Worship Facts 

Why worship?

Because of our commitment to Christian worship as the body of Christ, we strive to make worship our first priority as a staff and as a congregation. Believing that worship is essential to the life of any Christian believer, it is our prayer that you experience God during your time with us on Sunday morning. We hope you will make attending worship every Sunday the first priority in your life and your family’s life. We look forward to seeing you each and every Sunday.

When can I worship?

Worship opportunities begin at 8:30 a.m. with the traditional worship service in the chapel. The service is led by the clergy and features a choir and formal liturgy. The 9:00 a.m. contemporary service offers an informal format and is held in the sanctuary.  A second traditional service is held at 11:00 in the sanctuary.

How should I prepare for worship?

Enter the worship facility early and with a joyous heart. Greet those around you and introduce yourselves to people you do not know and visitors. Pray that God will reveal Christian love to you during our time together. Bring your Bible and take time before the service to find the morning’s scriptures. Sing with praise in your heart, even if you can’t carry a tune. Lastly, come with an attitude of bringing an offering of thanksgiving to God, rather than an attitude of expectancy for what you can get out of worship.

What should I wear to worship?

We encourage you to come to worship as you are comfortable.  You will see people wearing ties and you will see people wearing golf shirts.  We do not want you to worry about what you should wear; we just want you to come and experience God's grace and love.

Should I take communion?

The United Methodist Church observes two sacraments, or visible signs of God’s grace, within the life of the church. The first Sunday of every month, Central United Methodist Church observes Holy Communion. Communion uses physical symbols of bread and juice to represent Christ’s death and resurrection as well as God’s blessing in our lives. Through communion, we are remembering our promise of resurrection through Jesus Christ, while we are connecting with Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit in a tangible way.

CUMC invites all who believe in Christ to receive communion, regardless of age or denominational affiliation. Come forward to accept Christ with hands cupped upwardly, as a symbol of receiving God’s grace. We use bread to symbolize the body of Christ and grape juice to symbolize Christ’s blood. (Grape juice is used out of respect for those dealing with alcoholism, as well as allowing CUMC children to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.)

Should I be baptized?

The second sacrament recognized by the United Methodist Church is baptism. For United Methodists, baptism is an open symbol of the grace of God that is always with us. Through baptism, we find that God’s love is with us regardless of our human understanding of baptism (which is the reason United Methodists baptize children as well as the mentally and physically challenged). United Methodists recognize three forms of baptism: pouring, immersion, and sprinkling. We encourage all who have not been baptized and are seeking that sacrament to contact one of the pastors on staff.

Is it all right to bring my children to worship?

As the body of Christ, we welcome children of all ages into our formal time of worship. Just like school attendance, worship is important for children because it teaches them about their spiritual life. Worship attendance works best with a child when worship is consistent and becomes a habit that will carry the child throughout the rest of his or her life.

What can I do to help my children understand worship?

· Arrive early to find a place to sit where children can have a good view of the altar area. We welcome families on the front row where there is more room to move around during our worship time. 

· Pick up a “Busy Bag” from the back of the worship facility. These activity bags are filled with many things that aid children’s understanding of God and worship.

· If children are able to read, share a bulletin with them, use your finger as a guide to liturgy or hymns. Bring a children’s Bible and help them find the Old and New Testament scripture readings of they are able to follow along or look at a picture of the scripture for the service.

· Talk about worship at home. If there is something unusual to the service, like a baptism or communion, answer questions about those unique events.

· After the service, ask questions about the worship experience. Find out what they enjoyed, what they didn’t understand, what they remember from the children’s sermon.

**Recommended reading for parents with young children:  Parenting in the Pew, Dr. Robbie Castleman