Who we are
Epworth is a loving, supportive community of regular, ordinary people who are growing together in faith. We are an extended family who have found hope in Jesus. That doesn't mean our lives are easy or we have everything figured out. It means we are on this journey together, sharing resources and encouragement. We are not alone, and that is a blessing. We want others to experience the hope and comfort we have found in faith and fellowship.
Where we come from
Why the name Epworth? The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, was born and raised in Epworth, Lincolnshire, a town in England. It's a fairly common name in Methodist circles (which explains the need for such long url/email addresses).
Epworth United Methodist church has been in Ottawa for decades. Heck, our Turkey Dinner has been around for more than 75 years!
About 50 years ago we moved locations and purchased our current property on Gentleman Road. We know that the building not the church! The building is where the church *prefers to* gather for worship.
Over 20 years ago our congregation founded a senior living co-op called Epworth Village; they are now a separate nonprofit, but we are still friendly neighbors!
Head Start classes and Weight Watcher meetings are held in our building (when we are open).
We are one of three United Methodist congregations in Ottawa, and we love combining efforts with our sister churches here in town, whether we gather to worship or serve our community in Jesus' name.
Where we're headed
The year 2020 was a challenging year due to COVID-19. It has unfolded in ways NONE of us could have imagined. Our weekly worship used to be online via Zoom. But now we are safely back in the Sanctuary to worship in fellowship. We love our nieghbors so we wear face coverings to do no harm to them. We are always on the lookout for ways we can share the Good News of God's love in practical ways with our neighbors. At Epworth, everyone is welcome. No exceptions.
What this means for you
At Epworth, we are committed to making room for everyone. Wherever you are at in your faith journey, there is a place for you within this community. We share a united hope and faith in God's love for everyone. That doesn't mean we agree on everything or expect folks to follow a certain pathway on their faith journey. This process is both messy and beautiful, and that actually describes our church family pretty well!
If you have any questions or are interested in connecting with us, we'd love to hear from you.
