PUMC was founded in 1836, and has had several homes in the town of Plainfield. Today it operates from its campus at 600 Simmons Street, Plainfield, Indiana. PUMC discovered its current heart for feeding hungry persons when it began its annual community Fish Fry in 1945. Today it serves hungry persons through Saturday community meals, weekly outreach to homeless neighbors, area food pantry support, and more. And PUMC’s vision to serve the children of Plainfield finds its expression in an ongoing weekday ministry for children ages 12 month - Grade 5, Sunday programming for students all ages, partnership with the local Just Be Kind kids club, and other area children’s outreach.

Worship is at the heart of PUMC’s ministry. PUMC offers Classic Worship with relevant messages and pipe organ music. NewDay Praise Worship offers a more contemporary worship expression with a live band and creative messaging and experiences. And Youth Worship for Grades 6-12 is crafted for and with students themselves.

Beyond the congregation’s life together in worship, opportunities abound for spiritual growth and growth in mission and service. Small study and prayer groups, mission and service teams, and groups that serve in the arts are all places were participants find love, grace and acceptance and learn what it is to live as a follower of Jesus.

As PUMC looks to the future, it is working to update, renovate, and prepare its building for effective and meaningful ministry tomorrow and beyond so that all of a person’s experience — from ease of parking, wayfinding signs, a pleasant appearance, security for children, up-to-date restrooms, and more — matches PUMC’s words of grace and welcome.

…that God is understood in three distinct forms. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are commonly used to refer to the threefold nature of God. Sometimes we use other terms, such as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

…in one God, who created the world and all that is in it. We believe that God is sovereign; that is, God is the ruler of the universe. We believe that God is loving. We experience God's love and grace.

…that Jesus was human. He lived as a man and died when he was crucified. We believe that Jesus is divine. He is the Son of God. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that the risen Christ lives today. We believe that Jesus is the Savior. In Christ, we receive abundant life and forgiveness of sins. We believe that Jesus is Lord and that we are called to pattern our lives after his.

…that the Holy Spirit is God within us. We believe that the Holy Spirit comforts us when we are in need and convicts us when we stray from God. We believe that the Holy Spirit awakens us to God's will and empowers us to live obediently.

…that God created human beings in God's image. We believe that humans can choose to to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God in order to be fully human.

…that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ's life and ministry in the world today. We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

…that the church is the "communion of saints," a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith.

…that the Bible is God's Word. We believe that the Bible is the primary authority for our faith and practice.

…that Christians need to know and study the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures).

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement in England in the eighteenth century, established “General Rules” for Methodists, which are well summarized as “The Three Simple Rules:”

1. do no harm, 
2. do good, and 
3. stay in love with God.

For more information on United Methodist beliefs, go to: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/basics-of-our-faith. Also, see The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016, paragraphs 101-199.

Further Reading

United Methodist Handbook

The Official Website of The United Methodist Church

Indiana UMC Central District

United Methodist Committee on Relief

The Social Principles of the United Methodist Church

The mission of Plainfield UMC is the mission of The United Methodist Church and the same mission Jesus gave his followers, “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” 

The vision of Plainfield UMC is to be inclusive, growing across generations, and leading in love as we join Jesus in serving our community.

Values

Accepting

We accept others as an expression of the love of God.

He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40 (NRSV)

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 15:7 (NIV)

Creating Community

This is the way we, at PUMC, experience healthy relationships together.

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NRSV)

So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Romans 12:5 (NRSV)

Serving

Meeting others’ needs is an expression of care for Christ.

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)