Framework
The normal framework for our disciplining system is best seen by the image of a four rung step ladder. The bottom rung of the ladder represents our decision to attend worship. The second rung is our decision to join the church. We arrive on the third rung of the ladder when we decide to participate in small group activities such as a Church school class, a ChristCare group, prayer group, etc. The fourth rung of the ladder is the top and we arrive there when we claim our own ministry, regardless of what it may be.
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Claim Ministry |
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| Join Small Group | ||
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Join Church |
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| Attend Worship | ||
The primary arena for the disciplining process occurs through Christian Education. The goal of Christian Education is to invite people and communities of faith to be transformed as they are inspired and challenged to:
Know and experience God through Jesus Christ;
Claim and live God's promises; and
Grow and serve as Christian disciples.
We believe we fulfill our mission and our purpose if we are able to:
Reach out to people wherever they are,
Receive them as they are,
Relate them to God through Jesus Christ,
Nurture and equip them for Christian discipleship, and
Send them out into the community to be the church family, the
neighborhood, the community and the world.
For us as Untied Methodists, the Christian life is a process of being transformed by God's grace into the likeness of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is at the heart of this life-long process.
Here at McCormick UMC, in order to facilitate the goals of Christian education we identify the discipling process into three categories.
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Entering (joining the church)
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Growing (joining small groups)
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Doing Ministry-Action Teams
(Claiming Ministry)
Discovering God's Vision for Your Life
A part of the discipling process is to identify gifts and graces for serving. The material we currently use to help you identify your gifts and graces is a short-term course (approximately eight sessions), Discovering God's Vision for Your Life: You and Your Spiritual Gifts. This course offers individuals an experience that can change their lives and deepen their relationship with God. When this happens, the quantity and quality of the church's ministry increases. We encourage you to prayerfully consider experiencing this course the next time it is offered.
What's Available?
Worship Services. We currently offer two worship services each Sunday morning. Our 8:30 a.m. order of worship is the same as our 11:00 a.m.; however, our chancel choir does not participate in our 8:30 service. The attendance at our 8:30 service ranges from 50 to 60+.
Immediately following the 8:30 service we have coffee and usually some type of snack available in the Fellowship Hall. This brief time is identified as our "coffee minute" and serves as a gathering point for those leaving 8:30 service and those coming in for 9:45 Sunday school.
Our 11:00 a.m. worship service is not as casual as our 8:30 service; however, there is nothing "formal" or "high church" about our services. Both worship services lean more toward being traditional forms of worship. The chancel choir participates in our 11:00 a.m. service except during the summer months.
Sunday School-9:45 each Sunday
Wesley Adult Class. This class is served by a group of rotating teachers (Bruce Motsinger, Betty Smith, and Ron Taylor). The material is the Adult Bible Series, one of the most popular selections for adult Sunday school throughout American Methodism. The class format is lecture with some discussion on life application issues. This class meets on the first floor in the Wesley Classroom near the parlor (behind the right side of the Chancel area).
Young at Heart Adult Class. This class has nothing to do with age-just attitude. This class is currently using Adult Bible Series also. The Young at Heart Class is served by a group of rotating teachers (Phil Bailey, Bud Stahlman, Lindy Stahlman, Emilee Groh, and Sally Culpepper). This class meets in the center of the Fellowship Hall.
Heart and Soul Adult Class. This class was started in 2004 to address the need of those who wanted to learn more about the Bible but proceed at a slower pace. The class is served by Jack Bushling. They are also currently using Adult Bible Studies. When this class meets, they are located in Classroom #1 on the first floor near the kitchen side of the Fellowship Hall.
Nursery. We offer a nursery for infants up through three years of age. The nursery is currently available for the 11:00 a.m. worship service only and is served by a list of volunteers. Sue Mitchell is the point of contact for nursery volunteers.