I'm New

We hope you will visit us in person soon. Expect a warm welcome. We know it's a little intimidating to come into a church for the first time.  Maybe you are new to the area. Maybe you've never been to a Methodist Church. Maybe you've never been to a church at all. 

We are all seeking answers and guidance, and you will be welcomed as "one of us." Once you enter the church you will be greeted and given a bulletin by an usher. The bulletin will provide you with everything you need to know about the service you will be experiencing. You can expect to be warmly greeted during the time when we greet each other at the beginning of the service.

Children are welcome and regardless of their ages, all may participate in all aspects of our service. For your convenience, we do have a staffed nursery, but infants and toddlers are also welcome to stay in all church services if their parents prefer that. It is important for you to know that we take the care of your little ones seriously, and our church supports a child safety policy which is updated annually, at all functions involving our children.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Methodist Church welcomes all (non- members, visitors, and children) to the Lord's Table. When we celebrate communion, please come forward at the direction of the ushers to receive the bread and the cup

Driving Directions

Burns Memorial Methodist Church is located at 2372 Lumpkin Road, Augusta, GA 30906. We are conveniently just off of I-520.

  • If driving south on I-520, exit on Deans Bridge Road, take a left on Deans Bridge Road and take a right on Lumpkin Road.
  • If driving north on I-520, exit on Peach Orchard Road, take a right on Peach Orchard Road and a left on Lumpkin Road.

Core Beliefs

Traditional Christianity. The Methodist church was founded in the 1700's by John and Charles Wesley, brothers who were also priests in the Church of England. They founded Methodism as a way to reenergize the present church, only after some time did Methodists become a separate body. Like our mother church, we are a creedal faith, and the Apostles Creed summarizes nicely the essentials of our faith. This is a good place to start, for more about the uniqueness of Methodism, join the Methodist 101 class taught by the Pastor.

Joining the Church

Becoming a Methodist begins with a desire to grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ as part of a local congregation. For Methodists, being baptized and committing to active participation in a church community are the first steps to becoming a member.

Baptism marks the beginning of our lifelong journey as disciples of Jesus Christ. In baptism, we are initiated into the Christian church and incorporated into the community of God's people, the body of Christ. Those who have never been baptized will receive the sacrament of baptism before becoming members. Those previously baptized will reaffirm the Baptismal Covenant as part of their membership vows.

In those vows, we promise to faithfully live out the call to serve Christ through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.

We give praise and thanks to God every time we welcome a new member. If you want to join Burns Memorial UMC, let the pastor know either before or after any Sunday morning service. You can also call the church office to arrange a new member meeting with the pastor to learn more about what it means to be a member and how to begin your faith journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

A SHORT HISTORY

In the 1930's South Augusta was quickly moving from farm country to a suburb of the city. As the new homes were being built, and people came, preachers soon followed. In 1935, Rev. Robert Kerr was visiting the Richards and Jones families and attended a ball game at the Fleming Park, and he suggested starting a community Sunday School. The kids needed church! For the next 10 years an interdenominational Sunday School met at Fleming School. Then in 1945 a group from the community decided to form a Methodist church. At the organizational meeting, it was decided to name the church George Doster Burns Memorial Methodist Church, after George and Blanche Burns' son, who passed away in October 1939. The church was built with love and hard work by the members and on December 22, 1946, Rev. Bob Taylor held the first service, a Christmas service, in the new church. The pulpit crafted for our first sanctuary is still being used in the Fellowship Sunday School Class to this day. In 1953, it was decided that a bigger church needed to be built and the six acres that the church sits on was purchased. On August 29, 1954, the cornerstone was laid. The first service was held in the new church on January 16, 1955. In the 75 years (1945 - 2020) since its founding, Burns has had some years where weekly attendance was several hundred people, and other years where we average more like 80 souls, counting all the babies. We've been up, and we've been down, but the Burns Memorial Methodist Community is still here, still doing well, and still seeking to live out the call to love God and to love one another.

Serving

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

MEMBERSHIP VOW

Christians who are baptized are invited to join the church. Those who join the church are asked these questions.

Do you here, in the presence of God, and this congregation, renew the solemn promise and vow that you made, or that was made in your name, at your Baptism?

I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and pledge your allegiance to his kingdom?

I do.

Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

I do.

Do you promise accord to the grace give you to live a Christian life and always remain a faithful member of Christ's holy Church?

I do.

And will you be loyal to the Methodist Church, and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?

I will.

From the 1964 UMC Hymnal, Revised 2012 GC

Church is not intended to be a spectator sport. Instead, the apostle Paul likens it to a body, in which each part has an important role to play. We believe that when you join a Christian community, you are bringing your part with you! Most of the work at Burns Memorial is done through volunteers, and you will be asked at some point how you would like to help.

Some of the ways that people help at Burns are through serving as greeters, or ushers, or liturgies, or preparing and serving communion. Some share their gifts in the choir or in special singing groups. Some coordinate taking food to the grieving. Some send out notes to the homebound. Some help with the audio and video equipment. Some teach Bible Classes. Some work in Missions, visiting and gathering support for various important ministries. Some help administer the finances, some organize the maintenance of the property. In other words, there are a lot of people helping out to keep this community going!

If you join Burns, you will be asked to help out in some area if you can. You might be the eye, or the hand, or even the needed brain for the body!