United Methodism
Where did Methodism start?
Oxford University in England, where John and Charles Wesley had a “Holy Club” which championed moral and spiritual discipline. They were dubbed “Methodists” in a derogatory manner.
Who was John Wesley?
He was an Anglican priest who sought to make the church more accessible to the poor and ordinary people of England.
How did Methodism get to America?
John sent preachers to America to “show them Christ”.
Why didn’t John come to America?
He did! But it was when he was a young priest. He came to Georgia in 1736 and had a miserable time. But he knew the need existed in the colonies.
So, why are we called United Methodists?
In 1939 three branches of Methodism united: The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church became the Methodist Church. In 1968, this body merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to become the United Methodist Church.
How is the church organized?
Geographically! Local churches are united in districts (ours is the New Bern District) and the districts are united in an Annual Conference (ours is the North Carolina Annual Conference). Annual conferences are united into Jurisdictions (ours is the Southeastern Jurisdiction) and they are all united in a General Conference. There are around 8 million United Methodists in the USA.
What does the Jurisdictional Conference do?
It meets every four years and elects bishops.
What does the General Conference do?
It meets every four years and reviews, rewrites, or revises the Discipline which is the great book of rules for the church.
Northwoods
When did Northwoods begin?
In 1959, the conference "planted" a church in the growing Northwoods subdivision of Jacksonville.
Where did you first meet?
At the parsonage on River Street. That was later sold after the initial church was built and another parsonage was built in the Aldersgate subdivision.
How long has the church been at Gum Branch and Henderson?
Since the early 60's when the first of four buildings was built.
What is Northwoods most famous for?
Our preschool program, Food Pantry, Vacation Bible School program, and the Pumpkin Patch.
What’s next?
Being a part of Family Promise of Onslow...helping homeless families. Also Faith In Action: a Sunday when you don't go to church, you become the church in service across the community.
Theology and Society
What do United Methodists believe about abortion?
We are pro-choice. However, abortion is only a means of last resort after all other options have been exhausted, including counseling and adoption.
What about Capital Punishment?
We don’t like it. It hasn’t been proven to be a deterrent to crime and sometimes the wrong person is executed.
What about homosexuality?
We do not condone homosexuality but we recognize all persons as persons of worth and love in God’s sight. The church refuses to ordain self-avowed, practicing homosexual people and pastors are not allowed to officiate homosexual unions.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
We don’t know.
The Bible
Who wrote the Bible?
Religious professionals! Hebrew priests, scribes, prophets, apostles, church leaders. They were the ones charged by the people to listen to God, to attend to the spiritual matters of living. They were the ones who discerned the times and interpreted God’s actions in the midst of those times.
What is Canonization?
It’s the process by which the books of the Bible were chosen to be included. Meetings, councils, debates all centered around which books were authoritative and true. The Bible just didn’t suddenly appear. It emerged from great prayer and faith through many centuries.
Does everyone agree on which books should be included in the Bible?
No.
Does the Bible have a code as to when the world will end?
No. Absolutely not.
All we have to do is follow the Ten Commandments, right?
Well....the rich young man who went to Jesus followed them and Jesus sent him away in sorrow. Besides, you wouldn’t want to, anyway. All of that about the Sabbath......
Worship
When are your worship services?
At 9am and 11am on Sunday. The 9am is contemporary in nature and the 11am is traditional.
Why two different services?
Because people are different. Preferences are different. The music is different. The format is different.
Why do we have all those readings and creeds and written prayers?
That’s where we learn to pray, where we are confronted with Scripture, and where we affirm who we are as God’s people. They can teach, inform, and even inspire.
What do the two candles on the altar represent?
The humanity and divinity of Christ.
May we laugh in worship?
If you can’t laugh in worship, we’re in trouble.
Other questions
What happens when you throw a white rock into the Red Sea?
It gets wet.
What did the little girl say when she got home from worship?
The music was fine but the commercial was too long.
Why?
Why not?