PRAISING GOD (Worship Ministry)

This ministry is to provide opportunities for worship that will help persons develop and strengthen their relationship with God.

·        Worship services are held each Sunday at 8:30 and 11:00 AM.

·        Sunday School for children, teens and adults starts at 9:45 AM.

·        The Sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated, on average, the first Sunday every two months at both worship services, and on other special days.

·        Special worship services are held throughout the year, but especially on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday.

·        The ministry of music is an important part of our worship.  The Sunrise Choir (for 8:30 service), Chancel Choir, Children’s Choir, and Handbell Choir are open to everyone.  Instrumentalists and soloists are also encouraged to share their talents in worship.

·        Persons are also invited to participate in worship as an acolyte, communion server, altar guild member, lector/reader, usher, host/greeter, and  Children’s Church leader.                      

 

BRINGING OTHERS TO CHRIST (Witness Ministry)

It is the primary task of this commission to ensure that our congregation shares the good news of Jesus Christ with other people.  This commission will instill to the members of the congregation a desire to share our faith and will equip them with the skills for fulfilling the Great Commission.

·        We are reminded that Jesus said, ... you will be my witnesses.... (Acts 1:8)

·        We pray that God will increase our passion for seeing people come to Jesus Christ by inviting them to experience and share the family of God through the ministry of the church.

·        A home-baked loaf of bread and information about the church is delivered to every first-time worship guest because Jesus said, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry …. (John 6:35).

 

TEACHING THE FAITH (Education Ministry)

The Education Commission helps persons of all ages in their understanding of the gospel and their continual spiritual formation so they become better equipped for life as disciples.

·        Sunday School classes for all ages meet each Sunday at 9:45 AM.

·        Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Wonderful Wacky Wednesdays (WWW) (special summer outings) for children are held during the summer.

·        Special classes, including Bible studies and spiritual gifts groups, are designed to strengthen faith and discipleship and are held at various times throughout the year.

·        A Confirmation Experience is held each year for those children interested in learning more about their faith and in joining the church.

·        A variety of small groups meet at various times.

·        A Boy Scout troop meets at the church once a week.

·        Brownies and Girl Scout troops meet at the church during the school year.

 

 

STRENGTHENING THE FELLOWSHIP (Fellowship Ministry)

This ministry, known as the Membership Care Commission, has the primary task to ensure that a sense of a belonging and caring community exists among the members of the congregation.  This commission is especially vigilant to see that newcomers and new members are fully incorporated, as they choose, into the life and work of the church. The commission also promotes opportunities for fellowship, recreation, and leisure among members of the congregation.

·        First Wednesday Fellowship (FWF) is the church-wide family night held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm.  A full supper is served in Asbury Hall followed by a brief entertaining/educational program.

·        Prime Timers is a group of adults Ain their prime@ who meet on the third Tuesday of each month for fun, food, and fellowship.      

·        United Methodist Women (UMW) provides opportunities for service, study, and fellowship for women. 

·        United Methodist Men (UMM) meet for breakfast and fellowship on the second Sunday of each month at 7:30am. 

·        United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) is for youth, 6 -12th grades, who meet weekly on Sunday evenings.  This fellowship provides a balance for social, spiritual, and missional activities and worship.

·        Fellowship Friends help new members in the congregation feel at home.

·        An annual church-wide picnic is held each fall.

·        Other opportunities for fellowship within the congregation include the coffee fellowship on Sunday mornings before Sunday School, family camping trips in July and October, a Halloween Festival, and more.

 

SENDING FORTH IN SERVICE (Outreach Ministry)

This commission equips members to be in ministry to, and for, the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the imprisoned (Matthew 25: 35-36) in our congregation, community, and the world.  This commission promotes the missional programs and offerings of the United Methodist Church within the congregation.

·        Groce Church financially supports the worldwide mission program of the United Methodist Church, which includes assistance to:

- ABCCM

- Habitat for Humanity

- Ministry to Deaf

- Bethlehem Community Center in Charlotte

- UNCA Campus Ministry

- Andean Rural Health Care

- Society of St. Andrew

- Heifer Project International

- Missionary salary support and

- Henderson Settlement Rural Life Center.    

·        Volunteers in Mission are members of the congregation who volunteer their time to work on home repair and building through ReCreation Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and disaster relief teams.  Other opportunities include working at the ABCCM shelter, clinic, or soup kitchen; serving on building or medical teams overseas; tutoring children at local schools and visiting homebound persons. 

·        Youth mission teams provide opportunities for youth to spend a week during the summer repairing homes of some of our city and region’s poorest citizens.

·        Youth service projects throughout the school year.

·        Groce supports Room in the Inn, a program that provides a week of shelter with meals and friendship four times a year for 12 homeless women in the Asheville area.

·        Return to Bethlehem, ABCCM’s dramatic presentation of life in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth, takes place at Groce UMC in the beginning of December for 4 nights and 2 days.