University United Methodist - Ministries & Programs

Ministries & Programs

University United Methodist Church offers a variety of ministries and programs designed to reach people of all ages and walks of life. To learn more about our ministries, click on the tabs below. More detailed information on individual ministries is also available on the subpages found under Ministries on the above menu.

Children and Worship

Children's activity bulletins are available during services for children ages 4 to 12.
Worship preparation is a major portion of the spring curriculum for 1st-grade Sunday School class. This includes a special two-week study of the sacraments.
Bible bearers are chosen from our third-graders. Fourth- and fifth-grade students serve as acolytes.
Childcare is available for infants through 5-year-olds during the 8:30 and 10:55 a.m. worship services. Seven paid childcare workers and parent volunteers make sure that the children are cared for in a safe-sanctuary environment. Childcare is located on the first floor of our education wing on the preschool hallway.
A cradle cross and a rose are placed on the altar during the Sunday worship services following the birth of a child in the church.
Baptism is a special time in the life of the church as children are important members of the family of God. Baptisms are held regularly in the sanctuary and each baptized baby is introduced to the congregation during a walk down the aisle with the pastor.

Sunday School
Sunday school is offered for all children from infant nursery through fifth grade. A Christian Parenting Sunday School class is one of many offerings for adults. The Sunday School hour is 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School for 3-year-olds through fifth-graders, offers a variety of activities including: music, crafts, storytelling, discovery lab, recreation and snacks. Childcare is provided for children of the VBS teachers who are too young to attend for the week.

Music
Children’s Choir opportunities Include Cherub Choir, which is open to children in kindergarten and first grade, and Jubilee Choir, which is for singers in grades 2 through 5. Both groups meet on Thursday evenings from 5:00–5:45 and 5:45–6:45 respectively. The choirs present a children’s musical in the spring.

2- through 5-year-olds are led in song by Beth Alexander during the Sunday School hour each week and sing at the 10:55 service on Mother's Day.

Children's Bible Study
Bible study for second- through fiffth-graders meets on the first and third Sunday of each month from 5:00–6:30 p.m. The children eat dinner together and then study a specific Bible story through video, discussion and a craft. The children also have mission opportunities through cooking for families at Thanksgiving, singing for and visiting folks at retirement homes at Christmas, making Valentine’s cards to be delivered to home-bound folks through A Helping Hand, and making other treats to be shared with those in need. Many have the opportunity to help buy the food for the Project 5,000 boxes, helping provide Christmas gifts for underprivileged children from the community through the Angel Tree program, and helping fill the backpacks for the Golden Rule Rally.

Seasonal Activities
The UUMC Children’s Council sponsors many activities for children and their families throughout the year. These activities include: Father- Daughter Valentine’s Dance, Mother-Son Bowling, Easter Egg Hunt, Preschool Family Fellowship, children’s activities at the church-wide picnic, “Movie in the Courtyard” and more. The children help lead the 10:55 worship service in conjunction with the children’s choirs’ musical presentation in the spring of the year.

Christmas activities are offered annually for children. The Christmas Pageant, held every other year, features more than 100 children from 4-year-olds to fifth-graders portraying the story of the birth of Jesus. When no pageant is held, children may participate in Christmas craft workshops or other seasonal activities.

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts
Cub Scout Pack 39 (Boys in grades 1-5) was organized in 1999 and is sponsored by UUMC. They have monthly pack meetings in the Fellowship Hall and bi-weekly den meetings in various locations. Join in the fun with the Pinewood Derby, camping, summer day camp and more.

Boy Scout Troop 39 (Boys ages 11-18) is one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in the country. It was organized in 1910 and is sponsored by UUMC. The Boy Scouts have weekly troop meetings in the Fellowship Hall and monthly camping trips. They also participate in a British Scout Exchange, hiking in Switzerland, scuba diving in Florida, summer camp and more.

Preschool
The church is home to University United Methodist Preschool, serving children in 2-year, 3-year and 4-year classes. The preschool is open to all members of the community.

For Parents of Small Children
Special activities for parents of newborns and preschoolers as well as parent enrichment programs are offered.

A nurturing program, "Wee Care" Ministry, is offered by the Childcare Committee for families with new babies. Someone from the Childcare Committee visits and delivers a meal to the family. Beth Alexander visits the family and brings the rose and cradle cross to them, along with a packet of nurturing information.
Parent Morning Fellowship meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month. This is for parents or caregivers and their young children (infants through 2-year-olds). The group meets in the nursery from 9:30–11:00 a.m. Both the parents and the children enjoy a time of fellowship and devotion.
Along with the Christian Parenting Sunday school class, Parent Enrichment Seminars offer opportunities to learn and develop parenting skills and to discuss parenting issues. Sometimes these seminars are offered as a Sunday Morning Forum and sometimes at alternate times.

U-Crew

We, the University UMC U-Crew, commit ourselves as a community of Christians to:

worship together
fellowship together
grow in faith together and
serve together in Chapel Hill & the world.

