Sylva First United Methodist Church is a congregation "experiencing Christ and offering Christ to others." As we do so, we are living into a tradition of a people called “Methodists."
A United Methodist is a Christian who is intentionally working toward being made perfect in love. Methodism was a movement started by John and Charles Wesley in the 1700’s.
There's a lot we can say about what United Methodists believe about God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We seek to allow the Spirit to lead and inform our decisions and way of life together. But the highlights revolve around Scripture, grace, experience, and learning. John Wesley preached a gospel of God’s grace that covers our whole lives. The welcoming love of Christ is the humbling welcome of love we want to extend to others. We believe each person bears the image of God, who fully loves each person of creation.
God's grace poured in us leads to personal and social transformation. So that loving God and loving others is lived out through spiritual practices and mission opportunities. The gift of Jesus' unfailing love is central in our lives as individuals and together as the faith community.