What is Worship?
Worship is the most important thing we do as the Church. It is the act of showing reverence and adoration for God. We do this by coming together as a community, usually one hour every Sunday, to share in a worship service. Yet it is important to remember that worship is an action that we are called to engage in throughout all parts of our lives.
When are services?
We have one service every Sunday morning at 8:30 AM. The service is in the “traditional” style. A typical worship service may include a greeting and opening prayer, time for people to greet each other, scripture readings, silent prayer and meditation, an offering, the Lord’s Prayer, the sermon, hymns, and a closing prayer. Click here to see an example of our bulletin.
You are invited to stick around after the worship service for a time of refreshment and fellowship. Members of our congregation offer a hearty pancake breakfast every 2nd Sunday of the month from October thru April. During the remainder of the year, coffee and refreshments are provided every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month.
Celebrating Holy Communion
On the 1st Sunday of the month, our congregation celebrates Holy Communion. We practice something called “Open Communion” which means we recognize this sacrament does not belong to any one person, congregation, community, or denomination. It belongs to God in the person of Jesus Christ. All are welcome at Christ’s table! The only requirements are that you love God, love your neighbor, and love yourself.
We receive Communion by “intinction” which means you will take the piece of bread, dip it into the cup of grape juice, and consume both elements together.
Click here to learn more about United Methodists and Holy Communion.
Remembering our Baptism
There are four Sundays throughout the year on which we take time to remember the promises made at our Baptism and to acknowledge what God is still doing for us today. These are Baptism of the Lord (January), Easter (March/April), Pentecost (May/June), and All Saints Day (November).
During these services, we read through a liturgy of remembrance together. Then everyone is invited to come forward and to receive the sign of the cross with water either on their forehead or on the back of their hand. This sign reminds us that we are not alone. We belong to God. No one else gets to define who we are.
Click here to learn more about United Methodists and Baptism.
Engaging in Mission
Our worship is meant to extend beyond Sunday morning into our daily lives through acts of service and mission. One way that we do this is through the collection of food items for the Waushara County Food Pantry which are dedicated every 2nd Sunday of the month.
Another important extension of our worship is the collection of a loose change offering on the 4th Sunday of every month. This offering (separate from our regular weekly offering) goes to support projects we have chosen that touch the lives of our local, regional, or global community. Recipients of this offering include the Waushara County Food Pantry, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Habitat for Humanity, the Wisconsin Annual Conference Ingathering, and many others.
A Time for Singing
Whenever there is a 5th Sunday of the month, we celebrate our United Methodist heritage with a Hymn Sing. We gather 10 to 15 minutes before the service begins to sing a number of hymns selected by our members, regular attendees, and guests.
Click here to learn more about United Methodists and hymns.
Holy Days & Other Special Services
Here at Wild Rose UMC, we also have a number of services for holy days and other special occasions that we often celebrate with other churches in our area. These include:
- Ash Wednesday (Feb/Mar) – A service of confession and the imposition of ashes which marks the beginning of Lent. A meal of homemade soups and desserts with members of Wild Rose Presbyterian Church precedes the service beginning at 6:00 PM.
- Maundy Thursday (Mar/Apr) – A service of hand washing and Holy Communion reminding us of the Lord’s Supper on the night before Jesus was arrested. A meal of homemade soups and desserts with members of Wild Rose Presbyterian Church precedes the service beginning at 6:00 PM.
- Good Friday (Mar/Apr) – A service of scripture readings, reflections, and gathering darkness reminding us of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. This service is hosted by Wild Rose Presbyterian Church beginning at 1:00 PM.
- Worship in the Park (June) – An outdoor Sunday morning worship service at Roberts Park in Wild Rose. This is a combined service with the Wild Rose Presbyterian Church held one Sunday in the month of June beginning at 10:00 AM. Hosted by Wild Rose UMC, a potluck picnic fellowship follows the worship service.
- Worship in the Park (August) – An outdoor Sunday morning worship service hosted by the Wild Rose Presbyterian Church and held at Roberts Park in Wild Rose, WI. This is a combined service held in August beginning at 10:00 AM, with a potluck picnic and a time of fellowship after worship.
- All Saints Sunday (Nov) – A service of Baptismal remembrance, Holy Communion, and remembering loved ones who have passed away in the last year. This service takes place during the normal worship service on Sunday morning.
- Thanksgiving Eve (Nov) – A service of celebration giving thanks for all that God has given us. This service is hosted by the Plainfield Area Ecumenical Association on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00 PM.
- Blue Christmas (Dec) – A service of prayer and healing for those who find the holidays to be a difficult time, especially when dealing with the loss of a loved one. This service is hosted by the Wild Rose United Methodist and Wild Rose Presbyterian Churches at Holly Funeral Home in Wild Rose.
- Christmas Eve (Dec) – A service of scripture readings, carols, and candlelight celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This service takes place during the evening beginning at 7:00 PM.
Want to learn more?
Check out the resources below to learn more about worship and what it means for the United Methodist Church!
