About Us

Mountainside Church was launched on Easter Sunday, April 1999, as a contemporary United Methodist Church with a desire to reach out to those in need of God's love and grace. The first four years were spent meeting in a local community center as ministries developed and lived were transformed. In the fall of 2003, God blessed this young faith community with the completed construction of a new home at our present location at 301 ElCano Drive. In 2007, an additional worship service was offered. Both services remain contemporary, upbeat, and relevant. This website serves to give a glimpse of what God is doing in our community and in our lives. There is a place for YOU at Mountainside!

OUR VISION is to be a Church after God's own HEART. OUR MISSION is to help people:

Hear the Good News of Jesus Christ,

Experience the Grace the God,

Act and mature in Faith,

Reach out in Love, and

Tell the Story to others.

OUR CORE BELIEFS are:

People matter to God.
People are created to be in relationship with God and with one another.
People receive grace and strength for living through the Christian faith.
Power for living comes through Prayer, Worship, and Serving God.
The Bible directs and guides us on how to live fully.
God gives each person special gifts to help the world.
Real Christian living is never static, but always vibrant and growing.

WHO WE ARE...

The United Methodist Church’s roots go back over 200 years. We are Christians and we hold the same basic beliefs as all Christians.

We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is alive and active in our world, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us as our guide.

We believe that every person needs God’s saving grace in their lives. We believe this salvation and redemption come through faith in Jesus Christ, not through anything we do ourselves. We believe that all persons who put their trust in Jesus are made new and transformed.

We believe in the power of scripture as the primary rule and guide for our lives. We believe that we are part of Christ’s universal church with all fellow believers. With other Christians, we believe that Holy Communion and Baptism are sacraments, through which God’s grace is received in particularly powerful ways.

For more information about the United Methodist Church, you can visit www.umc.org.

GET CONNECTED...

All people are invited to share in worship and in ministry. Mountainside Church welcomes all who love God, who profess Jesus Christ as Lord, and all who seek to live in peace with one another in the fellowship of this local church. You do not have to be a member to enjoy the many opportunities found at Mountainside. If you are new to the church, you are invited to visit with our pastor any time to learn more about life at Mountainside and how you might get connected.

Perhaps you have connected and now desire to join this church familiy as a member. You may join by:

Profession of Faith and Baptism - If you are not a baptized Christian, the first step is to accept Jesus as your Savior and be baptized. Our pastor will explore this with you.
By Transfer from another United Methodist Church or another Christian Denomination - You are asked to affirm your vows of baptism and answer one question asked of all members of the United Methodist Church: “Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service?”
By Affiliate Membership - If you are a United Methodist temporarily living in the Hot Springs Village area and you wish to retain membership in your “home” church, you can become an Affiliate Member of Mountainside United Methodist Church. This grants you pastoral care, fellowship and participation at Mountainside United Methodist Church. You will be counted on the rolls of your “home” church.
By Associate Membership - If you are a member of another Christian denomination temporarily living the Hot Springs Village area and you wish to retain membership in your "home" church and denomination, you can become an Associate Member of Mountainside which grants you pastoral care, fellowship, and participation at Mountainside United Methodist Church. Your name will stay on the roll of our "home" church.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR SUNDAY MORNING VISIT

Please help yourself to refreshments --- we have coffee, juice, and donut holes available by the fireplace. Do you have little ones? We have a well-staffed nursery available during the 10:00 worship service; one of our friendly greeters can help you get there.

Find a seat and make yourself comfortable. The chair you are sitting on was prayed over this week by a member of our prayer team. We are grateful that you are worshiping with us.

You may be wondering…This didn’t seem like the church I grew up in. That is the whole point of our service; Mountainside is a Contemporary church… While we are distinctly United Methodist in our practices and beliefs, we do not recite the traditional Creeds or use Responsive Readings in our worship services. Nor do we use a Hymnal. You are encouraged to come as you are and experience the joy of worshiping with other Christians. Feel free to dress casual…to drink a cup of coffee during worship…to raise your hands if you desire in praise during our singing…to open yourself to the very presence of God through the Holy Spirit…

COMMUNION AND OFFERING

We participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month. All are welcome to partake at the Lord’s table. You do not have to be a member of this church (or a United Methodist) to share in Communion. We use the ancient method of intinction, where you are given bread and then you dip the bread in the grape juice.

Our offering bags are passed through the rows by ushers for tithes and offerings. One expression of worship is in our acknowledgement that all that we have – our financial resources, our families, our health - comes from God. Our Tithes are an opportunity to return the first tenth of God’s gifts back to God.