Welcome

Ask any Methodist what they find special about their church and you'll here such words as "warmth", "welcome" and "fellowship".

Of course, there is an individual style and character to the Methodist way of prayer, worship and living. Style transforms "warmth" for instance, into a tangible living experience felt within our church and whenever you meet Methodists at the end of Sunday Service, some Methodists trickle out reluctantly, they stand inside, talking and sharing experiences. Some come out and go back in again.

Why this reluctance to leave? It is simply because Methodists belong together, and like any family unit, each seeks fellowship, commitment and help from the rest. Methodism is not only a Sunday experience but is a way of life, requiring involvement and dedication.

Methodism will ask a lot of you - but then we believe being a Christian is a costly thing. Living as a follower of Jesus is a marvellous experience but it also involves a sacrifice. We offer you both an invitation and a challenge.

Sharing God's Love

Many have said that what strikes them on entering a Methodist church for the first time is the welcome. Not just because you are more than welcome to share in our worship, but also because a stranger represents to us an opportunity to share our faith.

We do not ask that any newcomer bring absolute faith. Indeed we welcome doubts and questions, people whose faith has lapsed, people who are confused in their beliefs and people who have yet to be baptised.

Methodists believe it is never to late to receive the love of God, and we welcome the opportunity to help others find it. People of every race and language are welcome, men and women, from every class and culture. God has given each one of us something special to share with others.

Young and old, female or male, single, married or divorced, everyone can feel at home with us. People who are lonely can have friends. Whatever our problems or abilities we will have a place in the church.

We invite you because we have something worth sharing - and because we value your fellowship.

Most of our members came originally because someone invited them personally. This invitation is open to all, at any time in all circumstances.

Our Purpose

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.

Worship in the Methodist Church is expressed in many ways. In worship in the Church

· gives praise to God through the Spirit

· opens itself to God's transforming love

· receives and reflects on the gospel of God's ways in the world

· offers itself to share in God's costly action in the world.

Methodism endorses many dimensions and methods of Christian mission include:

· telling the good news of Jesus

· calling people to faith in Jesus Christ and to Christian discipleship

· caring for individual people and communities

· sharing the task of education and spiritual development

· struggling for a just world

· being alongside the poor

· becoming friends with the people of different cultures and faiths

· caring for the earth

· building partnerships with other churches and other groups who share some of our mission aims.

The Methodist Church was born out of a mission. John Wesley's mission was to take the love of God to everyone, because in the many places in the Church was not reaching those on greatest need. Wesley did not intend to found a Church; he was more concerned that Methodism should be a missionary movement.

Today, we share in God's mission by inviting others to become Christians. by caring for people in need, and by taking part in the struggle for justice. We invite you, whoever you are, to join us. Some of our caring organisations are well known - like NCH Action for Children of Methodist Homes. We have also established funds to support those in greatest need in Britain and elsewhere in the world. We join with other Christians in supporting Christian Aid, and many Methodists are enthusiastic supporters of a whole range of organisations to strengthen the poor or oppressed.

Methodism is a great missionary movement - and growing around the world.

Our Style of Worship

Methodists seek and expect much from worship.

Worship can be lively - God does not require us to be dull. We attach great importance to singing, not only because of the music but because the words express our faith. Our worship often provokes thought. Our preachers teach the Bible and relate it to everyday life.

Most important of all, worship is all about what we offer God, and so Methodists worship uses people's gifts. There are traditional patterns but today, often through the influence of our young people, many churches include drama, dance, and music of many different styles and rhythms. Members of the congregation join in worship by offering prayers or reading the Bible, and those who have special gifts may find that the church can use their talents. In many places people can study the Bible and discuss its meaning in small groups. Both ordained and lay people lead worship in Methodist churches.

At the heart of our worship is the service of Holy Communion. When we eat the bread and drink the wine together we remember the meal Jesus shared with his disciples just before his death and we receive his spirit into our lives. All that is wrong in our lives can be dealt with and we are given hope and strength.

From time to time we hold special services. At a baptism, young children and adults are welcomed into the church family and assured of God's love for them. We have healing services, harvest thanksgiving services and, of course, we make a special point of celebrating the big events in the Christian year - Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost.

