who we are

mission statement

As a United Methodist Congregation, our mission is to grow in our love of God and others through transformative discipleship, spirit-filled worship, unconditional welcome, and selfless service as the hands and feet of Jesus to the world.

our core values

Connected by Love and Faith: Stonybrook is a caring community made up of people from various background and life experiences connected together by love and faith in God.

Rooted in Romans 12:4-5 - For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Community: Stonybrook invites all to be in ministry together and striving for faith driven experiences that are transformative and life changing.

Rooted in 2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate ]the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Committed to Service: Committed faithful service is a vital cornerstone of Stonybrook outreach to all locally and in the world.

Rooted in I Peter 4:10 - Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Inclusive and Caring: Stonybrook UMC is a loving, caring, inclusive congregation based on the example and ministry of Jesus.

Rooted in Luke 6:31 - Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Meaningful Worship: Stonybrook is a faith community committed to encountering God through meaningful worship.

Rooted in Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

our welcome statement

Stonybrook Church is a community of people on a shared journey of life and faith. We welcome all to see, hear, and experience the love of God and the grace that is offered through a relationship with Jesus Christ. We believe that all are created in the image of God, that all are of sacred worth, and that all are able to receive the gift of grace through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection. Our various backgrounds, biblical understandings, and where we stand in our individual faith journey underscore our covenant to accept, respect, and love one another. Everyone is welcome at Stonybrook Church. We welcome and celebrate the gifts God has given to all without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic or family status, ethnicity, or mental or physical ability.  We are a church that remains united in the love of God and our mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

the stonybrook logo

Our Logo represents the 4 key initiatives that define why we exist as a church: Spiritual Growth, Missions and Outreach, Youth, and Children and Family Ministries.

Spiritual Growth: All of our growth journeys start buried beneath the earth; it is the basis for all life. The brown section represents the nurturing medium of life beginning in the soil.

Missions and Outreach: Red represents the fire of Pentecost. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and they were sent out into the world.

Youth: Blue represents the water of our baptism. At our baptism we stand on the edge of our faith. As youth, we are called to wade deeper into the waters of baptism as we begin to live out our faith.

Children: Yellow represents the joyfulness and excitement that come with a childlike relationship with Christ.

The Cross: There is an implied cross when you put all four of the initiatives together. In these four initiatives, we grow together in Christ.

The Circle: The circle represents the transformation that we as a church will make on the world. The S in “stonybrook” is not capitalized in the logo because our church is not a noun, it is a verb. We don’t come to church, but we are a church - the body of Christ sent into the world to make new disciples for Christ.

our vision

By 2027, Stonybrook will be known as a vibrant faith community who encourages all to grow, share their gifts and participate in service.

To achieve this vision, there are three strategic target areas that the Leadership Board will focus on. Find the Strategic Targets here.