(music: "Build Your Kingdom" by Rend Collective)
Girdwood Chapel was founded in 1951 as a church under the Alaska Mission of the Methodist Church. It was, and still is, the only Protestant church in Girdwood. Our congregation represents a variety of denominational backgrounds. Together, as followers of Jesus Christ, we unite in worship and service to our community.
United Methodists are the second-largest Protestant denomination in America. We have been around for more than 200 years. United Methodists hold to the historic doctrines of the Christian faith: For instance, we believe that:
• God speaks to us through the Bible; it's God's Word
• God is three Persons, yet one. Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit refer to the threefold nature of God
• We're evangelical and believe in spreading the Good News not only in church, but out of it. One way to put it is:
Church is a verb!
Our denomination's mission statement in recent years has been: "Open Hearts. Open Doors. Open Minds." While we have a strong faith, we believe in allowing some room to ask questions and to grapple with difficult issues of our day. We pray that we do so with grace, compassion, and the love of God.
One of the things Methodists have been known to emphasize is a "practical divinity." Our faith is a social faith. It's one that is lived out in the world because a "faith without works is dead." (James 2:20)
At Girdwood Chapel, in particular, we value our time together...our worship. We celebrate Holy Communion most every Sunday and see it as a weekly celebration of God's gift of grace to us. We value children and include them in our worship. We value the Earth and strive to be more accountable for our stewardship of it. We value outreach to our community and strive to bring persons into relationship with Christ by finding ways to love those around us through presence and service.
At the close of each gathering, the assembly traditionally stands in a circle around the sanctuary, joins hands, and sings the chorus of "On Eagles' Wings."
If you do not yet have a church home, we hope that you will find it with us here at Girdwood Chapel.
Our Mission
"Love God. Love Others. Change the World."