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We believe that the church is, according to the Apostle
Paul, the body of Christ. The church is to be the physical
presence of Christ in the world. At FUMC of Palatine, we are
Christians who are excited to be part of the United
Methodist Church, a global church that is 11 million strong.
Methodists have open hearts and open minds--and welcome
anyone interested in learning more about the Christian
faith.
John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis
on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action.
This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical
divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism
today.
Our Christian Faith
Christian faith is shaped by grounding
our lives in the living God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Faith is following Jesus, answering the call to be his
disciples in the world. It’s trusting in God and relying
on God as the source and destiny of our lives. Faith is
hoping for God’s future, leading to the coming kingdom
that God has promised.
We Look to Scripture
Scripture is God’s unique testimony in
the life of Israel; in the ministry, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ; and in the Spirit’s work
in the early church. In studying the Bible we use
concordances, commentaries, and other aids prepared by
the scholars. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we
try to discern both the original intention of the text
and how it applies to our own lives.
A Mission to Nurture and
Serve
From John Wesley's time to the present, Methodism has
sought to be both a nurturing community and a servant
community. Members of early Methodist Societies met for
personal nurture through giving to the poor, visiting
the imprisoned, and working for justice and peace in the
community. They sought not only to receive the fullness
of God's grace for themselves; but they saw themselves
as existing to reform the nation and to spread
scriptural holiness over the land. As we grow in faith
through our participation in the church community, we
are also nourished and equipped for mission and service
to the world.
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