Welcoming Ministries

Worship Styles & Finding the Right Fit

What types of worship do you offer?

Currently, we offer three different worship styles:

  •  TRADITIONAL WORSHIP SERVICES  •  8:45 am, 9:45 am, & 11 am on Sundays in Sanctuary
  •  MODERN WORSHIP  •  11 am on Sundays in Worship & Arts Center
  •  ZIMBABWE WORSHIP SERVICE  •  12 noon on Sundays in Chapel  •  Conducted in Shona

ASIAN MINISTRY is currently meeting in a Sunday School format once a month at 9:45 am on Sundays in Room 212. Conducted in Urdu.

What is the difference between FUMCR’s traditional and modern worship services?

Traditional worship services include prayer, scripture and thought-provoking sermons from Dr. Clayton Oliphint or one of our other pastors. Music is always an important element of worship. Youth and adult choirs sing anthems, including occasional gospel, classical and more contemporary pieces. Congregational singing is from the United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing. Communion is offered on the first Sunday of each month.

Modern worship service includes prayer, scripture, and thought-provoking sermons similar to traditional worship; but you can expect the unexpected. For example, you might find yourself assembling gift bags for homeless individuals in worship or texting questions for a live Q&A after the sermon. The band leads the primarily contemporary music, with the occasional older hymn sung in a new way. Modern worship fully embraces the come-as-you-are, casual atmosphere of our FUMCR community.

Traveling on My Journey of Faith

I’m interested in learning more about where I am on my own faith journey and how to move forward. What should I do?

We are excited to share this time with you, as you learn more about deepening your faith!

MY JOURNEY, an online tool created by staff at FUMCR, is one way you can discover where you are on your faith journey and what steps may be available for you to expand various relationships, e.g. with God, with your community, with the Bible, etc. We invite you to read more about MY JOURNEY on our website and use the tool at MYJOURNEY.VOYAGE to gain more insights into your own faith journey! Your answers are completely anonymous to the church, and the tool is provided for your personal use only. 

I'd like to get involved with a small group. What options do you offer?

We offer a wide variety of small groups! Visit the GROUP FINDER to see short- and long-term for study, service, fellowship, and sports, and for different (or mixed) ages and genders.

What is the difference between a Sunday school group and a Group Life group?

SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS are a variety of open, on-going groups, each committed to spiritual growth, mission and fellowship that meet on Sunday mornings at the church. Guests are encouraged to visit a few different groups and experience the unique personality, teaching style, topics and size that each one offers before choosing one. 

GROUP LIFE sessions are held each fall and spring, meeting weekly in groups of 10-16 people for 10-12 weeks. The provided curriculum may be either sermon-based or topic-based. These sessions do not take place on Sunday mornings. They may meet on campus, in the community, or in group members’ homes. Groups take a break from study between sessions, but often plan social or service activities, if the group plans to continue the next semester.

Especially for Children & Teens

What options do you have for my children?

From newborns through high school seniors on their way to graduating, we have several options for your children.

During Worship

Children, regardless of age, are always welcome in worship. John Westerhoff, a leading Christian educator, believes that faith is “caught” not taught and what better way for children to know what faith is all about than to participate in a community that welcomes them! In traditional worship, we have a special Children’s Time during the service led by our Children’s Ministry. We also have colorful children’s bags located at each entrance to traditional worship, where you can find crayons, stickers, a story book and coloring paper to keep young minds and hands busy.

Nursery and Sunday School for Children

A professionally staffed nursery is available for infants to 2-year-old toddlers from 8:30 am - 12 noon each Sunday. Pagers are available upon request.

Sunday School is provided for children from age 3 through 6th grade. During the 6th grade school year, our confirmation program runs from September until May. To learn more about our children’s ministry, please visit FUMCR.COM/CHILDREN.

Youth Ministry

Our dynamic Youth Ministry is available for 7th – 12th graders. They meet for Sunday School at 9:45 am in the Youth Worship Space located on the 2nd floor of Bartula Family Life Center. Our teenagers will also find United Methodist Youth Fellowship every Sunday night (7th & 8th grades meet from 5-6:45 pm and 9th-12th grades meet from 6:30-8:30 pm). To learn more about our youth ministry and other options available, visit WWW.GETWEIRD.ORG / FUMCR.COM/STUDENTS.

Mission, Outreach & Volunteering

What types of volunteering or serving opportunities are available at FUMCR?

There are several opportunities to serve at FUMCR and in our local community. On the menu above, under GIVE+SERVE you will find our current opportunities, including:

  •  CURRENT NEEDS AT FUMCR
  •  CURRENT NEEDS BEYOND FUMCR
  •  ONGOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
  •  ONGOING MISSIONS & OUTREACH 

Not sure where you would like to volunteer or how you would like to serve? Let us know what your talents and passions are by completing our VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM, and we will contact you with opportunities that might be a great fit or ministries that could use your support!