Our Covenant Service

Our annual Covenant Service asks us to make some tough promises. We ask God to do with us whatever is wanted. We offer everything we have in response to God's love. Through sharing in this Covenant with God, we commit ourselves totally - and accept the consequences. We are Christians with our eyes open. God accepts us whoever we are and helps us to become better people. John Wesley believed that each person had a potential to fulfil. As we discover our value in God's sight, so life begins to have real meaning.

Throughout history people have made sacrifices because of their faith. Some have accepted a life of great hardship, some have chosen to live among the poor or those suffering in mind or body, some have been persecuted by hostile governments and even by their neighbours.

In Britain today the pressures may be different, but they can be just as testing. The Covenant Service is a wonderful opportunity to dedicate ourselves to God.

The Role of the Christian in Society

Jesus was concerned about people, how they lived with their families, their neighbours and their government.

Some say the Church should keep out of the politics; that religion is about prayer and worship, not about bad housing, unemployment, crime, war, inequality, fair trade, racial justice and so on.

This is not the Methodist way. John Wesley refused to separate faith from life, and his followers took the same attitude. Most of the Tolpuddle Martyrs were Methodists, as have been many leaders of the Trade Union movement from the beginning. Methodists can be found in all the main political parties.

Today, leaders are elected at every level in the church. Individual lay and ordained people can influence policy and share equally in making decisions.

Each Methodist church looks for some way to express Christian love in action. There are luncheon clubs for people who are lonely, employment and training schemes to give hope to people who are out of work. Playgroups, youth groups, Mother and toddler groups, counselling and a variety of community service programmes.

Everyone who becomes a member through confirmation is a member of the Methodist Church as a whole, not just of their local church. Methodism is more than a collection of local congregations, it can take action nationally as well. It has a way of working where the whole Church act and decides together. The Government of the day is made aware of Methodists views on topics as diverse as community care, pornography, penal reform, human rights and the search for justice and peace.

We do not pretend that the Church by itself can solve all the tremendous problems facing our society today. But each church can be a sign of hope, a symbol of something better. Whether we are caring for ex-prisoners, organising a petition, raising money for famine relief or promoting creative action campaigning for political change, we are acting in response to Jesus who said: "Love one another as I have loved you".

Learning to grow

One of the few stories we have about Jesus' childhood is the occasion when Mary and Joseph lost him, then found him sitting in the Temple listening to and questioning the teachers. Later we frequently read about Jesus teaching crowds of people about. God.

It is through learning that we grow.

Through learning, people can improve their situations, become better Christians and go forward to teach others.

Methodism has always helped people to grow. It was active in the founding of the Sunday School movement and today has many active children's and young people's groups. It has a number of day and boarding schools and two colleges of higher education. The church is committed to the training and development of those who wish to become more effective Christians in our society. Residential and non-residential programmes as well as distance learning opportunities are all on offer.

Among Friends

John Wesley's last words were "The best of all is - God is with us".

In that simple phrase, the man who never intended to found a Church summed up his message. That message is too important to be left to any one Church or denomination.

Methodists join with Christians everywhere in inviting people to receive God's love and to live in his strength.

Our hope is that as you have read about our Church and its worship, about what we believe and the way in which we try to live, you have found something attractive and encouraging. What is it to be a Christian in the Methodist Church?

· It is to serve and follow Jesus Christ as Lord

· It is to care and be cared for within the church's family

· It is to make and live by some tough promises

· It is to seek personal growth, improvement and understanding

· It is to be accountable to others

· It is to teach others what you've learnt

· It is to have a social conscience and to pursue justice

· It is to share your faith with others

· It is to live trusting completely in God's unlimited love

In the Church

Methodists are committed to Worship, Holy Communion, Fellowship and Service, Prayer and Bible Study, and Responsible Giving.

In the World

Methodists are committed to working out their faith in daily life, the offering of personal service in the community, the Christian use of their resources, and the support of the whole Church in its total mission.

For more information

Call in at your local church and introduce yourself

You can e-mail any questions to neil@thischurch.com

You can find us on the internet www.methodist.org.uk