“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” –Acts 16:31
As Christians we hold that some of the most important events of our lives are the Sacraments, Weddings, and Funerals. We recognize the two Sacraments affirmed in the New Testament of the Bible: Baptism (Matthew 3, Matthew 28:19) and Holy Communion (Matthew 26:26ff, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Some Christian denominations have additional sacraments of Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction. We acknowledge the importance of these, but as United Methodists we do not name them as sacraments.
Baptism
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” –Ephesians 4:5
Entrance into Christian life is acknowledged in baptism. During baptism, members of the church claim God’s promise of forgiveness and eternal life. As United Methodists, we believe in baptism at any age, infant through adult! If baptized as an infant, later we proclaim our beliefs in confirmation and are renewed for a life of service to God.
If you are seeking baptism for yourself or a child of yours:
- Contact the pastor.
- Set aside time for a baptismal conference.
- Establish a date for the baptism with the pastor.
Holy Communion
“Come eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.” –Proverbs 9:5
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is about remembering our relationship with God through Jesus the Christ.
When United Methodists share the Holy Communion they are doing what almost all Christians do: celebrating a relationship with the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, by taking seriously his own words on the night before he died: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood poured out for you.” If these words are new to you it might sound like cannibalism or some very weird use of symbols and a bit strange. If this is familiar to you, you will probably be comfortable with observing or receiving the bread and cup.
At YUMC we observe the sacrament of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month, plus other special occasions throughout the year.
Weddings
“And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” –1 Corinthians 13:13
Our hope is that marriage will be a joyful experience of companionship and love that will last throughout your lifetimes.
Jesus blessed the wedding at Cana of Galilee and also greatly encouraged loyalty in the marriage relationship. Marriage is a prime place for persons to learn about the depth of Christ’s love as they grow in their love for one another. Many couples seek marriage because they are romantically “in love,” but there are many other issues that are important for a marriage to be well grounded and more likely to succeed.
If you are considering a wedding at Yorkville United Methodist Church, you must:
- Take part in a premarital program to help prepare you for living a lifetime together.
- Pay a very modest fee for the premarital program.
- Give the pastor a minimum of four months notice.
Funerals
“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” –Psalm 23:6
At the death of a loved one, please contact the pastor who will work with you to develop a meaningful ritual to celebrate their life and the eternal life which is ours through Jesus Christ. Please plan on a meeting with the pastor 1-2 days prior to the funeral service.
If you would like to plan your own funeral, a planning booklet is available from the church office or pastor. Cremation is an acceptable alternative to full burial. Services at the church are encouraged as it is an appropriate setting for worship. Services held at funeral homes are an option as well.
Please contact us for more information!