WHO WE ARE

OUR MISSION

“To Know Christ and to make him known.”

We engage and connect people with a saving knowledge of Christ
and then equip and send them to do the same for others.

OUR VISION

“Reaching out to transform lives by
extending God’s love to all.”

Our vision is to see Jesus’ love making all of us new and
being the standard for all our relationships.

Who We Are

Collierville United Methodist Church stands on the shoulders of those who came before us and we in turn train up those who will move our church and community forward into the future. We are a multigenerational congregation with offerings for all ages. Traditional, modern, and online worship settings are offered each Sunday. Small groups are available for any stage of Christian life and self-help. Our mission and vision as well as our core values and guiding behaviors (see below) continue to push us to find and fulfill needs within our community for Christ. Collierville United Methodist Church stands on the shoulders of those who came before us and we in turn train up those who will move our church and community forward into the future.

“In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” May 24, 1738 John Wesley (founder of the United Methodist Church)

  • In 1889, land was purchased on North Rowlett Street for $250. The cornerstone for a church was laid on July 11th, 1890, and the first service was held on January 13, 1901, led by L.T. Ward.
  • In 1938, the wife of Rev. F. Haynes, organized a vested choir. In 1948, at a cost of $50,000, plans were begun to add an educational annex. The annex was completed in 1950 during the ministry of Rev. J.C. Gilbert.
  • In 1964, 15 acres were purchased for $30,000 on Poplar Avenue for a new church site. A fellowship hall with a kitchen and parlor was built in the first phase of construction. In 1971, the church purchased a pipe organ from the St. Mark Methodist church in Memphis.
  • In 1977, a gymnasium and classrooms were added to the fellowship hall and in 1989 offices and choir suites were built, followed by more classrooms in 1992. A Mother’s Day Out/Preschool program was also started and has been awarded a 3-star accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
  • In 1995, ground was broken for a 4.4 million dollar sanctuary facing Poplar Avenue.
  • In 1999, a contemporary service, the Saturday Night Connection, was added. In early 2004, The Connection moved to the gymnasium on Sunday mornings and became The Vineyard Service.
  • In early 2008 ground was broken for a multi-phase building. In August of 2009, the first phase of 54,000 square feet was opened and offered new classrooms, staff offices, library, kitchen and servery, second floor youth complex, and a coffee shop.
  • In May of 2016 Project Refresh began by updating our preschool and children’s area along with expanding the youth and young adult area on the second floor. In August 2016 the contemporary service was completely renewed with technology updates, more seating and is now called The Foundry.

God

We believe in the one true living God, revealed in three distinct persons, the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ

We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word of the Father, and is both wholly Divine and wholly Human. Jesus is the Messiah who suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried in order to reconcile his Father to us for the original and actual sins of humanity. We believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.



Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit which was sent by the Father and Son and is of one nature with them. As one of our creeds put it, “We believe in the Holy Spirit, God present with us for guidance, for comfort, and for strength” (The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 884).

The Bible

We believe that the Bible is Holy Scripture and contains all things necessary for salvation. We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are authoritative and important for study. We find that the Old and New Testaments are not contrary, as Christ offers salvation to humanity in both, acting as the only mediator between God and humanity.

Human Beings

We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God to be fully human.

The Church

We hold in common with all Christians a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith. We believe that the Church is where the Word of God is preached and the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion are administered.

Communion

In the sacrament of Holy communion we affirm the real presence of Christ. As a means of grace we serve an open table, inviting all to participate who desire a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the outward and visible signs of bread and juice, the inward and spiritual reality of the Body and Blood of Christ are offered to believers.

Baptism

Baptism as a sacrament is a sign-act by which God offers us salvation as a gift, without a price. Baptism is a symbol of new life and forgiveness of sins. We believe in three methods of baptism: sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. We recognize baptisms by other denominations as long as they are consecrated in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is at the heart of who we are as Christians.

In baptism we acknowledge our need for God’s redemptive forgiveness in our lives, our hope in Christ’s return, and the promise of eternal life. It is how we are added to the body of Christ. Through baptism we enter into a covenant with God, initiated by God’s love and grace. When infants are baptized, parents, sponsors, and the church make a commitment to raise the child up in the community of believers. Baptism in the United Methodist tradition can be done at any age. It is an acceptance, either by the parents or by a person able to answer for themselves, of God’s prevenient and justifying grace — God’s grace offered freely to all people whether or not they are aware of it. Baptism is the beginning of a life-long journey of discipleship, growth in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

BAPTISM REQUEST FORM

OUR CORE VALUES

Scripture

  • I will make Scripture my foundation by reading and diving into it daily.
  • I will allow Scripture to guide all my decisions and interactions with others.
  • I will consistently recognize opportunities to share the Good News.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”– Psalm 119:105

Love

  • I will love God, self, and neighbor as Christ loves.
  • I will reflect the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) in all my interactions.
  • I will love God by worshipping corporately each week.

“Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Luke 10:27

Humility

  • I will welcome ideas, opinions, and perspectives of others.
  • I will seek through daily prayer to recognize my weaknesses and will work toward being continually transformed.
  • I will believe the best of others’ intentions. (I will look for the Jesus in others.)
“God has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

Servanthood

  • I will strive to serve with a spirit of self-sacrifice as Christ.
  • I will strive daily to model my actions on the life of Christ.
  • I will seek to serve others from pure motives.I will do the smallest task with great love.
“Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
– Mark 9:35

Missions

  • I will be prepared to give the reason for the HOPE that is in me.
  • I will seek ways to invite others to worship.
  • I will extend God’s love to the world by monthly serving through hands-on projects to the least, the last, and the lost; the hungry, the poor, the child, the widowed, those in prison and in the hospital, etc.
  • I will memorize and live out the vision statement of Collierville UMC.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20