Vian United
Methodist Church
We invite you to join us each Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday dinner at 6:00 p.m. and Worship at 7:00 p.m.
Vian, OK
marcia
FAQ
What will happen during a typical worship service in a United Methodist Church?
A typical worship service at a United Methodist church may include a greeting and opening prayer, time for people to greet each other, scripture readings, silent prayer and meditation, an offering, the Lord's Prayer, a children's message, the sermon, special music and hymns, and a closing prayer.
Communion may also be served. All are invited to celebrate communion, but you can choose whether or not you wish to participate.
Often churches will print words and responses in the bulletins or on the overhead screens to help those who are unfamiliar with United Methodist worship.
There will be some differences in the services from church to church. Some churches have a more formal style, while others may have more casual or contemporary services. Some churches will offer more than one type of service.
What should I wear?
There is no dress code for United Methodist churches. Feel free to come as you are.
Why do we light and extinguish candles during worship?
"Jesus said: "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). The presence of the light reminds us of Jesus' coming into our world and into our lives. The light is carried into the worship service as a symbol of Jesus' coming into the presence of the worshiping community. Many congregations use two candles on the altar to point out that Jesus was both a human being and God. At the end of the service, the light is carried out into the world to show that Jesus Christ is for all people everywhere; The acolyte leaves the worship service at the pastor's direction, carrying out the lighted candlelighter. This symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ going out into the world where believers are to serve.
Who is in charge of worship in the local church?
The appointed pastor is given this responsibility. The Book of Discipline, on the responsibilities of a pastor, says the pastor is "to preach the Word of God, lead in worship, read and teach the Scriptures and engage the people in study and witness."
Why are there different colored altar cloths?
The Christian year has two cycles: the Christmas Cycle (Advent-Christmas-Epiphany) and the Easter Cycle (Lent-Easter-Pentecost). Within each cycle are a preparatory season symbolized by the color purple and a festival season symbolized by the color white. After each cycle there is an ordinary time of growth symbolized the color green. Thus there is a sequence of seasons using purple, white, and green in that order twice each year. (The United Methodist Book of Worship, Copyright © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House)
- Traditionally purple, representing both royalty and penitence, is used during Advent and Lent.
- Blue symbolizes hope and may also be used during Advent.
- White and gold are used at Christmas and Easter to symbolize joy and festivities.
- Red symbolizes the color of fire to represent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and times when the work of the Holy Spirit is emphasized. During Holy Week it represents the blood of Christ. Red is also used for ordinations, church anniversaries and civil observances such as Memorial Day and Thanksgiving.
- Green represents growth and is used during Ordinary Time (the season after Epiphany and the season after Pentecost.)
Copyright 2011 Vian United Methodist Church. All rights reserved.
Vian, OK
marcia