United Methodists are people who are methodical about their process. To be the church, we have to make decisions about living in this world. We have a process for that. We use what is refered to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. As our Book of Disciple states, " [John] Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scriptu…

United Methodists are people of grace. We believe in three different types of grace, Privenant, Justifying, and Sanctifying. These three graces lead us on the path of life or the way of salvation. This week we explore the details of these graces as we continue our series on the basics of who we are as a denomination and what we believe. Join us at …

Today we start a new worship series about who we are as United Methodists and our "Core Theology," as General Conference prepares to meet in Charlotte at the end of the month. We start this Sunday looking at the foundations of our theology, which is found in our doctrinal standards and theological tasks. These are the basics of who we are as a deno…

Today is Easter Sunday and Christ is Risen!!! Please join us for Easter Worship at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online this Sunday. Christ's death is not the end of the story. Thank you again for worshipping with us. For more information about our congregation, please visit our website at milfordhillsumc.org. If yo…

When we are in the falling-in-love stage of a relationship, it is all about ourselves. It is how the other person makes us feel. We are called to follow God beyond that phase and into a deeper relationship, one that focuses on the service of the other. Today we witness Jesus come into the Holy City of Jerusalem and we celebrate he comes not to do w…

esus's words in John 12 call us to die to self in order to glorify God. This is much harder than it seems in our very individualistic and selfish culture. To live, we need to be fed by the one who died for us. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping wi…

We get uncomfortable with angry Jesus, the one who uses a whip to kick the money changers and others out of the temple. But this story in the 2nd Chapter of John brings up an uncomfortable question for us...what would Jesus kick out in our worship, in our churches, if he walked through the doors. What have we created that is actually devouring us? …

We continue our Lenten journey on this Second Sunday of Lent. We dive into Mark 8:27-38 and learn about self-denial and taking up our cross and following Jesus. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping with us. For more information about our congregati…

Today is Pastor Jim's annual State of the Church sermon. This is a time to draw our attention to how God has moved in and through our church this past year and then also hear how God is calling us to continue to move forward this year. We have a lot to celebrate and stand in awe of God's work. Let us be good disciples of Jesus Christ and live into …

We wrap up our worship series, "Looking for God in Messy Places," based on a book by Bishop Jake Owensby by the same name. This week we look at Jesus's call to be his friend by loving the way God loves. As we do this, we receive a deep sense of hope in all the messy places in our lives. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in …

As we continue, "Looking for God in Messy Places," based on a book by Bishop Jake Owensby by the same name, we realize that we are called to be the authetic 'we.' We are created by a relationship God to be in community with one another. As we live life together, we realize that we make a difference when we do our part in the Body of Christ. Please …

As we continue, "Looking for God in Messy Places," based on a book by Bishop Jake Owensby by the same name, we are challenged to see God in our midst. It might be in creation, in a beautiful sunset. It may be while we are walking through hell on earth. We are promised that God is always with us...and in that promise anchors our hope. Please join us…

We start a new worship series this week entitled, "Looking for God in Messy Places," based on a book by Bishop Jake Owensby by the same name. As we begin we start by defining what hope is and isn't and why we need to lean into our messy places with love. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the l…

We wrap up the Christmas season with a celebration of Epiphany, the day Jesus was known to the Gentiles. We look at the magi who came to visit Jesus from the east and some of the folk theology surrounding this story. We also challenge everyone to spend more time being in midst of the awe and wonder of God, not only found in a night sky, but also on…

This Advent we are using "A Sanctified Art's" theme, "How Does a Weary World Rejoice?" In this secondweek of Advent we look at the reality that both Elizabeth and Mary shared together. We look at how we should share life together in order to make our pain lighter and our joy brighter. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Sa…

This Advent we are using "A Sanctified Art's" theme, "How Does a Weary World Rejoice?" In this first week of Advent we look at the anunciation of John the Baptism and how Zechariah's weariness leads to his silence. We acknowledge our weariness and how we need God to meet us where we are to offer us hope and joy. Please join us at 10:00am in person …

