About SMUMC

Our Common Christian Heritage

United Methodists share a common heritage with other Christians. Methodism, like all Christian denominations, has deep roots in the early Christian Church, as well as in the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Augustine, Francis and many others.

Central to our faith is:

	The conviction that God has mercy and love for all people, in all experiences and walks of life
	The belief in Triune God as the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of the world;
	A trust and acceptance of salvation through Jesus Christ
	A commitment to the Bible as the primary authority of our lives
	The celebration of the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism.

John Wesley and The American Scene

While studying at Oxford, John Wesley and his brother Charles, formed "societies" for fellow Christians to participate in a daily routine of study, prayer and social work.  Because of the methodical nature of their passionate and constant religious observance, members of the societies soon became known as Methodists.  This tradition continued as the Wesleys and other Anglican preachers spread the Gospel and Wesley’s teachings among the colonies.  After the Revolution the Methodist Episcopal Church was born.  In 1968 the Evangelical United Brethren Church (EUB) and the Methodist Church joined to form the United Methodist Church - the nation’s 2nd largest Protestant denomination.

General Beliefs

United Methodists affirm the basic tenants of the Christian faith; however, the emphasis has always been on the Christian lifestyle rather than assenting to a particular scheme of beliefs or dogmas. Here are a few of the key points to our theological approach:

Grace: Grace is God’s loving action in the world through the activity of the Holy Spirit. It works in us even before we come to believe.

Human Dignity: God endows each person with dignity and moral responsibility.  The fullness of true humanity is seen in Jesus Christ, God’s personal revelation.

Conversion: Through the Holy Spirit, we are made into new, changed creatures.  Christian experience may be expressed in many different thought forms and lifestyles.

Faith and Good Works: They belong together. Personal faith and social action are mutually reinforcing; they cannot be separated.  While we are saved by grace through faith, we also affirm that faith without works is dead.  Methodists believe that personal conversion and social transformation are keys to a healthy, honest spiritual life.

Baptism: For United Methodists, baptism is the sacrament of initiation that joins us with the church and Christians everywhere.  It is a symbol of new life and a promise of God’s saving love, God’s forgiving love and our intention to live a life of faith and holiness.  We baptize both infants and adults.  A United Methodist receives the sacrament of baptism only once in his or her life.

For more information on the United Methodist Understanding of Baptism, click the following link.  www.gbod.org/worship/articles/water_spirit

The Lord’s Supper: Jesus told his disciples that whenever they broke bread and took the cup in his name, he would be present among them.  Through the sacrament of Holy Communion, we experience the real and immanent presence of the one who desires to be with us, to walk with us, to dwell within us in Spirit and Truth.  We celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, reaffirm our need for continued grace and reclaim our calling to be “for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.”  At SMUMC, we celebrate Holy Communion once a month, on the first Sunday of each month.  All Christians (children, members, non-members, visitors) are welcome at the Lord’s table.
 

What Does It Mean to be a Member?

While you can be a Christian without joining a church, we believe you can be a more effective Christian by entering into the church’s membership, where you can hear and understand God’s Word, learn from one another and experience Christ’s presence as a group gathered in Christ’s name. Nearly ten million United Methodists have experienced the joy of sharing Christ’s vision and witness through the United Methodist Church.
 

What Does it Mean to Join the Church?

Involvement Involvement in prayer, worship and sacraments; in study of the scriptures; in Christian action and discipline.

Sharing Sharing through your prayer, presence, gifts and service for the sake of the Church's mission and ministry in the community and throughout the world.

Celebrating our commitment to God and to God’s created world, our purpose in God’s world and God’s concern with our lives and life together.
  

Why Should You Join the Church?

 So you can discover your faith, and live it out more fully in your life by:

	Loving God, other people and yourself in an atmosphere of giving and receiving.
	Growing as a Christian, with guidance, support and inspiration.
	Serving God in the world. When we work together, the impossible becomes possible.

Membership Vows

When you join the church, the pastor will invite you forward during worship and ask you the following questions

	On behalf of the whole church, I ask you: Do you reject the spiritual forces of wickedness, the evil powers of this world and the bondage to sin?
	Do you accept the freedom God gives you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
	Do you confess Jesus Christ as your savior, put your whole trust in his grace and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races?
	According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy Church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
	As members of Christ’s universal Church, will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and do all in your power to strengthen it’s ministries?
	As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in it’s ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service?

Santa Margarita United Methodist Church - 2008 ©