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A skeptic, "Methodism signifies only the manner of preaching; not either an old or a new religion;
it is the manner in which Mr. Wesley and his followers attempt to propagate the plain old
religion."
Rev. Wesley's response, "And is this not good doctrine?"
Rev. Wesley's response, "And is this not good doctrine?"
Plain Old Christianity
When John Wesley wrote to the Bishop of Gloucester in 1762, he affirmed that Methodists were not trying to improve on the core beliefs of Christianity. As spiritual descendants of Wesley, United Methodists continue to teach about the core movements of the relationship between God and humanity which people of any generation can enter into.
Our relationship with God...
We tell the story of God's good creation, and emphasize the inter-relatedness between God's creatures. We grieve the reality that our disobedience fractures our good relationship with God and other living beings. We strive to create the kind of supportive community in which individuals feel secure enough in the awareness of God's love to be able to admit (at least to God) how broken we really are. Sometimes we are impacted by things we have done, other times by what has been done to us, but what is important to remember is that the wholeness that was broken in us can be restored with God's grace through a healthy relationship with Him.
God's grace...
One way we receive God's grace is through the telling and re-telling of the story of Jesus Christ. Christ humbled himself to live as a human being. He taught that God's presence is much closer than we usually think and that God's forgiveness is much more accessible than we are generally ready for. God's willingness to be vulnerable so that we might know his love is astounding!
As followers of Christ...
We who follow Christ strive to find ourselves growing whole in the story of his life, death, and resurrection. In worship we explore our connections with this story, let our hearts exalt in God's victory, and offer ourselves to God so that we might become more available to participate in the grand adventure of divine love. We tell each other about the ways in which the Holy Spirit has touched our hearts or guided our thinking. The awareness of God's loving presence among us has the effect of restoring the fullness of our humanity over time.
When John Wesley wrote to the Bishop of Gloucester in 1762, he affirmed that Methodists were not trying to improve on the core beliefs of Christianity. As spiritual descendants of Wesley, United Methodists continue to teach about the core movements of the relationship between God and humanity which people of any generation can enter into.
Our relationship with God...
We tell the story of God's good creation, and emphasize the inter-relatedness between God's creatures. We grieve the reality that our disobedience fractures our good relationship with God and other living beings. We strive to create the kind of supportive community in which individuals feel secure enough in the awareness of God's love to be able to admit (at least to God) how broken we really are. Sometimes we are impacted by things we have done, other times by what has been done to us, but what is important to remember is that the wholeness that was broken in us can be restored with God's grace through a healthy relationship with Him.
God's grace...
One way we receive God's grace is through the telling and re-telling of the story of Jesus Christ. Christ humbled himself to live as a human being. He taught that God's presence is much closer than we usually think and that God's forgiveness is much more accessible than we are generally ready for. God's willingness to be vulnerable so that we might know his love is astounding!
As followers of Christ...
We who follow Christ strive to find ourselves growing whole in the story of his life, death, and resurrection. In worship we explore our connections with this story, let our hearts exalt in God's victory, and offer ourselves to God so that we might become more available to participate in the grand adventure of divine love. We tell each other about the ways in which the Holy Spirit has touched our hearts or guided our thinking. The awareness of God's loving presence among us has the effect of restoring the fullness of our humanity over time.
9 East Main Street Dryden, NY
Email: drydenumc@frontiernet.net
Email: drydenumc@frontiernet.net
Under the same management since 1831!
(607) 844-9861