About Oakland United Methodist Church

Oakland United Methodist Church has been a pillar of faith and service in the Oakland community for over 100 years. Our journey began with a small group of passionate individuals who came together to create a place of worship and fellowship. Today, we continue to spread the message of love and hope through our Sunday Worship Services and Bible Study Groups, while striving to build more programs to better serve our wonderful community. We invite all individuals curious about their faith to join us!

Our Beliefs

We believe in God!

  • We believe in one eternal God, who created all things.
  • God exists in 3 forms - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • God has always existed and always will exist.
  • God loves all people.

 

We believe in Jesus!

  • Jesus is both fully God who was present at the creation and fully human who entered the earth in the form of a baby via a miraculous birth to the virgin Mary, a wonderous event we call Christmas.
  • Jesus taught about love for neighbor, which is all of humanity. By paying attention to what Jesus did and said while on Earth, we know we are called to show mercy to all who need it to fight for justice to end systemic barriers to equity for all people and to show love regardless of a person's appearance, behavior or circumstances.
  • Jesus lived a sinless life but was convicted in a sham trial. He died on the cross to absolve all of humanity for its sins.
  • Jesus, the Son in the triune God, serves as judge of all. But he didn't come to earth to condemn us but rather to save us from our sins.
  • All who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior receive the gift of eternal life.
  • Jesus will personally return at some point. Nobody knows when that will be, but we are called to be prepared for when that day comes.

 

We believe in Holy spirit!

  • The Spirit of God completes the Trinity. The Holy Spirit (sometimes called the Holy Ghost) came to remind us of what Jesus taught during his time on Earth.
  • Often referred to as The Advocate, the Holy Spirit is with all people at all times, providing the presence of God in everyday life, not just during the highs and lows of life.
  • The Holy Spirit helps give you the power to overcome temptation, defeat sin and usher in righteousness in a believer’s life.
  • The Holy Spirit provides all people with spiritual gifts meant to help them grow in their holiness and to help make disciples of others to further the work of the kingdom.

 

Where Do We Get Our Beliefs?

Our beliefs are formed with four primary sources, as detailed by John Wesley, an Anglican priest who founded the Methodist movement.

The Bible

  • We believe the Bible is the inspired messaging from God meant to help us pattern our lives after Jesus and the Holy Spirit as we seek to serve our loving God.
  • We believe God has preserved the Bible as the foundation for our faith and life. It speaks to us, even today, with authority​ for our faith along life’s journey.


Tradition

  • As Christians, we are linked to the traditions of the past, stretching back from our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters up to the more recent traditions formed over the years.


Experience

  • Each of us comes to faith in a different way along a different path. What we learn over the years and through each of these experiences creates the building blocks of our faith.


Reason

  • Finally, please understand this: If you join us for worship, please don’t check your brain at the door! You are encouraged to take in the words in the hymns we sing, the sermon and other aspects of worship and ponder it to make up your own mind on many matters of faith.