!

"... and I by my works will show you my faith." - James 2:18
As we enter the month of September, we enter a season of service for First UMC.  Each year in the fall, we host our annual Worship Outside the Walls event. It is only fitting that this month, we prepare our hearts and minds for service and consider how the church reaches beyond the walls of our building.  In the first of a three-part series titled "Beyond the Walls", this Sunday's sermon explores which comes first, faith or works? See you Sunday!