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Fatigue
On Sunday we listened to stories about fatigue. Sleeping disciples overcome with grief. A Martha Stewart of the New Testament feverishly working to create hospitality and in her fatigue complaining to Jesus about the lack of help. Grief and busyness...including church busyness can create weary, tired, bodies and souls. The answer? Sabbath resting. Sabbath is God's gift for renewal. How can you practice Sabbath rest this week? Is there something you can stop doing? Is there a relationship in need of renewal? It's okay to stop. It's okay to say, "No more." It's okay to say "yes" to rest and renewal.
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- Aug 18, 2019Fatigue
FatigueOn Sunday we listened to stories about fatigue. Sleeping disciples overcome with grief. A Martha Stewart of the New Testament feverishly working to create hospitality and in her fatigue complaining to Jesus about the lack of help. Grief and busyness...including church busyness can create weary, tired, bodies and souls. The answer? Sabbath resting. Sabbath is God's gift for renewal. How can you practice Sabbath rest this week? Is there something you can stop doing? Is there a relationship in need of renewal? It's okay to stop. It's okay to say, "No more." It's okay to say "yes" to rest and renewal.
- Aug 11, 2019Failure
FailureFailure, not something we aspire to or want to admit. But the story of God's people is rife with failure and God's redemption. On Sunday, we looked at Peter's dramatic failure, his thrice denial of Jesus. One might expect that that event was the last time we'd hear about Peter for he would be cut from God's team. What we find though is a much larger story. This story reminds us that Christ CHOSE Peter, Christ CHALLENGED Peter, and Christ CALLED Peter to "Follow me." His story is our story as we too confess, "I have not loved you with all my heart nor my neighbor as myself."
- Aug 4, 2019Fear
FearOn Sunday we heard the story of people frightened by change, fearful of what they might loose if God's preferred future happened for God's people. They sought to impede God's vision through ridicule and conspiracy theories. We can find ourselves in their shoes. When change happens, we fear what we might loose, position and status, familiar and favored things, even buildings and a sense of place.
- Jul 28, 2019Questions
QuestionsGod is at work all around us at all times. Will we see his work? Are our eyes open? Are we inviting the Holy Spirit to grow our capacity to "see"? This is the take away we ended on this Sunday. We ask God questions that arise from our anxieties. We ask God to fill in the blanks of life. God invites us to deep trust and dependency, to follow and to see his work unfolding all around us.
- Jul 14, 2019Hope
HopeBiblical HOPE is rooted in the character and promises of God. Abram and Sarai are examples of this. They trusted and set out. They faltered and fell. They questioned and fussed. But always they came back to their need and ours to trust in the steadfast love of God and God's ability, as the Apostle Paul said, "To do more than we could ever ask or dream" (Ephesians 3:20).
- Jul 7, 2019Vision
VisionIn Nehemiah's story we find "trail markers" to help us develop a vision for our future. A Holy Disatisfaction with our "rubble." Time given to Serious Prayer. Are we at these points? Does our concern for the state of FUMC move us to intentional intercession for God's Spirit to breath life and vision into our Governance Board and Church family? Nehemiah took the next step. It was Risk-Taking but necessary. He begins to make requests of one in a position of influence who could open doors of possibilities. Lastlly Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem and cultivates Shared-Ownership of the vision God has given him.
- Jun 30, 2019Growing Young
Growing YoungThis morning we welcomed Scott Schueler to worship and share a message with us.
- Jun 23, 2019Urgency
UrgencyOn June 23 we looked at Israel's story of change and uncertainty. Much like them, Faith UMC has experienced change and uncertainty as our worshiping numbers have declined and our overall age has increased. For Israel and Faith UMC a sense of urgency begs us to Look Forward.
- Jun 16, 2019Sent
SentJesus called us to life but in a challenging way. He sends us to our neighbors and co-workers, our friends and acquaintances. As Jesus-sent people we are to agents of liberation and life to these persons and groups. How is this possible? First we need to be a filled with the Spirit of Jesus - another name for the Holy Spirit. Begin each day inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh. 2nd,as Jesus-sent people we share the words of Jesus. Ask the Spirit to give you an awareness for opportunities to share a word of encouragement, welcome, love, forgiveness, wisdom etc. 3rd, as Jesus-sent people we pray for opportunities to do the deeds of Jesus - kindness, compassion, justice. Pray, "Holy Spirit fill me today, give me opportunities to speak words, to act in ways that reflect Jesus and bless others. Amen."
- Jun 9, 2019Empowered
Empowered
- Jun 2, 2019The Power of Unity
The Power of UnityGuest speaker, Michael Milo
- May 19, 2019Listen to Me
Listen to MeOn Sunday we were invited to become people who listen to Jesus. How's that going for you? While God can speak through creation, music, the counsel of wise people, the primary way God wants to speak is through Scripture. So I invite you to pick a time, pick a place, pick a bible you can understand and begin to slowly read the Gospel of Luke. Look for that word or phrase that pops out to you or the image that comes to mind. Pray these back to God in praise, in requests, in questions, lament or gratitude. Read and invite the Good Shepherd to speak to you.
- May 12, 2019Real Stories (Michael Milo, Mark Kelly, Sherry Sutherby)
Real Stories (Michael Milo, Mark Kelly, Sherry Sutherby)This Sunday we heard from two members of our Faith family. Two members on their journey with Christ. Two members learning what life looks like as they seek to follow Jesus. Did their stories help you look at your own stories? When you hear from non-clergy people about their relationship with Jesus, does it make you think about yours? Did Sunday's worship spark new questions, cause you to try something new this week? Jesus invites you to a life rooted in him.
- May 5, 2019Follow Me
Follow MeOn Sunday we asked the question, "What baggage do I carry that keeps or limits me from following Jesus into flourishing? Worth, Competency, Pride/Ego, Fear...something else? Have you encountered any of these this week? In what circumstances? How did you respond? Were you able to let go of some baggage and trust his love, his presence, his resurrection power?
- Apr 28, 2019Believe in Me
Believe in MeRemember...the resurrection is real, physical, historical. It is the single greatest event in human history. Death and sin in all its variations have been defeated. Forgiveness, new life, hope are real. And now we are invited to walk with the risen Jesus in anticipation of his return when all will be made right, new creation. We are to live our lives as if this has already happened, a witness to the new creation God is bringing and will bring. This is why we're committed to reconciliation, loving our enemies, justice, creation care, healing, peace-making, faith-sharing and more. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Thanks be to God!!!
- Apr 21, 2019Believing
BelievingChrist is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!! What a blessing we experienced on Sunday as our Worship Choir, Faith Fire and Hand Bells lead us in jubilant praise of our risen Lord. Mary Magdalene's story of devastating loss and grief became our story. Her story invites us to believe life can be filled with hope because we have met the One who has conquered sin in all its forms and death itself. Thanks be to God!
