We extend a warm welcome to you! We want to help you find out if Our Saviour's is the church for you. Of course, we hope that we are.

Please, take a tour around our web site to check us out. We also encourage you to worship with us on Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. or on Sundays at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. In addition, you may want to get involved in some of the groups and activities at Our Saviour's before you consider joining.

So we cordially invite you to attend a small group, sing in a choir or play in the orchestra. We also invite you to get involved in one of our mission projects, Bible studies, drama teams, sports programs or fellowship groups. Many persons who visit churches in the area have found Our Saviour's to be a friendly place to worship God, to make new friends and to grow in faith. We would like this to be true for you as well. In fact, we hope that after you check us out, you will decide to join us.

The pastors schedule New Member Orientation Classes at approximately two-month intervals. Look in the worship bulletin and church newsletter for the specific dates and times of up-coming classes. Or just call the Church office. If you are interested in joining Our Saviour's, you may indicate this in the worship service by checking the appropriate box on the friendship register which is passed through the pews before the announcements. Or you may speak to one of the pastors or call the Church office and speak with Barb (847-352-8181).

In the New Member Orientation Classes we will answer your questions about Our Saviour's, about The United Methodist Church and about the Christian faith. All questions are welcomed. In addition to answering your questions, we usually cover these topics:

• Our vision
• Our mission
• Membership as a step toward spiritual growth
• United Methodist beliefs and how they compare to other Christian Churches
• United Methodist History, John and Charles Wesley, circuit riders and American Methodism
• How our church is organized and how we make decisions
• The programs and ministries of the Church
• The staff: who we are and what we do
• Finding your niche, your place to belong and serve
• The role and responsibilities of membership

When you consider joining a church, you want to have enough information to make a good choice, an informed choice. We have designed our New Member Orientation Class to do that and more. We give you information; but a church is more than facts and figures. It is people. So we spend some of our time getting to know each other. For some, this has been the most helpful part of the Orientation.

When people join Our Saviour's United Methodist Church it means they want to grow deeper in their relationship with God by making specific commitments to God. These are included in the membership vows. We take these vows seriously. For those who are already baptized there are two more vows that persons take when they join. Here are the two questions and answers that new members make in the presence of the congregation:

Pastor:	As members of Christ's universal church, will you be loyal to The United Methodist Church, and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?
New Member:	I will.
Pastor:	As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?
New Member:	I will.

So, you see, we have fairly high expectations of our members: That we pray for one another, our church, family, nation and world. That we attend worship weekly unless prevented by illness or being out of town. That we get involved in some other group, ministry or Church activity besides worship. That we make a financial commitment to OSUMC. And that we serve God by providing service in the church and/or in the community.

If after the Orientation, you still have questions about Our Saviour's, Pastor Steve and Pastor Harriette will be happy to meet with you privately. Not everyone who attends the New Member Orientation decides to join Our Saviour's, though most do. Nevertheless, attending the Classes puts you under no obligation to join. You are free to continue attending and participating without joining.

You will always be welcome at Our Saviour's where we seek to practice a ministry of Open Hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors.

Worship schedule:	Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday at 9 am and 10:30am
Fellowship Time:	After each worship service
Nursery:	Infants and toddlers during Sunday services
Sunday School::	Kindergarten through high school during Sunday services
Holy Communion:	The first Sunday of each month and every Saturday evening service
Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals:	Contact either Pastor Steve or Pastor Harriette.

Please call the church office for more information (847-352-8181)