|
|
 
Welcome
It is with heartfelt pleasure that we welcome you home to University United Methodist Church of Redlands. We are a “Shepherd” size church family with an “everybody knows your name” atmosphere. You will not be lost here. Indeed, here you have a friend.
Although we have been in Redlands for over 100 years, our excitement about following Jesus is fresh and vibrant.
We are made up of a variety of colors, faces, backgrounds and interests. We believe our diversity gives us a distinctive strength. By grace, people here are united in our call to fulfill the vision God has given our church. We believe the Lord calls this church to be an active agent in helping folks discover and grow into the call God has for their lives. We do this through gathering people to discover the power of being the beloved community together. We encourage individuals into the person Jesus is calling them to be through intentional spiritual formation and discipleship. Intentional formation at University Church invites folks into small groups which emphasize worship, prayer, study, and participating in works of mercy.
On behalf of the people of UUMCR, welcome to the family. We are a church of concrete faith and concrete action. Here you will find people radically committed to following Jesus Christ as we seek to live out His call. Please explore our website and learn more about this dynamic community of Jesus we call University Church.
Pastor’s Ponderings
“For a man to argue, ‘I do not go to church; I pray alone,’ is no wiser than if he should say, ‘I have no use for symphonies; I believe only in solo music.’” ~George A Buttrick
There are many reasons that people attend worship:
- Some come because of habit. It’s a good habit to develop, and sometimes the things we do from habit become an ingrained and integral part of our lives.
- Others attend because they experience worship as a spiritual filling station. Each week they come to be fed spiritual food that keeps them going for the rest of the week.
- Still others come for peace and quiet. In the chaotic and fast moving world we live in, peace and quiet time for reflection and connection with God is necessary.
- Some of us come because it’s where our friends are. The church is a good place to find friends who share similar values and beliefs.
- Others come for their children. It’s important to give our children the grounding in faith and values that will sustain them throughout their lives.
- There are also those who come because of the music. The organ, choir, hymns and special music can touch our hearts and minds with glimpses of the holy in ways that mere words cannot.
- Others come seeking to use their God given gifts to touch others with the love of our gracious God. In music, technology, service, teaching, caring and so very many other ways, we are greatly gifted to share God’s blessings.
- Many of us come because we seek a closer walk with God through reflection with others on the scriptures, the inspiration of the music, message and sacraments.
For most of us, we come to worship for more than one of these reasons, and perhaps other reasons that I have not mentioned. Yet, there are some other reasons which most of us haven’t thought of, which I would like to also suggest to you:
- Come for the other people in our church. Come for those who need your prayers on their behalf. Come for those for whom your friendly smile may be one of the very few they will experience this week. Come for those who need a good, caring hug or shoulder. Come for those who cannot sing well and need others singing around them in order to feel comfortable raising their own voices in praise or petition.
- Come so that visitors know that there is a vibrant, loving, faithful congregation here who cares enough to show up, even when it’s not the easiest thing to do on a Sunday morning (most visitors come because they need to be part of a worshiping community for all kinds of reasons).
- Come to let others know that UUMC is an important part of your life and world, and it could be for them as well.
Whatever your reason for attendance is, remember that your presence makes a big difference to the others who are here. Each of you is an important part of who University UMC is!
Faithfully,
Pastor Holly
|
Quick Links
Where We Are
|
Coming Events
|
|
|
