• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share A story in a picture Follow

  What influences does God use to shape us into the people we become? Our family of origin certainly plays a part, as do experiences with other adults. Events at school and friendships at church sometimes leave a lasting impression. A move to a new community, a national tragedy, and a host of other factors may contribute to our understandingSome readers

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  "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the reign of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We've seen his star in the east, and we've come to honor him.'" (Matthew 2:1-2, Common English Bible) Just about every year at Christmastime, Nick Strobel can count on getting questions about the star that guided the magi. Strobel is the planetarium director and a physical science professor at Bakersfield ColleFew readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share Societies, Classes, and Bands - oh my!Discipleship: A Life Transformed

  This is the first in a series of 4 stories on Wesleyan small groups for today. Read the other stories here.  "I know what to do. I just have to do it." Discipleship growth, like staying healthy, only works when we put our knowledgFew readers

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  While The United Methodist Church does not consider confession a sacrament, we know our need to confess our sin before God and one another. Sin is a constant struggle. The Bible tells us that we all sin, and John Wesley noted in a sermon how Christians continue to struggle with sin even after their conversion. In " The Scripture Way of Salvation (http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/tFew readers

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  Motivational experts sometimes encourage us to write eulogies for ourselves. Looking at life from some imaginary time in the future can help us order our priorities and focus on the things most important to us. During the Wesley Pilgrimage in England, participants pause before the tomb of John Wesley located in a quiet spot behind Wesley's Chapel,Few readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share Renewing waters: How United Methodists understand baptism An o

  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 in some way. In the following articles, we explore how United Methodists understand baptism, communion, and riFew readers

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  During a confirmation class, the pastor asked a group of mostly 13- and 14-year-old students to name some things Christians — and specifically United Methodists — do that most other people do not. One of the girls raised her hand and said with a smile, "We dunk our bread in grape juice." Yes, that is different. The sacrament of Holy Communion is such a common occurrence in the landscape of our worship that its uncommonFew readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share Tradition: A Theological Guideline Follow

  November 1 is All Saints Day, a sometimes-overlooked holy day in United Methodist congregations. It is not nearly as well known as the day before, All Hallows' (Saints') Eve, better known as Halloween, but is far more important in the life of the church.   John Wesley was fond of All Saints Day. "John Wesley. Stipple engraving by J. Posselwhite" licensed under CC BY 4.0 via WikimFew readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share Sacraments: God's show and tellFor further study Follow

  Water sustains life for humans, animals, and plants. We clean with warm water and relax in cool water. We find peace listening to the roar of the ocean or taking a stroll in the rain. Sacraments: God's show and tell Water is important to our life both inside and outside of the church. Photo illustration by Kathleen Barry, United Methodist Communications. The United MethodisFew readers

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  We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Therefore, we recognize the responsibility of governments to develop and implement sound fiscal and monetary policies that provide for the economic life of individuals and corporate entities and that ensure full employment and adequate incomes with a minimum of inflation. We believe private and public economic enterprises are responsible for the social costs of doing business, such as emFew readers

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  Editor's note: This is the third in a series of four weekly devotions for Advent based on the hymns of Charles Wesley. For some of us, it just doesn't feel like Christmas until we hear, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing." Written by the Methodist movement's poet-theologian Charles Wesley, and sung by congregations of almost every denomination, "Hark! the Herald Angels SinFew readers

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  Wesleyan Small Group resources Books on the Class Meeting Covenant Discipleship resources Overview of Covenant Discipleship Introduction to Class Leaders (https://www.umcFew readers

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  God’s world is one world. The unity now being thrust upon us by technological revolution has far outrun our moral and spiritual capacity to achieve a stable world. The enforced unity of humanity, increasingly evident on all levels of life, presents the Church as well as all people with problems that will not wait for answer: injustice, war, exploitation, privilege, population, international ecological crisis, proliferation of arsenals of nuclear weapons, development of transnational business orgFew readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share Vows of a professing member Follow

  Many lifelong United Methodists have fond memories of their confirmation class. Sometime during adolescence, they met with a group of their peers, some adult leaders, and their pastor. They may have gathered weekly in the church basement, during a youth Sunday school class, or maybe for a weekend retreat at a campground. When the classes were complete, they then stood before thFew readers

• What We Believe How We Serve Ways We Grow Who We Are News and More New to the UMC? Donate Share The method of early Methodism: The Oxford Holy Club Th

  The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches and extension ministries of the Church provide the most significant arenas through which disciple-making occurs. (United Methodist Book of Discipline 2016, ¶ 120) The disciple-making mission of The United Methodist Church has been part of us since the very beginning. This three-part series traces a brief history of our method from the days of John and Charles Wesley to todaFew readers