What We Believe
At Still Waters Church we believe that being part of a community means being a part of something greater than you. It's about sharing, growing and healing. It's about opening up to who you are and what you believe. God's Spirit is alive in the Still Waters community as we welcome all who enter. Whether you are joining us for the first time or you are a long-time member, we invite you to participate fully in worship, fellowship and service. Being part of our community of faith is more than just "attending", it's "belonging". You are one of us as soon as you walk through the door!
What is a United Methodist?
In the words of John Wesley, "A Methodist is...one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength." John Wesley was an ordained Anglican priest. At a prayer meeting in London on May 24, 1738, he had a powerful spiritual experience which inspired him to become the first teacher of "Methodism."
John Wesley is known for two things: co-founding Methodism and his tremendous work ethic. In the 1700's, when travel was by walking, horseback or carriage, Wesley logged more than 4,000 miles a year. During his lifetime he preached about 40,000 sermons. Wesley could give today's experts lessons in efficiency. He was a natural organizer and approached everything diligently, especially religion. It was at Oxford University in England that he and his brother Charles participated in a Christian club in such an orderly manner that critics called them "Methodists".
The United Methodist Church is a global church with more than 12 million members in 42,000 congregations worldwide. It is a participating member of the World Council of Churches
and the National Council of Churches and is one of the leading proponents of ecumenism today. The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 with a merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church, but its roots go back to England in the 1730's.
Sources of Faith
The sources of faith for the United Methodists are: The Bible, John Wesley's writings, The Articles of Religion, The Confession of Faith, The United Methodist "Book of Discipline" and Theologians and Educators. We believe that God has mercy and love for all people. We believe in the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in salvation through Jesus Christ and the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism and The Lord's Supper.
United Methodists share a vision of life for all humanity. We believe in nurturing our community, protecting our natural resources, and that God's world is one world.
For more information about The United Methodist Church, go to www.umc.org.