Bellaire United Methodist Church

The current worship times and locations are always listed in the upper right hand corner of our website.

8:15 a.m.: Contemporary Worship – Family Life Center
10:55 a.m.: Traditional Worship – Sanctuary
11:00 a.m.: Asian-American Worship – Chapel

*When there is a fifth Sunday in a calendar month, we call it a Unity Sunday. On those dates, we have one combined worship service, held at 10:55 a.m. in the Sanctuary, with a potluck lunch held immediately following in the Family Life Center.

We leave that up to you. There is no dress code, and you will see people attending our services in various forms of attire, from casual to dressy. The importance is not on what you wear, but that you are here to worship.

The main entrance to the church Sanctuary is on Bellaire Blvd. There are six other access doors, two on the west side of the building, three on the south side of the building, and one on the east side of the Sanctuary.

Children are always welcome in worship. Your child may enjoy a busy bag, which can be found near the entrance doors of each service. They may participate in our children’s moment during our worship services, which involves coming to the front of the room and hearing a story prepared just for them. These short lessons generally mirror the lesson that our pastor will be preaching that day, providing conversation points for you to talk about with your child(ren). If you are uncomfortable bringing your little one(s) in to worship, we have professional child-care workers available in our nursery for children up to age 5, and you can be assured that they will be loved and cared for while you worship.

Our nursery is located right in the heart of our facility. It is located in the hallway between the Fellowship Hall and the Family Life Center. Our nursery staff cares for infants aged six weeks through preschool (age 5). Our nursery facilities are available during each service, during Sunday School, and for special church events, when requested in advance through the church office.

Our caring nursery staff is employed by our church. They all have been interviewed, cleared background checks and been hired because they enjoy working with our children! These staff members are also current with infant and child CPR training.

We have numerous programs for our children and youth, including confirmation, summer camps, musical opportunities, UMY, mission trips and much, much more. Our Sunday school page has more detailed information about our children and youth programs.

For a look at what we believe in, visit our Beliefs page. You may also visit our Church Links page for several Web sites that offer additional information.

We have what is called an “open table” approach to Holy Communion. A person does not have to be a United Methodist or a member of this particular church. We invite all who honestly are seeking the presence of Christ in their lives and desire to receive God’s grace with an intention to lead a transformed life in God’s world.

Absolutely! We welcome all persons to worship, participate in the sacraments and in all activities of the church, regardless of religious affiliation, race, color or nationality. The United Methodist Church tagline is “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.”

Certainly. We know that the age we live in can be troublesome, confusing and heartbreaking. In times such as these, it isn’t unusual for persons to seek something deeper in life; something that offers hope — a sense of purpose and family. We worship an inviting God ready to heal the heart and transform life itself. We always stand ready to be part of God’s work in peoples’ lives, and being in worship is a wonderful place to begin.

There are classes for all ages with many choices for children, youth and adults — from young adults to seniors. Visit our Sunday school page for brief descriptions and meeting places for these classes.

About once a month we have a New Member Orientation class that gives information about our church, the meaning of church membership, the United Methodist Church, our church’s mission and the various activities and classes we offer here. You are welcome to attend a class just to learn more about us or to join our church. You can contact the church office for information on upcoming classes.

You’ll find music, art, prayer, book club, community service and social issues to name a few. We not only offer ministries, but we encourage members and non-members alike to take part in them. There is always room for a person to share their spiritual gifts in the church and the community. In fact, we are convinced that being in ministry is a vital part of being a faithful Christian disciple.

Choirs for all ages, praise bands for adults and youth, handbells and a summer musical are just a few. If you visit the Music page, you will get a good idea of just how diverse the Music offerings of Bellaire UMC are. If you want to know more or would like to participate in this ministry, contact our Director of Music Ministries, David Lee, at 713-666-2167, ext. 137.

Both of these core ministries have their own dedicated Web pages. These sites will give you up-to-date information on all activities and class schedules.

Yes, we are very involved in missions such as the impoverished community of Malis, Philippines and local hurricane-hit areas. The mission work always includes both elements of sharing Christ and providing assistance with the physical needs of the people, including building, repair work and other projects.

Absolutely! Our senior adults are always on the go! Day trips are open to anyone who wishes to participate. United Methodist Women (UMW) and Ring of Fire (Men’s ministry) also offer plenty of opportunities for faith, fun and fellowship. Contact the church office at 713-666-2167 and let them know a rocking chair is not for you!

Like most churches, we have a budget that contains everything the church does and how much we plan to spend to do our work and do it well. Budgets are supported through the pledges of church members as well as regular participants in the worship and other events of the church. In the fall, we hold a Stewardship Campaign inviting everyone to share in the work of God in this community and beyond. Our understanding of stewardship goes well beyond giving money. We understand that God calls every Christian to be a good steward of time, talents, as well as finances. This is why our members take a personal vow before God to support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts and service.

Call the church office at 713-666-2167 and ask to speak to someone who can answer your question or visit the Connection Center on Sunday mornings and speak with a volunteer.

If you have been worshiping with us and are interested in becoming a member of Bellaire UMC, there are three ways to unite with this church:
1) transfer your membership from another United Methodist CHurch
2) transfer your membership from another denomination
3) by profession of faith

Membership Vows
Once you are ready to make your commitment, please fill out a membership card (found in the pew or the worship bulletin). Prior to the singing of the last hymn during the service, the minister will invite those who wish to join the church to the front. During this song, please join the minister with your completed membership card.

When you join the church, you will be asked the following question: “Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?”

Prayers
Our commitment to uphold the church through intercessory prayer is based upon the fundamental reality that we are not simply a human agency seeking to meet human needs: we pray because we require God’s guidance in order to be the church. When we pray for our pastor, for our teachers, for one another and for those who may never even enter our doors, we express our dependence on God so that we might in turn express the will and compassion of Christ

Presence
Our commitment to uphold the church by our presence is a visible witness of our faith, both in the pew and in the world. Our relationship to Christ is nurtured by our presence in worship where we find spiritual guidance, comfort and strength. But our relationship to Christ is not confined to Sunday morning alone. We also uphold the church by our presence at home, at work, at school and in the community. Wherever we are, our presence should be an expression of our commitment to Christ.

Gifts
Our commitment to uphold the church with our gifts is a thankful response from the heart for all God has given us. Such a commitment serves to remind us of our role as stewards over what God has entrusted to us. The systematic giving of our money also helps to establish and maintain ministries that no individual or single congregation could fund alone. These worthy causes include hospitals, colleges, rehabilitation centers, food and clothing distribution centers, evangelistic and education work and emergency relief.

Service
Our commitment to be loyal to the church and uphold it by our service further reflects our commitment to follow the example of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). God has entrusted all of us with certain talents and abilities, and sharing these gifts is a means of sharing ourselves out of love and gratitude toward God and out of love one another.

Witness
The dictionary defines “witness” as “having personal knowledge of something and giving testimony to it.” Thus, one is an observer of an event and then is able to tell others what one has seen or heard.
As Christians, we can witness to the knowledge we have of Jesus Christ and the meaning he has for our lives. Our response to simple questions such as “Do you go to church?” or “Are you a Christian?” is an opening. We can share with another what we know.
But giving witness is even more than sharing what we know. The first Christian historian, Eusebius, defined witness in terms of the way one lived. He called it philosophia biou — a philosophy of life or more accurately, a way of life. We give witness by the way we live. John Wesley emphasized this through what is now known as “Wesley’s Rule”: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” It is to live out the promise of the familiar song refrain: “They will know we are Christians by our love.”