We end this worship series this week and look at the last piece of scripture in the 25th Chapter of Matthew. Today we learn about the judgment of the nations and where Jesus, the judge, will seperate the sheep from the goats. May we be like the sheep who see people in need and we offer what we have. Then we will hear from Jesus, "Come, you who will…

We start a three week worship series on the three parables found in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. This week we look at Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Valuable Coins or the Parable of the Talents. The key question we will be asking is, how can you use what you have been given? Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville …

We start a three week worship series on the three parables found in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. This week we look at Matthew 25:1-13, The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids. The 25th Chapter wraps up Jesus's eschatological discourse, and so what does this parable teach us about Jesus’s second coming? Please join us at 10:00am in person (…

It is All Saint's Day, a Sunday where we remember the members of our church who have gone on to the church triumphant. We reflect today on the mystery and love of God which unites us as we approach the Lord's Table and how we can claim a legacey of love in Christ. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or onlin…

We are in the last week of our worship series based on Bishop Ken Carter's book, "Unrelenting Grace." This week we look at the way grace heals the Body of Christ so we can be the Body of Christ for the world. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping wit…

We are in a worship series based on Bishop Ken Carter's book, "Unrelenting Grace." This week we look at the way grace calls us to live out our lives. We look at what Jesus says are the greatest commandments and the three loves involved. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank y…

We are in a worship series based on Bishop Ken Carter's book, "Unrelenting Grace." This week we look at the way of grace unites us with God and each other. Grace connects us with each other but we humans are not known for getting along all the time. That is where peace comes in, a peace that demands we are reconciled to Christ and each other. Pleas…

We start a new worship series based on Bishop Ken Carter's book, "Unrelenting Grace." This week we look at the way of salvation and the three graces found in God's gift to us. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping with us. For more information about …

We welcome Rev. Abby Hedgecock to our pulpit today as we celebrate 68 years of ministry as Milford Hills UMC. We will look back at the past but then push into God's intended future for our congregation. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping with us. …

We end our series, Creation Calls, with a look at Amos's words about justice and the link between creation and God's message of redemptive justice for all. Justice for creation is justice for people. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping with us. For…

God helps define humanity's relationship with creation in the second creation story of Genesis. We look at Genesis 2:4-15 this week to see what that relationship is supposed to look like. It states we are to work and protect creation. Humanity is to look after this world because it is a gift from God but for centuries we have seen it simply as a re…

For the next three weeks we take some time to reflect on God's creation and how it calls out to us. This week, nature reveals God's beauty, order, power, and tenacity. We look at Paul's sermon/talk in Athens as an example of how creation points to the God of creation. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or o…

All the Canaanite woman wants is to heal her daughter who has been suffering for a long time. Jesus won't have it though and attempts to ignore her. She presists though, and continues to beg for the healing. In a weird and hard story, we see redeption and restoration...but not like you might think. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesvi…

Jesus is asked a question by a certain ruler of a synogogue. This quesiton leads Jesus to offer a command for this rich ruler's life. Jesus offers him a second chance to dive deeper into his discipleship but what does the ruler do? What do we learn from this command and how does it reflect a call of discipleship in our life? Please join us at 10:00…

We start a new worship series for August, called "Second Chances: Stories of Restoration and Redemption." Today we look at the last interaction of Peter and Jesus in the Gospel of John. After an up and down three years as a disciple, Peter has one last conversation face to face with Jesus and it leads to his restoration. Please join us at 10:00am i…

We are in the 13th chapter of Matthew for the third week and this time we pick up all the one-sentence and small parables. "The kingdom of heaven is like..." Join us as we learn a little bit more about the kingdom of heaven from Jesus in this last sermon in our series, "The Path of the Disciple." Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesvil…

Jesus gives us another parable about the kingdom of heaven. How do we, as his disciples, hear this parable and react to our roles within the kingdom? If we follow through, it means we might have to give up one of our favorite pastimes. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank y…

Jesus gives us a wonderful parable today, the Parable of the Soils. What does this parable tell us about our walk as a disciple of Jesus Christ though? It tells us to tend our soil so we can have an opportunity to hear God's word about the kingdom around us all the time. May we all have ears to hear. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 State…

