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Worship
Come Worship With Us!
You can listen to and/or download a podcast of recent sermons posted on the new Sermon Links page.
Walking the Steps
“We are all addicted in some way. When we learn to identify our addiction, embrace our brokenness, and surrender to God, we begin to bring healing to ourselves and our world.”
Richard Rohr, Breathing Underwater:
Spirituality and the Twelve Steps
Beginning January 13, we will take up our sermon series on spirituality, “Walking the Steps.” I hope you will join us as we talk about Walking the Steps.
As always, sermon transcripts will be on the table in the Parlor for those who would like one. They are also generally posted to the church’s website the following week.
UM's and Holy Communion
The United Methodist Church recognizes two sacraments, baptism and communion. These two acts have a special place in the church because Jesus commanded them and participated in them. Through the years, Christians have used other sacramental acts to draw closer to God. While we do not recognize these others as sacraments, we participate in many of them.
The Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, and the Eucharist are all names for this sacrament celebrated by United Methodists. Each of these names highlights an aspect of this act of worship.
According to This Holy Mystery, The United Methodist Church’s official document on communion, “The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ’s invitation.… The term Holy Communion invites us to focus on the selfgiving of the Holy God which makes the sacrament an occasion of grace, and on the holiness of our communion with God and one another.… Eucharist, from the Greek word for thanksgiving, reminds us that the sacrament is thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.”
Who can assist the pastor in communion?
Communion is one of the responsibilities and duties of a pastor. The pastor may "train deacons and lay members to serve the consecrated communion elements.” During worship "lay persons as well as other clergy may assist the pastor in giving the bread and cup.”
This Holy Mystery explains, "The Communion elements are consecrated and consumed in the context of the gathered congregation. The Table may be extended, in a timely manner, to include those unable to attend because of age, illness, or similar conditions. Laypeople may distribute the consecrated elements in the congregation and extend them to members who are unavoidably absent…."
Do United Methodists believe the communion elements actually become the body and blood of Christ?
This Holy Mystery says, “The Christian church has struggled through the centuries to understand just how Christ is present in the Eucharist. Arguments and divisions have occurred over the matter. The Wesleyan tradition affirms the reality of Christ's presence, although it does not claim to be able to explain it fully.… Our tradition asserts the real, personal, living presence of Jesus Christ. For United Methodists, the Lord's Supper is anchored in the life of the historical Jesus of Nazareth, but is not primarily a remembrance or memorial. We do not embrace the medieval doctrine of transubstantiation, though we do believe that the elements are essential tangible means through which God works. We understand the divine presence in temporal and relational terms.”
Why do we serve grape juice instead of wine for Holy Communion?
In the history of the church, wine has been the normal drink. In the 19th century, Methodists and other denominations were persuaded that unfermented juice was an important witness to the grace of God and of the churches’ resistance to the abuses of alcohol. The United Methodist Book of Worship explains, "Although the historic and ecumenical Christian practice has been to use wine, the use of unfermented grape juice by The United Methodist Church and its predecessors since the late nineteenth century expresses pastoral concern for recovering alcoholics, enables the participation of children and youth, and supports the church's witness of abstinence.
Can children take communion?
In The United Methodist Church, children are welcome to receive communion. Our Book of Worship explains, "All who intend to lead a Christian life, together with their children, are invited to receive the bread and cup.”
May a person who has not been baptized participate in Holy Communion?
Yes, our church does not seek to close God's Table, although the historic and normal order of the sacraments is baptism first – as birth into the family – and communion following, as continuing nurture at the family table.
Why Bother with Choirs?
Singing in Choir...
Provides a healthy creative and artistic balance to heavily data-based education.
Is therapeutic, giving singers the chance to momentarily put aside their other pressures and concerns.
Is an effective vehicle for developing faith using music and church history.
Develops poise under pressure.
Teaches the value of teamwork.
Develops young people’s sense of culture and sophistication by adding beauty and aesthetic depth to worship.
Teaches the value of careful preparation in reaching goals.
Teaches a sense of responsibility and setting priorities.
Provides the foundation for a lifetime enjoyment of music.
Gives members a sense of pride and self-worth by showing singers that their individual leadership, demeanor and discipline make a significant to the success of the group
Sunday Worship Times
8:00 a.m Morning Chapel
10:00 a.m Worship in the Sanctuary
With Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday of the month. As United Methodists, we practice Open Communion. All who are seeking God are welcome at Christ’s table.
Sermon Series: Walking the Steps
Sunday, January 5
Second Sunday after Christmas
Theme: “Remember Your Baptism and Be Thankful.”
Sunday, January 12
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Theme: “Why Do We Need to Ask”
Sunday, January 19
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Theme: “Skillfully”
Sunday, January 26
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Theme: “An Alternative Mind”
THINGS TO DO IN 2020
Live…each day to the fullest, as if it were your last, Learn…new ideas, new skills, learn from mistakes past.
Escape…the pressures brought into each day, Imagine…the stillness, tranquility coming your way.
Nourish…yourself with peace, love and harmony, Embrace…your heart, your soul with serenity.
Believe…in something, anything, even the words “I believe”, Challenge…all that you are, all that you hope to achieve.
Rest…your mind, your body; the world will still go on, Connect…a string from your heart to loved ones and beyond.
Explore…the universe; start with a neighbor or friend, Plant…a seed of wishes, hope and dreams to ascend.
Confront…your fears, your truths, your wounds inside, Need…other people, love, hugs, kisses, courage and pride.
Blossom…at whatever age you are, Awaken…your passion for life and the spirit afar.
Play…with friends, with children, in nature or at home, Laugh…wholeheartedly, with someone or just alone.
Dream…with your head in the clouds, dream big or small, Hope…for world peace, a breath of life, a cure of diseases for all.
Sing…a new song, an old song; sing praises to God above, Pray…in silence, out loud, pray with sincerity and love.
Reflect…on all the memories from a year gone by, Reach…for new goals, with arms open wide.
Joan Stroyny
Growing Generous Givers. It’s another part of the MCCI resourcing initiative. What we do is look at First Church’s ways and talk about how we do things that encourage (or discourage) people from being active and involved in church, and about ways we can teach people to practice the kind of generosity that we are called to model in our lives as Christ-followers.)
Beginning this year, we are holding “Family Worship” times during the 10 a.m. worship service on 5th Sundays (which generally happen quarterly).
Wait, you say, we already have family worship! What makes this different? Yes, we have families - oldsters, youngsters and in-betweeners in worship.
On 5th Sundays, we will have some of each of these participate in the service leadership (and not only in ushering and greeting). We will have more family friendly songs, scriptures and sermon (shorter, too). And we will encourage families to worship with their youngsters who usually play in the nursery. Afterward everyone’s invited to gather for juice (okay, coffee, too), snacks and conversation in the Parlor, as usual.
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