Things You Might Want to Know Before Your First Visit
All are welcome at Community United Methodist Church and all means all. Regardless of your age, gender, ethnicity, race, political leanings, religious background, economic circumstances or any other factor, there’s a place for you here. Come visit us on Sunday and see for yourself.
Everyone at Community UMC once walked through the doors for the first time. We know it’s harder when you’re unsure of what to expect. Here are answers to the most common visitor questions. If you have others, please e-mail or call us. Where is Community UMC? We are on CA state highway 78/79 near the intersection at Pine Hills Road about 1 mile west of Main Street in Julian. Look for the steeple and the white post and rail fence. Where do I go when I get there? You will enter our parking lot at the southwest corner of our property. Our driveway will take you behind our main building to the parking lot. The stained glass double doors will get you into our entryway. From there you can go right to enter our worship area (sanctuary) or go left to enter our social hall (Bennett Hall) The usher who stands at the entrance to the sanctuary will give you a "bulletin" with all the worship service information and be happy to answer any questions. If you don’t mind, take a minute to sign our attendance sheet. You can sit anywhere you like. What’s the Sunday schedule? 8:30 a.m. - first service (50 minutes) 10:00 a.m. - second service (1 hour) Sunday School for children 1-10 years old is offered during both services. After each worship service, we serve coffee, tea, juice and water and assorted snacks and sweets (including gluten-free options) for about a half hour in Bennett Hall. We’d love for you to stay and get better acquainted. What do I wear? There is a range of what people choose to wear to church. Business casual is most common. How many other people will be there? First service – approximately 20 to 30 Second service – approximately 35 to 50. What will my children do? We believe it is important for children to feel they are part of the faith community and to participate in the worship experience as they are able. Children of all ages are welcome to sit with their parents for the entire service. Most children stay in worship for the first 15 minutes and then go as a group to Sunday school. In those first 15 minutes, they will experience singing, prayer and a special message for them. We have age appropriate activity sheets tied to the message for their use during the service or to take home with them. Children are brought back to worship to participate in communion, if you wish. What is worship like? Our services have a warm, informal feel. They are a blend of traditional and modern styles. On any given Sunday, you might sing a hymn you remember from childhood, pray a prayer from an ancient spiritual tradition, watch a clip from a current movie, hear a pop song, or see a dramatic performance. Do you have communion? (also known as Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper) Communion is served on the first Sunday of every month at both services. Everyone is welcome at God’s table regardless of membership status. We receive by intinction in which you take a piece of bread from a common loaf and then dip it into a cup of grape juice. A gluten-free option is available. Where are the restrooms? If you walk east or to the left as you enter the building, the restrooms are at the end of the building. Please feel free to go there at any time, including during worship. Do you take attendance? Taking attendance helps us keep track of our members and get to know visitors better. We pass around an attendance sheet at the start of worship. Giving us your name, address, phone number, and/or e-mail address will enable us to share more information with you. What about the offering? We believe that the offering is not just an administrative task to collect money. It is an act of gratitude, faith and worship. We recognize that each person has their own unique ability to give. Each week there are opportunities to give of time, talent and prayers as well as money. As a first time visitor, there is no expectation that you will give something – participate or not as you feel moved. On the first Sunday of every month, we have an additional, separate offering during communion that goes to support a different mission effort each month. |