Who to Contact

Jim McConnell, Youth Minister

Youth Office Phone: 919-929-7191 ext. 10

Find Us on Facebook

Check out the U-Crew group and join us on facebook.

Sunday School

Middle school students meet in the Youth Lounge and high school students meet downstairs in the High School room for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.

Music

Middle school and high school singers are invited to lend their voices to the Youth Choir. Each spring, the Youth Choir presents a major musical. The Youth Choir also takes a concert tour in early summer.

Trips and Retreats

Retreats allow us to enjoy Christian fellowship with one another in a different, relaxed setting.We go on three trips each year: a fall retreat, winter ski trip and summer beach trip.

Mission Trips

Both our middle school and our senior high youth have the opportunity to travel and do mission work during the summer. Our youth mission trips take our youth out of the comfort of their homes to be in ministry with others. We have traveled to Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Montreal, New York, New Mexico, Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia, Goldsboro and Speed, N.C., with an emphasis on constructional and relational work with people in need. This year our senior high team headed to the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma and our middle school team went to Bluefield, W.Va.

UMYF

Besides the trips and other big events, the bulk of our time together is centered around Sunday night meetings, called United Methodist Youth Fellowship, or UMYF. We meet from 5-6:45 p.m. on Sunday nights, and a delicious meal is always provided. We sing, play games, pray together, do skits, join in Bible study and otherwise share in Christian friendship. Come meet our amazing counselors – young adults who dedicate their time to nurturing the faith of middle and high school students. Come to see, learn about and know God — the God who loves you and who cares deeply about every part of your life!

What’s Happening:

The Gathering

Come join us every Sunday evening through the fall and spring from 5:00-6:30 for dinner, games and small group fellowship. We meet in the Fellowship Hall.

Amen Corner

Amen Corner is our weekly high school Bible study where we get to talk about scripture and how it intersects with our lives. Join us on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Sunday School room. Check us out on facebook.

For more information about the U-Crew, contact Jim at 929-7191, ext. 10.

Stephen Ministry is a complete system of training and organizing lay people for caring ministry. UUMC’s Stephen Ministry is in its 12th year. Currently 29 trained, active Stephen Ministers have completed more than 50 hours of instruction in Christian caregiving skills. These Stephen Ministers provide one-on-one caring in times of need or crisis. Persons who seek or accept the support of a Stephen Minister are assured that all communications are strictly confidential.

Health Ministry supports and promotes the spiritual, mental and physical health of the church and family community. It offers free monthly blood-pressure screenings, supports the monthly Healing Service, writes educational articles for the Chapel Chimes and offers various workshops addressing the church’s unique health needs. The church has a significant influence over daily lives and values, and healing is central to Jesus’ ministry on earth. While serious illness raises questions of faith, a sense of meaning and purpose is a powerful force for healing and faith. Also, a strong support system boosts immunity to disease. Through this ministry, the church endeavors to reclaim its ancient mission of caring for the body as well as the mind and the spirit.

Quiet Care Ministry responds to church families in acute times of need, including illness, family deaths or crisis situations as well as in times of joy and celebration such as the birth of a baby. Quiet Care Ministers serve as shepherds to one another, especially to those restricted to their homes or nursing homes, through personal visits, calls, prayers, cards, food preparation and more.

Pastor’s Bible Study meets from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, September through May, offering lively discussion on books of both the Old and New Testaments.

United Methodist Men meets on the third Saturday of each month (except summer) for breakfast, fellowship and special programs. In addition, a men’s prayer group meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 a.m. and a men's Bible study meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Prayer Room (Room 201). Members support church missions and UMM missions such as the Meals for Millions hunger project.

United Methodist Women meets monthly (except summer) in groups called circles and holds a general meeting of all circles several times each year. This supportive fellowship group supports the church’s mission work and coordinates the annual yard sale.

The Chancel Choir provides music for worship services and performs several larger works with an orchestra each year.

Spiritual Formation offers activities, events, resources and publications throughout the year to encourage and support the spiritual growth of church members. Planned events include a prayer vigil, a retreat and a quarterly newsletter, The Wind Chimes.

A Grief and Loss Support Group is available to any that may be having difficulty dealing with the death of a loved one. Contact Rev. Suzanne Dornsmith at 929-7191 for more information.

Support Team Ministry provides physical, emotional and spiritual support to people in need. Teams, trained through Project Compassion, support individuals and families in crisis times by assisting with personal needs (meals, transportation, visits, housework, etc.)

GAP (Graduate students And young Professionals) welcomes recent college graduates, graduate students and young adults in the Triangle area. GAP is the fellowship group at UUMC for single and married adults in their 20s and 30s. Come and join in the fun! Contact Heidi Troxler for more information.

JOY (Just Older Youth) is an active group of senior adults at UUMC which gathers once a month for fellowship and fun. Activities include overnight and day trips, learning experiences, worship and lots of lunches. Come join us! Contact Rev. Suzanne Dornsmith for information about upcoming events. Recent events include lunch at Top of the Hill, Peach Day at the Farmer’s Market, a UNC women's basketball game and a trip to the Carnivore Preservation Trust.