1. Joining a local church makes a strong statement to yourself, your family, and your community that Christ and his Church are important in your life.
2. Church membership is an affirmation that you are on a faith journey of trusting God, applying Jesus’ teachings in your life, and living through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Church membership should be as current as your bank account or your address on insurance policies, reflecting an ongoing relationship with a church family that keeps faith alive.
4. When you join Trinity Wilmette, it becomes your church. You are not just a guest or visitor; you become a member of the church family and feel at home.
5. Churches are happy to transfer membership even if the transfer is only for a few months.
6. Many of God’s greatest blessings come through other people who are close to us and to God. As we link our faith and life together with other members of this church family, all of our lives are enriched.
7. Sharing worship, study, and friendship are ways in which we constantly grow in the Christian faith. We are all “just learning” about God, the Word of God in the Bible, Jesus our friend and savior, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
8. Trinity Wilmette needs you: your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness. Your active participation strengthens the visible witness of Trinity Wilmette in the community and the wider world for the sake of Jesus.
9. Membership in a United Methodist Church is not a diploma for what you have learned or a gold medal for what you have done. It is the doorway into a learning, growing, and serving community.
10. And finally, it is fulfilling what God wants you to do.

As followers of Jesus, we are disciples helping each other to grow in faith together through worship, spiritual growth, giving, and serving.

1) WORSHIP

Attend worship online or in-person every week unless sick or out of town.  Set aside the time.  Sing and pray with all your heart.  Listen and respond to God.

“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).

2) SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Set aside time to increase your knowledge and love of God, especially in a small group.  Use the means of grace, including worship, prayer, Bible study, Lord’s Supper, fasting, and Christian conversation.

“Abide in me as I abide in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” (John 15:4).

3) GIVING

Give a percentage of your income to God to show your gratitude in proportion to God’s blessing.  Strive to tithe 10% or beyond.  Additional offerings include love offerings, thank offerings, “Temple” offerings, and mission offerings.  Make a legacy gift with your will.

“Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce” (Proverbs 3:9).

4) SERVING

Do all the good you can by serving the church and the world with Christ-like service.  Bless others with your gifts and talents.  Make disciples by inviting others to worship and church activities.

“Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).

Register

If you have questions or are ready to become a member, contact Pastor Brian (pastorbrian@trinitywilmette.org) or Denny Roberts (robertsdenny860@gmail.com) or simply register to become a member [click here].  We will help you find a date to join with a special time during Sunday worship. 

Sponsor

To help you connect with others and build community, we want you to have a sponsor who is an active member of Trinity Wilmette.  You can request someone you know as a sponsor, or Pastor Brian can recommend someone. 

Baptism

Because baptism is the sacramental sign of our membership in the church, if you have been baptized, you would renew your baptism during the service.  In our tradition, we do not “re-baptize” because God’s promise in your baptism is still valid.  Therefore, we honor baptisms from other Christian communities.  If you have not been baptized, you would be baptized on the Sunday you join.

Profession of Faith or Transfer of Membership?

New members either transfer their membership from another congregation or join Trinity Wilmette by profession of faith.  If you are not an active member of another congregation, you would join Trinity Wilmette by “profession of faith.”  If you are transferring your membership from another congregation, please provide that congregation’s name and address, and Trinity Wilmette will contact them on your behalf.