The primary interest of the Morton United Methodist Church is focused on providing an environment in which individuals are encouraged to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus and then to grow in their life of discipleship to Him. We fully intend to provide that encouragement to all people, whether or not they are members of the Church. Additionally, people are invited to fully participate in the life, ministry and growth opportunities of the Church, whether or not they are Church members.
Our interest in people as individuals does not minimize the value we place on the covenant of Church membership. That covenant commitment binds us together in a variety of ways. Under the authority of God’s grace we offer ourselves to Him and to one another by identifying the following aspects of our discipled connection:
| Prayers |
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We commit ourselves to pray for the Church, to pray for one another. |
| Presence |
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We commit ourselves to be present in worship, to be engaged in the life of the Church. |
| Gifts |
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We commit ourselves to be faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us.
We respond to the invitation to be intentional in our giving, that God might be honored in our support of the work of the Kingdom.
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| Service |
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We commit ourselves to be in ministry in the name of Jesus Christ, learning to serve as He served. While we recognize that not everyone is physically able to engage in all kinds of ministry, we understand that there are ways that most people can serve. |
| Witness |
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We commit ourselves to sharing the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. We do that by learning to share our own stories, and being bold to invite others to experience what we have found in Him. |
Two or three times a year we have new member’s orientation meetings. Each group of prospective new members will meet twice. At these orientation meetings we share fellowship, are introduced to the Church staff, learn about the variety of growth opportunities available, learn about available service opportunities, learn something of the history, polity and beliefs of the United Methodist Church, and look at the Order of Service for the Reception of New Members.
All people wishing to join the Church must have experienced the ritual of Christian baptism. We recognize baptisms that were performed at non-United Methodist Churches.
Below you will find the Order of Service for the Reception of New Members that we use.
Order for the Reception of New Members
Dear friends, the church is God’s church, and will be preserved to the end of time for the conduct of worship and the due administration of God’s Word and sacraments, for the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline, for the edification of believers, and for the conversion of the world. All people of every age and station in life stand in need of the means of grace to which the church of Jesus Christ witnesses.
These people who are to be received as members have received the sacrament of baptism, have been instructed in the teachings of the church, and are now ready to profess publicly the faith into which they were baptized.
- Do you here in the presence of God and of this congregation renew the solemn promise and vow made at your baptism? I DO.
- Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sins? I DO.
- Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and pledge your allegiance to His kingdom? I DO.
- Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments? I DO.
- Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to live a Christian life, obedient to God’s will and commandments, always remaining a faithful member of Christ’s holy church? I DO.
- Will you be loyal to the Morton United Methodist Church, upholding the church by your prayers, your presence, you gifts, your service and your witness? I WILL.
PRAYER
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE:
Brothers and sisters in Christ, I commend to your love and care these people whom we receive today as members of this church. Live in Christian community with them, bound together in your commitment to Jesus. Do all in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.
WE REJOICE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S HOLY CHURCH, AND WE BID YOU WELCOME TO THE MORTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. WITH YOU, WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO UPHOLD ONE ANOTHER BY OUR PRAYERS, OUR PRESENCE, OUR GIFTS, OUR SERVICE AND OUR WITNESS. WE WILL SO ORDER OUR LIVES AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS, THAT SURROUNDED BY STEADFAST LOVE, YOU MAY BE ESTABLISHED IN YOUR FAITH, AND CONFIRMED AND STRENGTHENED IN THE WAY THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.
If you are interest in becoming a member of the Morton United Methodist Church, please indicate your interest by including your contact information. You will be alerted to the next membership orientation meetings.
Pastor Paul Walles
Coordinating Pastor
