In our United Methodist tradition we celebrate two sacraments – Holy Communion and Baptism. Sacraments bring the divine and ordinary together – through water or bread and cup – and draw us into the heart of God.
Methodism was born in the 1700s in England when John Wesley, an Anglican (Church of England) priest, noticed the church was absorbed in itself rather than helping people grow in faith and in caring for others.
He taught that a life of faith is like two arms of a cross – the vertical arm is like our personal relationship with God, connecting each of us to the grace of God. The horizontal arm is like our movement out into the world, caring for others as a result of receiving God’s grace, God’s love. Both arms are necessary for a strong life of Christian faith. Jesus’ love is shown to us through the cross – he was part of God and also became part of human life, showing us God’s way through his teaching, healing, and sacrificial love.