The United Methodist Church is an 11-million-strong global church that opens hearts, opens doors and opens minds through active engagement with our world.
Everyone is welcome to worship with us, to join us in embracing the diversity of God's family. We understand that our openness to new people, ideas, and ways of reaching out to help others defines much of who we are. John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.
Communion
Everyone is also welcome to join us in communion (or the Lord's Supper), including children. As The United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, "All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup." You can also be a Christian, but not a United Methodist and share in communion with us. Of course, you may also attend our service and not receive communion.
Baptism
Baptism celebrates becoming a new person in Christ. We also believe that in baptism God initiates a covenant with us. From the beginning, baptism has been the door through which one enters the church. It was inconceivable to many that one could respond to God's grace by reciting the renunciations, affirming one's faith in Christ and loyalty to the Kingdom without joining the fellowship of those who are committed to mature in that faith.
Why baptize babies? From the earliest times children and infants were baptized and included in the church. The baptism of children and their inclusion in the church before they can respond with their own confirmation of faith is a vivid and compelling witness to prevenient grace, the grace that works in our lives before we are aware of it, bringing us to faith.
We also believe that because baptism is a sacrament of God's grace and a covenant that God has initiated, it should not be repeated.
For more specific details about Methodism, including baptism, giving, missions and the Christian year, go to these links:
Everyone is welcome to worship with us, to join us in embracing the diversity of God's family. We understand that our openness to new people, ideas, and ways of reaching out to help others defines much of who we are. John Wesley and the early Methodists placed primary emphasis on Christian living, on putting faith and love into action. This emphasis on what Wesley referred to as "practical divinity" has continued to be a hallmark of United Methodism today.
Communion
Everyone is also welcome to join us in communion (or the Lord's Supper), including children. As The United Methodist Book of Worship puts it, "All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup." You can also be a Christian, but not a United Methodist and share in communion with us. Of course, you may also attend our service and not receive communion.
Baptism
Baptism celebrates becoming a new person in Christ. We also believe that in baptism God initiates a covenant with us. From the beginning, baptism has been the door through which one enters the church. It was inconceivable to many that one could respond to God's grace by reciting the renunciations, affirming one's faith in Christ and loyalty to the Kingdom without joining the fellowship of those who are committed to mature in that faith.
Why baptize babies? From the earliest times children and infants were baptized and included in the church. The baptism of children and their inclusion in the church before they can respond with their own confirmation of faith is a vivid and compelling witness to prevenient grace, the grace that works in our lives before we are aware of it, bringing us to faith.
We also believe that because baptism is a sacrament of God's grace and a covenant that God has initiated, it should not be repeated.
For more specific details about Methodism, including baptism, giving, missions and the Christian year, go to these links:
