Here you will find a few questions – and answers – sometimes asked about Linden Heights United Methodist Church, and the worldwide United Methodist Church. Just click your mouse on the question for a response. If you don’t see your question asked here, or want more details to answer your question, please click here to email the Pastor.

Question: I am new to United Methodism. Is there a brief outline of Methodist beliefs?

Question: Do you celebrate Holy Communion?

Question: What is the importance of baptism?

Question: I see that most Sundays you have a 9:30 a.m. “Family” worship service and a “traditional” 10:30 a.m. worship service each Sunday. What is the difference?

Question: What does the United Methodist Church say or teach about the issues facing the world today, such as the environment, the economy and the like?

Here are some official and inspirational links that are useful and worth checking out from time to time.

United Methodist Church sites:

Bible Study pages:

  • Daily Bible Reading Guide– From the American Bible Society
  • Crosswalk – a site with 18 searchable translations of the Bible, plus commentaries, dictionairies and other study tools.
  • Bible Gateway – searchable translations available in many languages and other Bible study helps.

Music:

  • Hymnsite – the United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and links to a variety of sacred music sites plus much, much more for your inspirational listening.
  • The NetHymnal – more than 10,000 Christian hymns and Gospel songs from many denominations, many with lyrics, scores, history and photos.

Devotional sites:

  • The Upper Room – a daily inspirational devotion each day from one of the best known publications in the field. A United Methodist resource.
  • Daily Guideposts – Positive thinking Guideposts magazine brings you a new thought each day taken from a yearly devotional book.
  • Guideposts for Teens — a devotional site for high school students with chat, free stuff and inspirational messages.
  • Guideposts for Kids — Guideposts for Kids Central by that fun, fantastic, faith-filled magazine.

Question: I am new to United Methodism. Is there a brief outline of Methodist beliefs?

United Methodists are…
…people whose actions bring new meaning to their faith.
(Click on the underlined links to read even more)

We have a story to tell

United Methodists have a story to share with the world. As the familiar song “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” says, our is “a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light.” It’s the gospel story.

United Methodists share our faith each time we tell the story of how God entered the world through Jesus of Nazareth. Like John Wesley, Methodism’s founder, we embrace Christ’s mandate to “make disciples of all nations.” The story of the Holy Spirit’s continuing work is the United Methodist story.

We’re a covenant people

When you join a United Methodist congregation, you become a member of the total United Methodist connection. The Book of Discipline states that, as a member, you promise God and the congregation to uphold the church by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness.

We’re a diverse community

United Methodism was formed when the Methodist church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged in 1968. United Methodists trace their spiritual heritage back to 18th-century leaders including John and Charles Wesley, Francis Asbury, Philip Otterbein, Martin Boehm and Jacob Albright.

All persons are welcome in The United Methodist Church. We are firmly committed to inclusiveness. We celebrate a diversity of people, ideas and cultures and are enriched by our broad history.

We are Biblical in faith

United Methodists trust free inquiry in matters of Christian doctrine. Our faith is guided by Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. Of paramount importance is Scripture. For United Methodists, the Bible is the record of God’s people living out God’s promise.

We are mission-oriented and socially conscious

Mission is important to our faith. We are aware of world events and work to help those in need. United Methodists are one in faith and tradition with Methodist Christians around the world. Through the World Methodist Council, Methodists from 68 member churches cooperate in support of ecumenical, educational, evangelical, and other ministries.

We are Ecumenical

For generations, United Methodists have cooperated with other churches to spread the gospel, care for those in need, alleviate injustice and foster peace. In national and interfaith groups, United Methodists reach beyond our own churches and our own communities to express concern and to share God’s love with people of many faiths.

We are involved

For more than 200 years, the United Methodist Church has expressed concern for the worker, the sick, the poor, the orphaned, the aging, the impaired, the oppressed and the imprisoned. Our church participates in the struggles of women, people with physical and mental impairments, and racial and ethnic minority persons, helping them attain equality in the church, the economy and society. United Methodists positively influence society through responsible social action.

For more information about the United Methodist Church, please email Pastor Alica or
please visit http://www.umc.org.

Question: Do you celebrate Holy Communion?

Response: Yes, at Linden Heights we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion weekly. Gluten-free Communion elements are available to those who request them. The invitation to the Table comes from the risen and present Christ. Christ invites to his Table those who love him, repent of sin, and seek to live as Christian disciples. Holy Communion is a gift of God to the church and an act of the community of faith. By responding to this invitation we affirm and deepen our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and our commitment to membership and mission in the body of Christ. To learn more about a United Methodist understanding of Holy Communion, click on the image above to read “This Holy Mystery.”

Question: What is the importance of baptism?

Response: Baptism brings us into union with Christ, with each other, and with the Church in every time and place. Through this sign and seal of our common discipleship, our equality in Christ is made manifest . We affirm that there is one baptism into Christ, celebrated as our basic bond of unity in the many communions that make up the Body of Christ. The power of the Spirit in baptism does not depend upon the mode by which water is administered, the age or psychological disposition of the baptized person, or the character of the minister. It is God’s grace that makes the sacrament whole. For a more detailed report, read “By Water and the Spirit” by clicking on the image above.

Question: I see that most Sundays you have a 9:30 a.m. “Family” worship service and a “traditional” 10:30 a.m. worship service each Sunday. What is the difference?

Response: Both services generally have the same theme and message. Besides the time – some families with younger children prefer the earlier 9:30 a.m. time, and some families the 10:30 a.m. time – the main distinction is style. At the early family “informal” service we sing more praise songs and have fun activities and games for the children. The traditional service is a bit more, well, traditional. The service is guided by a printed bulletin. Most Sundays the choir offers an anthem, or the bell choir offers its musical worship, sometimes both. Children and youth and their families participate in both services. Everyone is welcome at either service. And, regularly we schedule combined worship services (usually at 10:30 a.m., check the schedule) where everybody worships together and both worship styles are blended.