Worship

Church Growth
Taeron Flemming, a mime and community pastor at The Well Church in Washington, D.C., performs Feb. 26 during the Fresh Expressions United Methodist National Gathering 2026 at First United Methodist Church in Ocala, Fla. Flemming teaches mime as a Fresh Expressions ministry. Photo by Brian Rose, Church of the Restoration in Reston, Va.

Fresh Expressions movement gains momentum

United Methodist ministries set in tattoo parlors, yoga studios and restaurants are reaching people outside the sanctuary.
Worship
Attendees raise their hands in celebration during a lunch-hour prayer service July 24 at St. Peter’s Inner City United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. The United Methodist-led services draw church members and people from other denominations for weekly prayer and worship. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

Lunch-hour prayer service draws members, friends

United Methodist-led opportunity changes lives through prayer, worship and counseling for spiritual needs.
Faith Stories
The Rev. Jesse Baker preaches at First United Methodist Church of Elon, N.C. A poet as well as a pastor, Baker writes a sonnet based on the Scripture he intends to preach on each week, then uses the sonnet to inspire his sermon. His new book, “Clarity and Light: Meditations on Scripture,” is a collection of his sonnets. Photo by Patrick Abbott, courtesy of First United Methodist Church.

Pastor turns sonnets into sermons

A United Methodist pastor in North Carolina is writing poetry to put Scripture in perspective, which he says helps him write more compelling sermons.
Worship
Mary Spurgeon stops to listen to the sounds of nature during Wild Worship, an outdoor gathering offered by her church, First United Methodist of Omaha. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Taking worship into the wild

Individuals are heading to the woods to connect with God in nature. This unique worship experience is a ministry of First United Methodist Church of Omaha, Nebraska.

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