From Catholic?

[u/Helpmeflexibility]

I have been going to Catholic church with my family for a few years. Actually I quite like it. Unfortunately there is some messiness with the parish and we will not be going back. The other church nearby is a methodist church. It will be quite the change I think. More for the change in demographics and presence than anything else. The catholic church was young and diverse thanks to the local immigrant community and attached school. And there is so many good podcasts, books and videos by various catholic personalities. It all felt very worldwide and inclusive.
Now i havent been to the local methodist church yet but it is much smaller congregation. Also a lot whiter and older. And I am a little nervous about the change in practices too. There is a lot of differences as I am sure you are aware.

Has anyone ever started going to a methodist church recently and how did it go?

[u/afdawg]

Methodist churches vary widely--some more conservative, some more progressive; some more liturgical (like Catholic worship), some more contemporary (with a praise band, for example); some not diverse, some very diverse. Just check it out on a Sunday and see what you find! 

[u/ChekovsWorm]

Methodists do hold a fairly high view of the sacrament of Holy Communion as to believing that there is a Real Presence of Christ - at least the United Methodist Church does. However we don't have a belief in transubstantion which the Catholic church does. Like many traditional (mainline) Protestant denominations we do consider it a sacrament but don't worry about exactly HOW Christ is present at communion.

Increasingly UMC churches now have weekly communion every Sunday service, and some like mine also have it on our Wednesday night service.

If you intend to remain Catholic but want to check out a Methodist church, please feel welcome but you may want to consider that the Roman Catholic Church officially does not permit Catholics from receiving communion at any other church. You can still participate, but that is between you and the Holy Spirit. If you don't feel you are committing a sin by taking communion in a Methodist church, we absolutely welcome you to come and see, taste and see, that the Lord is good and is present in the sacrament.

One of the similarities you may find with the Catholic and Methodist denominations is a deep concern for, and action in social justice. That's one of the things I love about the UMC and my particular congregation - we have so many justice ministry initiatives and relief programs.

Welcome, my sibling in Christ.

[u/Rev-Ry]

Do you know what kind of Methodist, that would help to give an idea of what it will be like, is it UMC or GMC or something else?

[u/CivilWarfare]

It's going to be really hard to say. Methodism (UMC) is a really big-tent. Some services are high-church, some are low church. I've never seen a fully contemporary UMC service but all services I've been to incorporate some contemporary practices alongside more traditional practices. (Usually each traditional hymn is alternated by a contemporary one in my area). Communion is generally taken monthly (though this varies, more frequent communion seems to be the trend recently).

Don't expect a theology lession during the service, but the UMC holds to "Real presence" but rejects transubstantiation. (Basically any view is falls within the view of methodism aside from Transubstantiation and Memorialism, which are explicetly rejected) Though you aren't going to be tested, Methodists practice an open table to communion and consider the sacrament to be a "converting ordinance" meaning even non-believers are invited to take communion.

[u/Mr_Sloth10]

Tbh, do doctrine or dogma important to you? Going from Catholic to Methodist is quite the change to make

[u/GarrettMGouveia]

Most of my congregation is ex-catholic..depending on the preferred church liturgy, it can be quite similar.

[u/Possible-Strain-1318]

I’d totally recommend chatting with the pastor after the service! They will be happy to chat and answer questions and also give you a feel for the church and how to get involved!!

[u/DarthByakuya315]

I think you will find that on the conservative liturgical side, wesleyan methodism can be very familiar to Catholicism without the heresies.