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As an Inviting community of faith we are welcoming and friendly but, more than that, we are intentional about gathering and including others to experience the good news of Jesus with us. We believe that happens through our Sunday morning worship experience and invite you to join us there.
Services:Sunday Worship
10:30 AM Sept-June 9:30 AM July-August in the Sanctuary. |
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Current Sermon Series
We invite you to join us on Sunday mornings for Worship.
On August 13 we finish with part five of our series called Fully Charged. The theme verse for this series comes from Paul’s words in Colossians 1:29 (CEB): I work hard and struggle for this goal with his energy, which works in me powerfully. The question we’ve been asking is, how can we tap into God’s energy source and become fully charged for discipleship? We’ve covered living on purpose, being present, putting others first, and pressing on toward Christian perfection. I hope that you enjoyed our time with Pastor Patti last week; and I know that you will be blessed by her ministry here in Hudson Falls. As I was reflecting on how to conclude this series and share my last service with you, only one topic made sense: gratitude. Four years and two months ago Becky and I packed up in Rochester with one child and drove off into the unknown, trusting in God’s call. And we’re so grateful we heard that call and responded “Yes, God!” These years with you were blessed; thanks be to God. Thank you for your love. We love you. Yes, God!. 
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About Our ServiceOur Sunday service is a casual and traditional celebration with a mix of hymns and more contemporary music. The choir sings and there is a special message for the children. Pastor Derek preaches and teaches on topics that are relevant to daily living. And there's always good food and conversation at our fellowship time in the lounge after the service. Join us!
Children in Church
Children of all ages are always welcome as full participants in the worship service. If needed, our "Baby Fold", for our younger people age five and under, is available for you to sit with your child and listen to our service. Toward the beginning of the service there is a special message for children and youth on the chancel steps, activity packets are also available in the back of the sanctuary. Children may be released for Deep Blue Kids Ministry after the children's message with Pastor Derek (about 9:45).
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Hospitality
After the worship service each Sunday you are invited to gather in the Lounge (directly adjacent to the sanctuary) for coffee, other refreshments, and conversation. If you are visiting with us this is a great time for us to give you a proper welcome and get to know each other.
Celebrating the Sacraments
In the United Methodist tradition we celebrate two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper, or communion. If you are interested in baptism contact Pastor Derek or the church office. Here at HFUMC we offer communion on the first Sunday of the month with an open communion table, which means everyone is welcome to receive the bread and the juice. We invite you to come forward, receive a piece of bread, dip it in the juice and return to your seat or use the chancel railing for personal prayer.
We're on TV!
If you can't make it in person on Sunday morning you can always watch our services on television. There are three opportunities to watch.
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Service FAQsWhere should I park?
We have a parking lot behind the church. You can park and come in the back door or walk to the Forrest St. side entrance which goes up to the sanctuary. You can also use street parking in the front of the church and come up the front steps right into the sanctuary. Our ushers will then help you find your way around the church building. What about accessibility? We always have an elevator operator outside and ready to assist if needed. The elevator, located off Forrest Street, goes from the ground to the sanctuary. Handicap parking is available next to the elevator entrance and in the parking lot behind the church.. How should I dress? We are typically a casually dressed congregation and invite you to come comfortably as you are. Though some of us (including our pastor) still like to dress up extra nice for church, like the good 'ol days! How often do you serve communion? On the first Sunday of each month we offer Communion.. We believe that the sacrament of Holy Communion brings us closer to God and each other as we grow together. It is an important time in our service. Who can be served communion? Everyone! The United Methodist Church always celebrates an open communion table, which means anyone who seeks to grow in their relationship with God through Jesus Christ is welcome at the Lord's Table. How do I take communion? When the people around you get up, follow them! After you've come up the center aisle you'll be given a piece of bread off the loaf to dip in the juice. Then you can stay at one of the railings for prayer or return to your seat. If you need gluten free bread, just ask. We come as we are! What's up with multiple song books? We like to sing a variety of songs, so you'll see us using some traditional hymns (mostly from the bigger “Hymnal” books) and some newer songs (mostly from smaller “The Faith We Sing” books). And sometimes we'll even sing something that's not in either book but will be on the screen. A little secret: anything numbered 1-904 is in the big book and anything numbered in the 2000s is in the little book. When do I have to stand? Never! Unless you want to. In our tradition we usually like to stand during the first and last hymns. We stand when the offering plates are brought forward. And we stand when we get up to receive communion. I need prayer. How do I participate in the prayer time? Private prayers at the altar are offered on Communion Sundays and at other times. If you'd rather not bring it to the altar you can indicate your prayer concern on the Connection Card in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate when the ushers come by. Do I have to put money in the offering plate? No! Giving an offering is an act of faith. Christians give in response to what God has given us. We give first and foremost to God and we give through the local church because we believe that's where lives are changed by the good news of Jesus. If you're not ready to give, don't worry about it! We hope you will give as you grow in your faith. Should I fill out the Connection Card in the Bulletin? We want to connect with you! We want to get to know you! How can we help serve you if we don't know you? And if you're visiting we'd love to give you a proper welcome by following up with you. If nothing else, just leave your email address. We won't embarrass you. Promise. What's your style of worship? We are quite informal but we do follow a pattern of worship. It's called “the basic pattern of worship”. We come together with a welcome, some prayers, and singing; we hear the scriptures and a message from the pastor; we celebrate sacraments; and then we go forth to serve God in our community. It's fun! What about kids in church? One of the important ways we pass on the faith to our young people is by giving them an opportunity to observe and participate with the church in worship. Children of any age are always welcome and encouraged to be in the service, even if they make a little noise. There are activity books in the back of the sanctuary. And if you need childcare for the 5 and under crowd the Noah's Ark Nursery is close by in the Education Wing. What is a United Methodist church? We are what’s traditionally called a “denomination”. That means we are a particular way of being the Christian church. That doesn’t mean we think we’re the only way of doing church, but we do try to be faithful to the mission Jesus gave his church to make disciples for the transformation of the world. Like all Christians, United Methodists believe in receiving and responding to God’s grace to make the world a better place. What do you believe? Glad you (finally) asked. United Methodist tradition recognizes and affirms a variety of theological expression. But certain beliefs are really important to us, like: · We believe in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. · We believe that Jesus was human and is divine. · We believe that the Holy Spirit is God with us. · We believe that God created human beings in God's image. · We believe that the church is the body of Christ and a community of his disciples. · And we believe that the Bible is God's Word. |
