Our Purpose

"Where there is no vision, the people run wild."   Proverbs 29:18 (Berkley Version)

The Purpose of First United Methodist Church is to:

Provide a welcoming, God-glorifying worship.

The faith community of First United Methodist Church strives to not only have open doors but open hearts.  Every regular participant in the life of First Church hopes that every individual that attends one of the various worship services leaves with the sense that they have been genuinely and warmly received.  One of the critical experiences of those who encountered Jesus was gracious acceptance and we remember his words, "come, all..."  The faith community of First United Methodist Church strives to model this same response to all persons who gather for worship. 

Worship is central to life at First United Methodist Church.  No other gathering of the faith community receives a higher priority than when worship takes place.  Consequently, every effort is made to assure that worship is always conducted in such a way that it honors the God we assemble to worship.

Guide children and youth toward a life of faith

Statistics reveal the importance of teaching children at an early age.  Children have minds and hearts that are hungry to learn.  The First United Methodist Church congregation believes strongly in their responsibility to teach and model the Christian faith to children.  Jesus said, "let the children come to me and do not stop them."  Matthew 19:14.  And again, Jesus said, "unless you become as a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God."  Luke 18:17

The First Church family sets a high priority leading and teaching children in their early Christian life.

Grow and mature together as disciples of Christ

The last words of Jesus were words of instruction.  "Go into all the world and make disciples."  Matthew 18:19.  The Christian life is not static.  Christian maturity is the result of intentional attention to Christian growth.

First Church sees as high priority the need to offer the means by which adults of all ages are assisted in attending to their Christian growth and maturity.

Show God's love through our words and actions

The book of James says, "...be doers of the word, and not merely hearers..."  James 1:22.  God's people are called to action in both word and deed.  The First Church family is eager to express God's love in whatever form needed.  We are called to serve and to be in mission.

Jesus reminds his followers that every time they feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners, touch the sick, they have done so to him.  The First Church family accepts the high calling of caring for God's world and people as an expectation and responsibility of being a follower of Christ.