Christianity is not an abstract ideology or belief system, it is something we do. We grow in faith through practicing faith. When we become members of this body, we commit to offering together our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness. In the United Methodist Church, our spiritual growth is organized around these spiritual practices:

Prayers

We commit to pray daily, allowing God to reshape us in moments of conversation and silence. In prayer we sense God’s guidance for our lives, and find peace and meaning in our lives and in our world. Prayer channels our thoughts and our energy in God. When we do this, we change ourselves and our world.

Presence

We are people who show up! We gather regularly in worship celebrations, in small groups for faith-based conversation and in ministry teams for mutual support in service. Just as a person wouldn’t scatter embers and expect them to remain hot, so we commit to re-gathering in these ways to fan the flames of God’s Spirit in each other.

Gifts

We believe that all of our blessings come from God, and that giving is one of those blessings. Where our commit our resources, we commit our hearts. 1 John 3:17 states it this way: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?”

St Paul wrote, “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 2:7) We encourage all members to prayerfully donate as they are able.

Service

Jesus didn’t distinguish between loving God and loving our neighbor – they are one and the same. Service is the heart of Christian faith and practice. At Coralville United Methodist Church we are committed to serving in our church and in our community.

We encourage all church members to serve in ways that reflect who they are. When we use the spiritual gifts and talents God has given us, we are energized rather than exhausted. We come alive spiritually.

Witness

Witness is a “churchy” word for sharing our lives and our stories with the people we encounter in our daily lives. We don’t mean shouting through a bullhorn on a street corner – unless you feel you must! Rather, we commit ourselves to witness by listening for opportunities, as they unfold naturally, to share parts of our story and how God is and has been active in our lives. Sometimes we use words, and sometimes we are simply present for another person in his or her need.