So, what is a United Methodist, anyway?

United Methodists recognize that faith is lived out through devotion to God (often called Piety) that's lived through loving others (often called Mercy). We believe that love is an action, evidenced by our encouraging, building up and ministering to one another. It's more than something we say, but something we live every day.


We began as a movement in the life of the Church, and, at Community, we still see the movement unfolding. John Wesley was a priest in the Church of England when he began to view the Church as a body that was disconnected from the world around it. He began sharing his own faith where people gathered in their ordinary lives - in open fields and town squares, speaking to working people in a way they could easily understand. Recognizing that just going to church on Sunday offered little in advancing personal understanding, acceptance or involvement in nurturing faith at an individual level, Wesley developed small groups that met together regularly to examine their lives, pray for one another and study Scripture more intently. These groups set out to know God more intimately - through acquisition of knowledge and sharing with one another the experiences of their lives. 


Seeking to follow in their footsteps, we find that individual faith is nurtured best through relationship with others, hence the name, Community. We see our faith informed by and developed through four simple means:


We look to Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, as the source material we have for beginning to know God's story. We draw from the text an understanding of the early Church and value the Tradition of those who have come before us in the faith - not only recently, but throughout the course of history. We examine all that we learn through the use of Reason, recognizing that God gave us brains and desires for us not to check them at the door. We recognize that some truths are universal, there are truths particular to specific places, times and circumstances. Finally, we draw on Experience - within our everyday life and personal history, as well as from those around us, as one way we can better understand how our stories are wrapped up within God's story. 


Still got questions?


Learn more about our theology and discover more about The United Methodist Church.

What's up with the Cross & Flame Logo?

The cross and flame came to be the logo of The United Methodist Church shortly after the denomination's birth in 1968, from the merger of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren. The cross connects us to God through Jesus Christ, and the flame represents the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. The two tongues emanating from a single flame represent the union of two denominations mentioned above. This union of cross & flame is a visible reminder of Pentecost when witnesses were unified by the power of the Holy Spirit and saw "tongues of fire." (Acts 2:3). 


The emblem also reminds us of a transforming moment in the life of Methodism's founder, John Wesley, when he sensed God's presence and felt his heart "strangely warmed."

What is Holy Communion

and can I participate?

Holy Communion is a Sacrament, meaning that Christians consider it to be something instituted by Jesus that we celebrate together in the life of the Church. Communion is a visible sign of an inward movement of grace in our lives. The celebration of Holy Communion, sometimes called "The Eucharist" or "The Lord's Supper" in some Christian traditions, is a ritual that takes place every Sunday in modern worship and once each month in traditional worship.


Sharing in this ordinary meal together, we celebrate the reality that God's grace is freely given to all of us. We remember this gift of Jesus, given for everyone, when we break bread together. In The United Methodist Church, Communion is celebrated at an "open table," meaning that all people - members or not, believers or not - are welcome to come and share in the meal. We believe that participation itself can open our hearts and lives to receive evidence of this grace, which is already present in and around us, and available to us, as a free gift of God.


Come and dine; at Christ's Table all are welcome to participate in the feast!

Why do you baptize infants? Why get baptized at all?

Baptism is a second Sacrament celebrated in the life of the Church. Baptism is offered for adults and youth who profess their faith in Jesus Christ and desire to demonstrate that profession in union with the whole Church. The baptized is marked in this way, before the whole Community, as one whom we (the Church) will continue to nurture and raise up in faith over a lifetime. Baptism is about the commitment of an individual to engaging in a life of faith, but also the commitment of the Church to walking alongside each person on their journey so that they come to know and follow Jesus more fully throughout their life. We baptize infants because Jesus commands us to (Matthew 19:14-15), and we recognize baptism as a "once and done" action - no matter your background, if you're baptized into the Church, this action happens only once in a lifetime. As we participate in this sacrament, we recognize that baptism comes from God, who breathes the presence of the Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) into each and every one of us. Young or young-at-heart, this is an important mark of the life of a follower of Jesus. If you've never been baptized, please see a member of the pastoral staff during worship or another gathering to learn more about taking this important step in your journey.

Okay, I'm interested... How do I join this Church?

Take your first step by joining us in worship this Sunday @ 10 am! Experience Community for yourself, and we think
you'll find that You Fit Here. As you enter into relationship with the Church, here's what's next:


  • On your first visit, stop by our information stations, located in the parlor and modern worship space. We have several resources for you to explore, as well as a special gift just for you.
  • Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay connected to what's happening in Community.
  • Build relationships and make new friends by participating in a small group opportunity.
  • Attend a Coffee & Pie with the Pastors event, held each quarter, to learn about membership, ask questions about the church & join Community.
  • Invite a friend, colleague or neighbor to begin the journey and join you in Community.

We're going to invite you to make 5 promises - to yourself, to Community and, most importantly, to God. These promises are ways that you will be able to track your own development as your faith journey continues. They're simple and easy to remember:


  • Pray. Cultivate in your own life a daily practice of prayer - to draw strength and help, to give thanks and to become more deeply aware of the wonders that surround you.
  • Be Present. Faith doesn't grow in a vacuum. Unless you're sick or out of town, commit to attend worship, in-person or online, on a weekly basis. Be a part of a small group as a way to explore faith more deeply and build stronger relationships in Community.
  • O your Gifts. Remember, you have been created in the image of God! You have talents that can help somebody else, use them in Community. The early Christians shared whatever they had - talents and physical resources - to benefit one another and spread the word across the world. Likewise, we share our talents and our resources to build and strengthen Community for the benefit of those we know and those we haven't met yet. Churches aren't charities, and they're not self-funded, either. We take no support form any outside institution and it is only through our effort and commitment (of time, talent and treasure) that Community will grow to reach more people with good news.
  • Serve Others. As stewards of the world we inhabit, we have the opportunity to affect real and positive change. But we have to show up - make the effort to bless someone through Community, whether it's through making coffee, greeting folks in the parking lot or making time in your life to do good in the wider world. 
  • Share the Story. Through our freedom we have the ability to take good news to those who need it. We aren't called to hole ourselves up in a building and just look after one another; instead, go out and talk with a neighbor or co-worker. Be a student of story by listening to the lives of those around you, with whom you have been given the opportunity to be a positive influence, and share your own story so that they can be invited into understanding their place in God's story right alongside you.