We are discovering what it looks like to be a disciple as we look at Jesus' teachings in Matthew. Today we continue with three wonderful verses from Matthew 11:28-30. Maybe you recognize these verses before, but Jessica (our Duke Ministerial Intern) gives us a fresh perspective on it today. Thank you again for worshipping with us. For more informat…

We start a new worship series, which builds off of our last. What does it truly mean to be a disciple? We follow Jesus's teachings in Matthew's Gospel to learn more. This week we talk about hospitality and welcoming. Being a welcoming disciple goes well beyond just being friendly. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salis…

We are called to follow Jesus Christ, as his disciples. We finish this series by looking at the calling of the first disciples and how their calling can help us understand our calling to be a disciple today. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipping wit…

Today, our Duke Ministerial Intern, Jessica, tells us a little bit about her call story to be a missionary and how it relates to the story of the calling of Samuel. Do you hear God calling and if so, will you answer? lease join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link below. Thank you again for worshipp…

This week we look at Ruth and her call to cling to her mother-in-law Naomi. We ask the question, what do you cling to and does it bring life to your life? Does what you cling to make you a better disciple or does it hold you back from living the life God desires for you? Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) …

We start a new worship series called, "I Am Called." We look at the call stories of four different people in the Bible. We start with Jeremiah, a relucent but major prophet who shied away from his calling but eventually found strength in the God who called him. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online a…

Today we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit on this Day of Pentecost. This is a day of mystery as a rushing wind and tounges of fire started a movement that still hasn't ended. We witness the work of the Holy Spirit in our congregation and the call to be part of the transformational work of God. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 State…

Jesus bids the disciples goodbye but with something very important. As he ascends into heaven, the disciple's eyes are opened to the scripture and how Jesus fulfilled it. They also have the assurance something is coming that will give them the strength to tell the world about what God has done through his son. Jesus does one more thing too, he bles…

Jesus encounters two men walking away from the events happening in Jerusalem. They were running away from the resurrection. However, Jesus shows up and their eyes are opened as they listen to scripture and eat with Jesus. May we find Jesus in our midst too, as we come together and feast at his table today. Please join us at 10:00am in person (1630 …

Right before Jesus' ascension into heaven, in the book of Acts, the disciples and the resurrected Christ have a conversation. The disciples ask Jesus a question that points to a desire of their hearts but Jesus redirects the question into a calling on their lives. We hear that calling too and ask God to help us be witnesses to this hurting world. P…

We meet the Risen Christ on the beach. He calls to the disciples on the boat who can't find any fish. At the place where it all started on their journey, Jesus meets them again and reminds them, especially Peter, of their calling to "Follow me." Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at the link belo…

We start a new worship series entitled, "I Witness." This is a series on the encounters of Jesus post-resurrection. Today we look at a well-known story of Thomas and the resurrected Christ. Join us as we explore the idea that doubt leads to a deeper faith. Please join us at 10:00 am in person (1630 Statesville Blvd in Salisbury, NC) or online at th…

Today we celebrate our Lord and Savior's resurrection. Today we find the tomb empty, the stone rolled away. Today we proclaim, as Easter People, CHRIST IS RISEN! Thank you again for worshipping with us. For more information about our congregation, please visit our website at milfordhillsumc.org. If you would like to support Milford Hills UMC in our…

Today starts the final stretch in our Lenten Journey. We witness Jesus entering the Holy City on the back of a donkey. We have so many expectations that we launch onto Jesus' shoulders that we don't realize what is actually happening. We desire God to do things in a certain way, just like those who laid down palm leaves that day. However, God knows…

As we start the last few steps of our Lenten Journey, we experience the 7th miracle in the Gospel of John, Lazarus being raised from the dead. What does this mean for us disciples? What kind of assurance does this story give us about our faith and the eternal life promised through the 8th miracle, which will come shortly? Please join us at 10:00am …

We are in the middle of our Lenten Journey and today Jesus heals a blind man by making mud with his spit and some dirt. The people around this blind man are obsessed with the question, "why?" So are we when it comes to the events of our lives. However, is our obsession with the answer to the question "why" getting in the way of seeing the miracles …