Belmont United Methodist Church

In his groundbreaking book, Jesus and the Disinherited,  Howard Thurman tells how his grandmother, Nancy Ambrose and his mother were both born into slavery in the American South.  When his mother died, Thurman’s grandmother Nancy Ambrose raised Howard.  One of Thurman’s regular chores was reading the Bible aloud to his grandmother, who could neither read nor write.  Mrs Ambrose was very particular...

September 29, 2024

As the waiter placed the meal on our table, my friend asked if I would offer the blessing.  When I said, “Amen” my friend said “ You forgot to say ‘the hands that provided it’.”  I’m not sure anyone had critiqued my prayer aloud since seminary, so it took me a minute to figure out what my friend meant by “ and the hands that provided it.”     I had remembered to give thanks to God, but had forgott...

The Bible begins with two stories: the Creation Hymn and the Garden of Eden story. The stories just appear without introduction, named author, source, origin, or timestamp. The Book of Isaiah begins “ in the days of Judah’s kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah” . (Isaiah 1).  Matthew presents a long genealogy. Revelation notes that John’s vision came “ through God’s angel .”  The creation stor...

On a Sunday morning, a few years ago, Connie and I found ourselves in my hometown.  When the worship times at Methodist Churches we belonged to did  not jibe with our schedule, we decided to go to the church that I grew up in. We arrived a bit late and sat in the back. During the greeting time, Margaret Anne made her way from the choir loft to the back rows to greet us. After greeting us she made...

Looking for news and announcements? Our newsletter is now fully digital and features vibrant color photos, engaging graphics, and clickable links to additional resources and information. Additionally, this shift aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship by significantly reducing our paper usage. Look for a newsletter QR code in the bulletin each week or email angie@belmontumc.org to...

My mother, a fourth grade teacher and Senior High Sunday School Teacher, upheld language rules. When I was in middle school, one of dad‘s younger brothers came to visit and cursed at the table. Mom joked about needing to wash out his mouth with soap. Uncle Dave, feeling himself, smiled and repeated the foul word three or four times. Mom laughed and seemingly let it go. I wondered if cursing was ok...

I recently read an online comment that began, “Speaking as a Christian…” and proceeded to tell the metaverse exactly what they believed. Now, “as a Christian,” I disagreed with almost everything that particular Christian said. I imagine they would disagree with me. What struck me was the phrase, “as a Christian.”  When my doctor says, “Paul, as your physician… ” or when my engineer son explains th...

I was11 years old and my church league basketball team was playing Immanuel Baptist. Immanuel had this tall kid, Big 33, who I was supposed to guard. We couldn’t stop him. Between the quarters, our coach, let’s call him Coach Rupp, pulled me to the side and laid out a detailed plan that involved me intentionally fouling Big 33. Step one, as Big 33 lagged to get back on defense, I acted winded and...

In 1976, I found myself in the summer school reading program. One of the few perks of summer school was representing Lexington Fayette Urban County Public Schools in Lexington’s  Fourth of July parade. They asked us to dress as our favorite character from American history.  I knew I wanted to dress as a Native American.  In 1976, Cultural appropriation was a new idea on college campuses and would...

Belmont UMC is a community of Christ followers growing in love of God and neighbor, and we believe EVERY person is of sacred worth. ALL are welcome here!

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

Belmont United Methodist Church is a community of Christ-followers growing in love of God and neighbor. This is what we at Belmont UMC believe Christian discipleship is, what we are to be, and what Jesus meant when he sent his followers to “make disciples.” We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional ho...

Belmont United Methodist Church is a community of Christ-followers growing in love of God and neighbor. This is what we at Belmont UMC believe Christian discipleship is, what we are to be, and what Jesus meant when he sent his followers to “make disciples.” We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional ho...

I’ve always loved watching a campfire, how the flames dance up into the night sky.  In the Biblical age, fire provided any light at night, made possible every cooked meal, kept people warm, and forged pottery or metal. As a child hearing the Pentecost story, I got lost in the wonder of the tongues of fire: “Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.”   W...

Thursday morning, I walked to the Charlotte Convention Center. In the predawn light, you could hear the birds singing their songs of praise. On Wednesday, I was privileged to be on the floor voting as The General Conference of the United Methodist Church made history by removing the harmful exclusionary language. We now properly declare all person’s sacred worth without any qualifiers. It was a 93...

Last weekend, I joined our confirmation retreat along with 14 seventh and eighth graders. Our teens asked great questions like “why is our denomination splitting up?”   I felt drawn to the whiteboard and with help from Faith Friend Dr. Micheal Stephens I drew a timeline of church splits: Christianity from Judaism 45AD, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox 1054, Protestant Reformation 1517, Methodis...

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they could anoint Jesus’ body. Just after sunrise, they came to the tomb.  They came as soon as the Sabbath laws allowed. Magdalene, Mary, and Salome carried spices, lotions, oils, soaps, and towels to wash Jesus’ bloodied body, detangle his matted hair, and anoint his body with fragrant oils. May...

Today, we lift our praises to Jesus, our Redeemer King, the Christ, Prince of Peace, Fully God- Fully Human, Glue of the Universe, The resurrection and Life, The Word Made Flesh, The Light of the World, Living Water, the Way-Truth & Life, Messiah, Savior, Lord, healer, Friend, teacher,  Hope of Glory, All Forgiveness, and Perfect Love.  We wave our palm branches as we lift our hearts. And yet...

We believe every person is of sacred worth and created in God’s image. We commit to Jesus’ example of inclusive love, care, and intentional hospitality with persons of every race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, faith story, physical or mental ability, economic status, or political perspective.

Sermon by Kate Fields, Pastor of Children’s Ministry/Discipleship

Mark tells no back stories: no theological images like John, no genealogy like Matthew, and no birth narrative like Luke. Mark begins with John the Baptist.   Jesus was about 30 years old, the age when many men got married,  when he decided to travel to the Judean wilderness to hear John the Baptist preach. John was a powerful, prophetic, political preacher who drew large and diverse crowds out in...

Reflection from our Ash Wednesday Service.. Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious redeemer and friend, who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men. Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace, You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost the way. You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore, You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger...