What should I wear on Sunday mornings?

Whatever makes you comfortable! Most people around you will be dressed casually, from t-shirts to polos or sweaters. You might see the rare jacket and tie, but jeans are not at all out of place. A rule of thumb might be whatever you’d wear to a decent restaurant.

Am I welcome at your church?

Absolutely! You don’t need to be a member, know anything about the United Methodist Church, or be familiar with our community to join us for worship or any event. Just come as you are! If you have any questions, feel free to ask a pastor or anyone in the church—we’re here to help.

In the United Methodist Church, we also practice “open table” Communion. This means that age, church membership, gender, sexuality, or any other factor will never keep you from sharing in Communion. All we ask is that you seek God’s forgiveness, commit to living in peace with your neighbors, and have a desire to love Jesus Christ, who loves each of us. Everyone is welcome here!

What Are Our Services Like? Will I Be Able to Follow Along?

Our services typically last about an hour, and rarely go beyond 75 minutes. We start with announcements about what’s happening in the church and our community, followed by a time of prayer. Then, we sing a hymn together to open our hearts and minds.

During the service, there will be Scripture readings and a 15-20 minute sermon that helps us understand what those readings mean for us today. We’ll sing a few more hymns throughout the service. Communion is offered on the first Sunday of each month.

You don’t need to memorize anything or worry about feeling lost—everything we do is printed in the worship bulletin or found in the Hymnal. At Fairhaven and Spencer, we also use projector screens to help you follow along easily.

Our music style is mostly drawn from the United Methodist Hymnal, featuring classic hymns like “The Old Rugged Cross,” “Amazing Grace,” beloved Christmas carols, African-American spirituals, and some more recent songs. Occasionally, we include contemporary Christian music. Spencer even has a praise band with guitar and percussion for a lively worship experience.

We take an offering at every service to support the church’s utilities, pay our pastors and staff, and fund mission and justice work both locally and globally. As a visitor, please don’t feel any pressure to give—you are always welcome regardless of your ability to contribute.

What Do We Believe?

We share a common foundation with many Christian traditions like Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Episcopalians. Each Sunday morning, we often recite the Apostles’ Creed—a statement of faith that sums up our understanding of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (one God in three persons). This creed is a shared commitment for many Christian communities around the world, both Protestant and Catholic.

What makes Methodism special is its focus on both personal and social growth in faith. Our founder, John Wesley, wanted faith to be more than just words—it should transform every part of our lives. That means growing in love and connection with God through prayer, reading the Bible, worship, and Communion. We call this personal holiness.

At the same time, we also grow together in community—participating in small groups and reaching out to help those in need like people who are struggling with addiction or facing poverty. This is called social holiness. We believe living out our faith should lead to real, positive changes not just in us, but in the world around us.

If you want deeper detail as to what we believe and affirm, our Doctrinal Standards are found here.