Hello there!

Thank you for taking the time to explore Grace United Methodist Church in Nashville, Illinois!  

Below is a brief snapshot of the mission, values, and overall beliefs within our faith community. Please feel encouraged to click here and contact our Main Office with any further questions you may have!

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GRACE UMC MISSION STATEMENT

It is our mission at Grace to consistently be "Serving Neighbors, Seeking Christ, and Sharing Grace".​

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GRACE UMC BELIEFS

• Our beliefs mirror historic creeds (Apostles' Creed, etc.) and doctrines of the church universal.

• Grace UMC heavily leans into United Methodist theology (rooted in the teachings of founder John Wesley) in its weekly sermon messages and faith curriculum.

• God's grace is a focal point of Grace UMC theology and is viewed as a free gift God offers to everyone in an effort to prepare us, redeem us, and continually shape us into the people we were created to be. 

• Scripture is our foundational source of theological understanding and the ultimate standard by which all other "sources" of information are measured.

• Grace UMC also considers Scripture to be the "Living Word" of God, thus relying on the Holy Spirit to continuously reveal new insight into whose WE are every time we read the Word of God.

• God's desire is our desire and we envision a community and a world in which everyone is whole and fully alive in Christ.

• We believe in God's redeeming work through Jesus Christ and his continued work in the hearts of believers through faith.

Click here to learn more about the beliefs and values of the greater United Methodist denomination.  

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GRACE UMC WORSHIP

The people of Grace UMC gather for weekly worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. This holy time together is typically held in the Grace sanctuary (unless otherwise stated) and comprises elements of traditional and modern worship.  The majority of Grace worship services feature a blending of contemporary and traditional (hymnal) music and liturgy .

Worship Attire

Those in attendance have been spotted wearing anything from pajama pants to dresses/2-piece suits (and this was on the same Sunday!). Short answer about what to wear to worship:  Anything you want. We just want to see you here...worshipping our God who focuses more on your heart than anything you could ever wear on a Sunday morning.  So no special attire required!

Sermons & Special Services

The sermons at Grace are hopeful, culturally-relevant and filled with biblical and meaningful truths.

Our pastor has been quoted as saying that her sermons are, in reality, "[her] talking with God and asking God questions while a bunch of people (the congregation) happen to be in the room/online."

We also observe and several Christian holidays with additional services such as our Good Friday service and special Blue Christmas service.

 

GRACE UMC & KIDS

The Grace UMC faith family rejoices in the opportunity to hear your baby cry out during worship! 

If you're praying about visiting Grace, but aren't sure what to do if you have little ones, please know this:

Your young ones are always meaningful and welcomed additions to any Grace UMC gathering.

Children's Moment​

Grace UMC regularly hosts a Children's Moment time during the 10:30 a.m. worship service (exceptions include the first Sundays of each month).  During the Children's Moment, all children present are invited to sit up front near/on the steps leading to the Grace chancel area of the sanctuary as a Grace UMC staff member or passionate volunteer spends a few minutes delivering a message prepared especially for younger hearts and minds.  Parents and caregivers are also invited to sit up front with their little one(s) during this time.

Children's Church 

The Grace UMC Children's Moment in worship is immediately followed by a Children's Church opportunity for additional fun and learning for children preschool-aged through 5th grade.

The Grace Children's Church coincides with the main scripture reading and sermon portion of the worship service (unless otherwise announced, Grace's Children's Church is available every Sunday of the year).

This is a completely voluntary opportunity for all children present to spend time gathering together beyond the sanctuary to learn more about Jesus, interesting Bible stories, and a God who loves them.

Please note: Children are ALWAYS invited to stay and listen to the Grace UMC sermon (even if other children leave the sanctuary for Children's Church)

Cry Room

In case there is ever a need, a "Cry Room" is always open and available to families within Grace's sanctuary.  The "Room" is located towards the entrance to the sanctuary (directly across from the "Pastor's Study" and stairs leading to balcony).  The entrance to the appropriately-labeled  "Cry Room"  is the first door to the right when entering the sanctuary double-doors.

The Grace Cry Room is connected to the Grace UMC nursery's bathroom, and the room is complete with a rocking chair, toys, and books!

Please also know that the Grace UMC congregation enjoys hearing ALL sounds (crying included!) "sung" by babies and little ones.

We view the sounds of children as beautiful reminders of the new life always being created by our loving God.

Grace UMC Nursery

At Grace, we try our best to give our volunteers the opportunity to worship, if possible, on Sundays.  That is why we have an On-Call Nursery available during every Sunday morning worship service at Grace UMC.  Youth & Children's Ministries volunteers are on-call each Sunday so that our faith community can prayerfully provide some added hospitality to your family's worshipping experience at Grace!  If you have a nursery need, please reach out to Greeter or a member of the Grace UMC Worship Team.

All Grace UMC youth & children ministry volunteers adhere to Safe Sanctuary policies,

so you can be assured your child(ren) will receive the highest level of care.