WELCOME!
“Just
as our bodies have many parts and each part has a
special function, so we, who are many, are one
body in Christ, and individually we are members
one of another.” Romans 12:4–5
“God
makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As
each part does its own special work, it helps the
other parts grow, so that the whole body is
healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians
4:16
We would be delighted to
welcome you as a new member of Novi United
Methodist Church (NUMC)! We trust that the Spirit
has guided you to a place where you feel God’s
loving and inclusive embrace. Whether or not you
ultimately decide to become a member, please know
that we want to be your church family.
Church
Membership
Why
Become a Member?
NUMC’s
Commitment to You
Responsibilities
of Membership
How
Can I Become a Member?
Membership
Gatherings
Resources
Contact
Information
Church
Membership
Becoming a member is not a Biblical
commandment. Church membership is not necessary
for worshipping or serving at NUMC. It is not a
requirement for receiving Communion.
The Bible does tell believers, however, to meet
regularly with a group of Christians who love,
serve, and encourage one another. We want to be
that community for you—to surround you with love
and affirm you in God’s grace, as together we
seek to deepen our relationships with God, each
other, and the world.
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Why Become a Member?
- It identifies a person as a
genuine follower of Christ.
- It provides a spiritual family
to support and encourage you in your faith
walk.
- It gives you a place to
discover and use your gifts in ministry.
- It gives you the
accountability you need to grow.
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NUMC’s Commitment to You
As
a congregation, we promise to…
·
Welcome you
into this congregation with the radical love of
Jesus Christ, who cherished and respected ALL
people.
·
Engage
you in passionate and inspiring worship that
helps you focus on God and prepares you for the
week ahead.
- Provide you with opportunities to grow intentionally in your
journey with God through study, discussion,
and meditation.
- Empower you to find your gifts and strengths to offer God for
others.
·
Sustain
you in prayer, during life’s hardships and
celebrations.
·
Support you in bold, risk-taking service to those who feel far from God’s loving
reach.
·
Encourage you as you pursue the example of Christ’s extravagant generosity through
spiritual giving.
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Responsibilities of Membership
- Attend worship regularly
- Participate
in at least one activity each year aimed at
helping you to grow in faith apart from
worship attendance, such as Sunday school,
Bible study, retreats, mission trips, small
groups, discussion-based classes, etc.
- Give
of your time in Christian service at least
once each year through a ministry in the
church.
- Give
financially in proportion to your income with
the goal of tithing.
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How Can I Become a Member?
Profession
of faith and baptism
If you have never been baptized, Pastor June
will be happy to meet with you in your home or at
the church office, at your convenience, to discuss
the meaning of the Sacraments and making a
profession of faith as a Christian.
Confirmation
Confirmation
classes are offered to children twelve and older
so that they may make an informed decision about
their own Christian faith.
Restoration of membership
and renewal of vows
If you have been out of church or you are no
longer a member of a church, your baptism will be
honored and you can reaffirm your faith by
renewing the vows of church membership and become
a member of Novi United Methodist Church.
Transfer
from another United Methodist church
Simply inform Pastor June
that you wish to transfer your membership to
Novi
United
Methodist
Church
. She will get in touch with your past church and
request a letter of transfer. It is not
necessary for you to do anything else. The pastor
and secretary will handle all the details of
transfer for you.
Transfer from another
Christian denomination
Because you are already
baptized and confirmed, these steps do not need to
be repeated. You will be asked to take the
one vow taken by all members of the
Untied
Methodist
Church
; “Will you be loyal to the
United
Methodist
Church
and uphold it by your prayers, presence, gifts,
and service?”
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Membership Gatherings
Prior to undertaking membership, we invite you
to attend a short series of informal membership
gatherings, typically held on a weekday evening.
Led by Pastor June, these small group discussions
are intended to help you learn about some of the
basic traditions and tenets of the
United
Methodist
Church
. We also want to learn about YOU and answer your
questions. It’s a great time to engage with each
other, other church members, and Pastor June.
A light meal is provided, and child care will
be available. Please know that you are welcomed
and encouraged to participate in these
discussions, even if you decide not to become a
member at that time.
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Resources
If you’d like more information on the
United
Methodist
Church
, here are a couple of good places to get started.
Bear in mind that no denomination is a
monolith—if you have questions about our
particular congregation based on what you read
here, please do ask!
www.umc.org
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. The official website for the
United
Methodist
Church
. Also has Korean and Spanish language portals.
http://www.10thousanddoors.org
Rethink
Church
. A
United Methodist portal that incorporates multi-
and social media (Twitter, YouTube, podcasts, moderated
news and feature article links) to plug into
outreach efforts taking place around the world.
www.umcor.org
United Methodist Committee on Relief. The United Methodist Committee
on Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit global
humanitarian aid organization of the
United
Methodist
Church
. Our mission, grounded in the teachings of
Jesus, is to alleviate human
suffering—whether caused by war, conflict or
natural disaster, with open hearts and minds to
all people.
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Contact
Information
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