About Us
What we believe and practice as United Methodists
The mission of the United Methodist Church is "To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
Our mission here at Ortonville United Methodist Church (OUMC) is, to "Shape lives, Share faith and Spread God's love..."
What United Methodists Believe
OUMC is part of an 11 million strong global church; The United Methodist Church. Together we model,"Opens Hearts, Opens Doors and Opens Minds" through active engagement in our world. Our primary emphasis is on Christian Living while putting Love and Faith into action. As United Methodists we share a common heritage and basic affirmations with all who profess the Christian faith.
Trinity:
We believe in the three-fold nature of God as, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
God:
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 loves all people, and that we can experience God's love by his free gift of grace.
Jesus:
We believe in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to us by virgin birth; lived among us, and taught and healed, to show us the way. Jesus choose to die as a way to forgive sins.
We believe, that God rasied Jesus from the dead, and that the risen Christ lives in us today.
We believe that Jesus is fully divine and is the only son of God.
We believe that Jesus is our Savior and 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.
The Holy Spirit:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us.
We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when 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 obedient lives.
Human Beings:
We believe God created humanity in Gods image.
We believe that we can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God.
We believe that God's desire is that all people would choose to be in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, by the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Church:
We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today.
We believe that the Bible is God’s true 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 Reign Of God:
We believe that the kingdom (reign) of God is both a present reality and future hope.
We believe that wherever God's will is done, the kingdom of God is present. It was present in Jesus' ministry, and it is also present in our world, where persons and communities experience reconciliation, restoration, and healing.
We believe that we are in the midst of the fulfillment of God's kingdom, but that complete restoration of creation--is yet 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 like Christ. Socially, God's vision for the kingdom includes, restoration and transformation by loving all of creation.
Sacrament of Baptism:
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.
We beleive that persons of any age can be baptized. The water is adminsitered either by sprinkling, immersion or pouring.
A person need only receive the sacrament of baptism once in their life.
Sacrament of The Lords Supper: (Holy Communion, Eucharist)
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 informational references and to learn more click here: "The United Methodist Faith"