Excelsior United Methodist Church

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We are an open, reconciling congregation of families with young children and teenagers, singles and young adults, active adults and seniors who come together on Sundays for worship and throughout the week for a variety of social and ministry-based small group opportunities. We enjoy balancing tradition with new experiences throughout everything we do as we explore our faith journey together. We hope you'll "come and see" what we're all about.

From Highway 7: Turn south at the Christmas Lake Road stoplight. Follow the westbound curve in the road to your right. Our campus will be on your right.

From Mill Street / Powers Boulevard: Turn eastbound onto Third Avenue. Our campus will be on your left.

Below are a few things to know before visiting us, specifically regarding our Sunday worship services; if you still have questions, please contact us and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

What to Wear: Come as you are for your physical, mental, and spiritual comfort. We really mean it.

Where to Park: We have visitor's parking right in front of our building and the entire parking lot is open to you. We also have overflow parking by our garage-style annex (look for our big green bus) and even the adjacent lawn is available just in case the lots gets very full.

Pre-Worship Fellowship: On any given Sunday, you'll find an inter-generational group of members and visitors in the narthex talking, sipping coffee and nibbling on sweet treats, and enjoying each other's company. You're welcome to grab a name tag at the information booth and join in. There is a similar fellowship experience following many worship services, too.

Our Informal Worship Experience: We use the UMC common lectionary to guide scripture selections most Sundays, which in turn inspires a message delivered by one of our pastors or special guest and leads into a brief discussion time. We share music, often sung a cappella or accompanied by acoustic guitar, share joys and concerns, and have a moment of prayer. Our informal worship services are held in various locations in the church building.

Our Traditional Worship Experience: We use the UMC common lectionary to guide scripture readings most Sundays, that in turn inspires a message delivered by one of our pastors or special guest. Typically, there is special music, hymns accompanied by our beautiful pipe organ, an opportunity for the congregation to share joys and concerns, and moments of prayer throughout each worship service. Our traditional worship services are in our stained glass-emblazoned sanctuary.

Our Interactive Worship Experience (Coming October 24): We use the UMC common lectionary to guide scripture readings most Sundays, which in turn inspires a message delivered by a variety of speakers from pastors to laity to seminary students, and many others who have a message of global / social justice, faith exploration, and service to share. We share music accompanied by acoustic guitar or piano, share joys and concerns, and take time to pray. This informal and interactive worship service is young adult-focused, often discussion based, and held in various locations in the church building.

Families with Pre-K Children: There is child care available during our Sunday morning worship services in the Kids' Corner room in the northwest corner of the upper level of the building. Children of all ages are welcome to remain in worship.

Families with K-7th Grade Children: During our 10:30am worship service, we maintain a "station rotation" Sunday School called KOOL (Kids Of Our Lord) for children in grades K-5 and have a discussion-based group for 6th-7th Graders called the Holy Cows. Children begin in worship with their friends and family until after Children's Time at which point adult leaders will bring them downstairs to the lower level classrooms. All children are welcome to remain in worship.

Families with 8th-12th Grade Teenagers: Our discussion-based time for teenagers, Youth Forum, takes place in the Youth Room in the lower level of the building during the 10:30am worship service. Participants should go downstairs immediately when worship begins. Teenagers are welcome to remain in worship.
Giving: Many of our members participate in electronic funds transfer (EFT) while others prefer giving weekly as we "pass the plate." No visitor or member is obligated to contribute during the offering; it's simply one way people support our ministries.

Communion: Communion is (usually) incorporated into worship on the first Sunday of each month, sometimes by receiving bread and a small cup of grape juice, and sometimes through intinction (pulling a piece of bread from a loaf and dipping it in the cup). We in the United Methodist Church practice open Communion. That is to say, we place no barrier between you and Christ's table. So if it is a day you feel prepared to receive, you are welcome to do so. We use alcohol-free grape juice in our Communion sacrament. If you are unable to come to the front of the sanctuary to receive Communion or you require alternative elements please inform one of our ushers to assist you. We also offer home visitation Communion.

What We Believe: As United Methodists, we believe in the power of God's grace and the gift of freewill. We believe a combination of scripture, tradition, reason, and experience serves each person as they explore their personal faith journey. We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Savior, as a model for how to live our lives and that the presence of the Holy Spirit fills us as we gather in community. We believe the Older and Newer Testament are divinely inspired writings. Our mission statement is one of inclusion and celebrates personal faith exploration. We are a Reconciling Congregation and are proud to welcome all persons of all backgrounds and lifestyles.