Right Now in Worship
Advent is a season of beginnings and endings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year begins. Christ's birth ushers us into new ways of living and loving; and yet, the world as we know it spins madly on. In many ways, pregnant Mary was surrounded by endings - but she proclaimed hope in a God who was and is making all things new. Christ's birth offered a beautiful new beginning for shepherds and Magi alike. When we ourselves navigate seasons filled with endings and beginnings, we need reminders. We need words that can feel like steady ground, like a path for our feet to find as we step forward into the unknown.
As we journey together through this season, may we find words for belovedness and hope. May we find words for beginning again!
As we journey together through this season, may we find words for belovedness and hope. May we find words for beginning again!
Join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10 in person or live online.
What is worship like at UMCE?
Worship is "love training."
Worship is an opportunity to gather together in the presence of God to practice loving God, loving others, and loving ourselves. As we pray together, sing together, hear lessons from the Bible together, experience the sacraments together, and offer our gifts to God together, we grow in our understanding of the ways that God's grace is on the move in our lives, our community, and within ourselves. Worship is a time to remember how loved we are by God and to practice and recommit ourselves to loving others.
Worship involves lots of music.
We love music at UMCE! Our choir sings most Sundays from September to May and we also enjoy having special music offerings throughout the year. We include a variety of music in our worship services from traditional hymns to contemporary songs, and our music team provides wonderful leadership!
Worship is for everyone...
At UMCE, we believe that diversity is a gift from God that helps us to appreciate and celebrate the depth and breadth of God's creative love. We try to create a worship experience where people of all ages, abilities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, theologies, and ideologies can experience God in community with folks who are similar and folks who are very different. Our sanctuary is accessible to people of all mobilities and is equipped with hearing assistance for those who need it. You can expect to hear language that is inclusive of all people and the many and varied expressions of God.
...including kids!
Kids are a special and important part of our church family at UMCE. We include a special moment for our youngest disciples during the worship service and invite them to spend time in Sunday School following that time in worship. Kids ages kindergarten-5th grade are part of our EverKids Elementary Sunday School program, and those kids ages 6 months-Pre-K are invited to be part of our Early Childhood program. For those kids who prefer to stay in worship, we have a special area, the Prayground, with books, puzzles, and quiet toys for kids to use during worship in our sanctuary. You can find more info about kids' ministry at UMCE here.
Worship is a means of grace.
Along with reading scripture, praying, doing good in the world, worship is a way that we grow closer to God on our journey of faith. Worship is one of the ways that we experience the presence and movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the United Methodist Church, worship includes two sacraments -Baptism and Holy Communion. At UMCE, our Communion table is open to all people, regardless of age, membership status, or anything else - anyone who wishes to join Christ at the table is welcome. To find out more about Communion in the UMC, click here. Find out more about Baptism here.
Joining us for worship for the first time? Check out more information and frequently asked questions here!
Worship Everywhere
Worship at UMCE is not confined to Sunday morning or to our building. Worship with us anywhere, anytime and stay connected to what's going on at UMCE through our app.
