Fredericktown United Methodist Church

09/06/2026

Acts 8 might not be the most famous chapter in the New Testament. Philip isn’t the main character of the story of the early Church, and the Ethiopian traveler remains completely nameless. Yet, this beautiful, quiet story found in Acts 8:26-39 expands and completely reorients our understanding of mission, evangelism, and grace.

This story takes place in a fairly unlikely location: on a road in a desert. Neither character seemed to expect any particular spiritual epiphany in this place or moment, yet both experience a profound conversion in different ways. The Ethiopian is converted to faith and life in Jesus Christ, celebrated with the sudden inauguration of baptism in a ditch on the side of the road. But Philip experiences a conversion, too, into a much larger, more expansive understanding of where and how the Holy Spirit works. After all, it is the Ethiopian who invites Philip to climb aboard, asks for scriptural insight, identifies the opportunity, and asks for baptism!

These intersections in the desert produce a minor chord to the loud, triumphalist visions of evangelism with which many Christians are familiar. This minor chord allows for nuance and a beautiful sense of mystery. It leaves us a bit off balance, wondering just what is possible with the Holy Spirit and God’s salvation. Over the next four weeks, we are going to walk down that dusty wilderness road together to discover that the desert isn’t just a place of isolation, it is exactly where God shows up to break down boundaries and build a new community.

We are intentional about building a welcoming and affirming community that does more than just play lip service to those claims and actually means it while working to live it into reality. YOU are welcome here. The only things not welcome here are hate and harm.

Say hello and let us know that you're here, share with us your prayer requests, and like/share worship to help others worship with us! We're so thankful that you can join us for worship! Here at Fredericktown UMC, YOU are welcome. Be you. Be loved. Belong. 🌈

Let's worship!

09/05/2026

09/03/2026

Acts 8 might not be the most famous chapter in the New Testament. Philip isn’t the main character of the story of the early Church, and the Ethiopian traveler remains completely nameless. Yet, this beautiful, quiet story found in Acts 8:26-39 expands and completely reorients our understanding of mission, evangelism, and grace.

This story takes place in a fairly unlikely location: on a road in a desert. Neither character seemed to expect any particular spiritual epiphany in this place or moment, yet both experience a profound conversion in different ways. The Ethiopian is converted to faith and life in Jesus Christ, celebrated with the sudden inauguration of baptism in a ditch on the side of the road. But Philip experiences a conversion, too, into a much larger, more expansive understanding of where and how the Holy Spirit works. After all, it is the Ethiopian who invites Philip to climb aboard, asks for scriptural insight, identifies the opportunity, and asks for baptism!

These intersections in the desert produce a minor chord to the loud, triumphalist visions of evangelism with which many Christians are familiar. This minor chord allows for nuance and a beautiful sense of mystery. It leaves us a bit off balance, wondering just what is possible with the Holy Spirit and God’s salvation. Over the next four weeks, we are going to walk down that dusty wilderness road together to discover that the desert isn’t just a place of isolation, it is exactly where God shows up to break down boundaries and build a new community.

09/03/2026

09/01/2026

Dear Church,
Please keep our United Methodist connectional siblings at North Star Church in your prayers. Their pastor, Rev. Doug Franklin, died suddenly and unexpectedly on the morning of Monday, August 31, 2026. We share the grief and sorrow they are feeling right now, and hold them close as they navigate this difficult time. And please remember North Star Associate Pastor Rev. Judy Slimmer as she serves the congregation during their grief.

Send a message to learn more

08/30/2026

Welcome to worship. Please submit your prayer requests.