VENICE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Our History

The Church was founded in 1913, under the name “First Methodist Church of Venice” and held first services to the community at the Venice City Hall on January 6, 1913 with Rev. James T. Cope as the pastor. The first church building was erected in the Summer of 1915 and dedicated in September of same year at Amoroso Place and Compton Road now Lincoln Boulevard First United Methodist Church Venice. In 1961 additional property was purchased on Victoria Avenue, and in 1965 a new sanctuary that seats about 300 congregants was completed and dedicated during the pastorate of Revered Paul Biesemeyer. This is currently the place of our weekly worship and services to the community. The church later changed its name to Venice United Methodist Church.

Our  Basic Doctrinal Theology

Triune God

In agreement with the Nicene Creed we believe and affirm the unity of the Godhead and the intrinsic three-person functioning inseparable as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  That  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are by nature eternally self-existent, self-revealed who function as one entity. That Jesus Christ, is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-21

Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God. That the fall of man brought a separation between God and man. We believe that Jesus came into the world-His birth, life, death and resurrection which provided salvation and reconciliation between God and man.  We believe that by grace alone, not of works, we are saved, and that our salvation comes when we confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. 

Romans 10:8-10, Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; 

Bible

We believe that the bible, both the old and the new testaments, are the revealed word of God, inspired by the Holy spirit, and serves as the foundational standard for Christian faith and practices. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Baptism

 The baptism of water:  We believe that baptism is Sacrament, and that we are buried in Christ and raised with Him. It is a public declaration of our new identify.  

Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4.

 The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire:  We believe in the infilling of the Holy Spirit and in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are available for all believers whosoever will. 

Luke 3:15-18, Acts 4:31

Holy Communion

We believe in the sacrament of the Holy communion, that when we partake in communion we re-affirm the love of God and the grace of God for us, and that we are  in fellowship with the Lord Jesus as we participate in the communion as well as with one another, and that we honor this command given to us by Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians11:24,25,28) On the first Sunday of each month, we celebrate Holy  Communion  with open  table, for anyone and  everyone who believes and  loves the Lord Jesus Christ to come and participate. We believe that God’s love is unconditional, that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more and there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16