Beliefs

At Poteau First United Methodist Church, we believe in a God who loves us, meets us where we are, and invites us into a life of grace, faith, and community. Here are a few of the things at the heart of our faith:

About God

We believe in one God, who is living and active and present among us. We know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Holy Trinity. God is the source of all creation, the giver of life, and the One who calls us into relationship.

About Jesus

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus lived among us, taught us what it means to love God and one another, suffered and was crucified, and died for the sake of the whole world.

We believe that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, defeating the power of death and opening the way to new and eternal life. We believe Christ is alive and that one day Christ will come again.

About humanity and grace

We believe that all of us are works in progress. We make mistakes, fall short, and sometimes lose our way. When we separate ourselves from God, Scripture calls this sin.

But sin is not the end of our story. God's grace is. 

We believe that God loves every person beyond measure and desires a relationship with each of us. God is not waiting for us to fail so that we can be punished. Instead, God continually reaches toward us with grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love.

Through Jesus Christ, God has made forgiveness and new life possible. Grace is God's gift, freely offered to all. We don't have to earn it. We simply receive it and allow God's grace to transform us.

About the Bible

We believe that the Bible is inspired by God and contains everything necessary for salvation. Scripture is foundational for our faith and life because it tells the story of God's relationship with humanity and reveals God's love, character, and purposes.

We believe the Bible is a living part of our life together as Christians—something we read, study, wrestle with, and put into practice as we seek to follow Jesus.

Want to learn more?

Explore the beliefs and practices of The United Methodist Church at the link below.

Doctrinal Standards and General Rules

Adapted from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004. Copyright 2004 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Used by permission.

Worship

At Poteau First United Methodist Church, worship is a place where ancient faith meets everyday life. We gather to sing, pray, hear Scripture, share in the sacraments, and encounter God's grace together.

Music

    Our worship includes a blend of the familiar and the new. On a typical Sunday you will hear an organ or piano accompany a beloved hymn and a guitar lead an inspiring new song. Our music ministry also includes our choral choir and handbell choir, who regularly help lead us in worship.

You'll find familiar symbols of our faith throughout the Sanctuary, along with words for our hymns, songs, and Scripture on the screens. From music and video to silence and prayer, we use many different ways to tell the story of God's incredible grace.

Preaching

Our pastor, Rev. Desi Sharp Brumit, preaches sermons that are grounded in Scripture and connected to everyday life. Her passion is making theology, the study of God, practical, understandable, and meaningful.

Through Scripture, contemporary illustrations, videos, stories, and sometimes a little humor, our sermons invite us to think deeply about our faith and consider how God's grace is changing the way we live.

Sacraments

In The United Methodist Church, we believe in and practice two sacraments:  Baptism and Holy Communion.  

We believe that through these sacred practices, God meets us with grace and draws us more deeply into the life of Christ and the community of faith.

Baptism is a sign of God's grace and God's loving claim on our lives. We baptize people of all ages, including infants and children, because we believe God's grace comes before we are ever able to earn or understand it. Baptism is a beginning, a visible sign that we belong to God and are welcomed into the family of faith. If you'd like to learn more about baptism or what it means in The United Methodist Church, we'd love to talk with you. You can also read By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism here.

Holy Communion is celebrated in our worship on the first Sunday of each month. At the Lord's Table, we remember Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and receive the grace that sustains us.

United Methodists practice an Open Table, which means that you do not have to be a member of Poteau First—or even a United Methodist—to receive Communion. Christ's table is not our table; it is Christ's table to which we are invited.

If you are seeking Christ, longing for grace, or simply wondering whether there is a place for you, you are welcome at the Table.