Our Beliefs
At The Gathering, our faith is rooted in God’s grace and lived out in community. We are a United Methodist Church, shaped by Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience, and guided by a deep trust in God’s ongoing work in the world.

God and Grace

We believe God is the loving Creator of all that is, seen and unseen. By grace alone, God continually calls us back into relationship—restoring, renewing, and reconciling us to Godself and to one another. Grace is not something we earn; it is God’s gift, freely given, that invites us into new life.

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ reveals God’s love most fully. In Christ, we see what it looks like to love boldly, serve faithfully, and live with compassion and justice. Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we are offered forgiveness, healing, and hope—and are called to follow in his way.

The Holy Spirit

We believe the Holy Spirit is active and present, moving among us, guiding us into truth, stirring our hearts, and empowering us for faithful living. The Spirit helps us grow in grace and equips us to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.

Scripture

We believe Scripture is sacred and inspired, telling the story of God’s love and God’s people. We read the Bible prayerfully and thoughtfully, trusting it to shape our faith while engaging it with our minds, our questions, and our lived experience. Scripture points us toward God’s grace and calls us to love God and neighbor.

The Church

We believe the Church is not a building, but a people—called together to worship God, grow in faith, and serve the world. As a United Methodist congregation, we value connection: to one another, to our wider denomination, and to the communities we serve. We believe faith is meant to be lived out, not just believed.

The Sacraments

We believe the sacraments are sacred gifts of God’s grace—visible signs of an invisible grace at work in our lives. Through them, God meets us in tangible ways, drawing us deeper into relationship and community.

Holy Communion
We celebrate Communion every week as a central act of worship. At Christ’s table, all are invited to receive grace, not as a reward for perfection, but as nourishment for the journey of faith. Communion reminds us that we are one body, sustained by God’s love and sent out to serve a hungry world.

Baptism
We believe baptism is the initiation into God’s family—a holy sign of God’s covenant love and the beginning of a life shaped by grace. In baptism, we are claimed by God, welcomed into the community of faith, and marked by the promise of new life in Christ. It is not something we achieve, but something God does for us: a sign of God’s new covenant and God’s enduring faithfulness.

Belonging

We believe all people are created in the image of God and are beloved by God. Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here—to worship, to serve, and to grow in grace.

Our Vision

Gathering with God to feed the body, mind, and spirit while being Christ’s hands and feet—loving and serving our local community.

This vision shapes who we are and how we live out our faith every day.

Our Core Values: Gather, Grow, Love

  • Gather Together
    We believe community matters. Worship, fellowship, and shared life help us encounter God and one another in meaningful ways.

  • Grow in Grace
    Faith is a lifelong journey. We believe God meets us where we are and invites us to keep growing—through worship, study, prayer, and honest questions.

  • Love and Serve
    God’s love compels us outward. We seek to serve our neighbors, work for justice, and embody Christ’s compassion in tangible ways—especially in our local community.

 

Our Goals
Our goal is to grow into a community shaped by God’s grace, where faith is lived out through gathering, growing, and loving in action.

We gather together to welcome people as they are—creating spaces of genuine hospitality, meaningful worship, and authentic connection with God and one another.

We grow in grace through worship, small groups, and discipleship, deepening our faith, asking honest questions, and learning how to follow Christ in daily life.

We love and serve our neighbors through relationships and tangible acts of compassion—especially through ministries like our weekly food distribution, Fresh Food Wednesday—feeding the body while bearing witness to God’s care for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.