Don't forget the registration deadline for the High School Conference Retreat is THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18th! Get your forms and money in to me this week. It's going to be awesome!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Middle School Conference Retreat
We had a blast at the middle school conference retreat at Eagle Eyrie this past weekend! The theme was "Words with Friends" and we explored the words: Kingdom of God, Justice, Faith and Evangelism. Amanda Garber, pastor at RISE: A United Methodist Faith Community, was an awesome keynote speaker, and everyone enjoyed the Logan Jones Band. Take a look:
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Speak Series: I'm Supposed to Do What?
Up until now, we've been talking a lot in this series about how God calls us to live as Disciples. This week, we focused on God's calling on our lives to go and MAKE disciples! We took a good look at evangelism...what it means, how God calls us to share the good news with others, and what kinds of styles we should probably stay away from when we evangelize. We took time traveling around the room writing our answers and thoughts to several questions:
Then we got into pairs and looked at two stories in the Bible of evangelism: John 4:27-42 and Acts 17:22-34. Both of these stories have similarities and differences...can you name some?
God calls us to share the Good News using both our words and our actions! How we live as disciples can be an important witness to others, and we are also called to talk with others about our faith. What's important is that we do these things in love. Pressuring someone into being a Christian or coming to church is not how God calls us to act. We are to love others, encourage them and share in conversation with them. Before closing in prayer, we came up with our "Most Wanted" list. We prayerfully considered someone in our lives that we need to commit ourselves to sharing the Good News with. We then wrote that person's initials on a specific side of the chalkboard. We will continue to check back with one another to see what ways we have loved this person and shared the Good News with them. Who would be on your "Most Wanted" list? Prayerfully consider who that person might be, and comment on this post with their initials. I will add your responses to our most wanted list as we continue to pray for those on the list and each other.
This Friday, I will be venturing to Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg with 7 of our fantastic middle schoolers for the Virginia Conference Middle School Retreat! Then I will see everyone else on Sunday night for FUSION Gathering at 6pm! I hope everyone has a great week!
- What reasons do Christians have for evangelizing?
- What are some of the common fears Christians have about sharing their faith?
- In your opinion, how should a Christian evangelize? What methods or styles are most appropriate?
- What are the most important ideas to share--or questions to ask--when you're talking to someone about your faith?
Then we got into pairs and looked at two stories in the Bible of evangelism: John 4:27-42 and Acts 17:22-34. Both of these stories have similarities and differences...can you name some?
God calls us to share the Good News using both our words and our actions! How we live as disciples can be an important witness to others, and we are also called to talk with others about our faith. What's important is that we do these things in love. Pressuring someone into being a Christian or coming to church is not how God calls us to act. We are to love others, encourage them and share in conversation with them. Before closing in prayer, we came up with our "Most Wanted" list. We prayerfully considered someone in our lives that we need to commit ourselves to sharing the Good News with. We then wrote that person's initials on a specific side of the chalkboard. We will continue to check back with one another to see what ways we have loved this person and shared the Good News with them. Who would be on your "Most Wanted" list? Prayerfully consider who that person might be, and comment on this post with their initials. I will add your responses to our most wanted list as we continue to pray for those on the list and each other.
This Friday, I will be venturing to Eagle Eyrie in Lynchburg with 7 of our fantastic middle schoolers for the Virginia Conference Middle School Retreat! Then I will see everyone else on Sunday night for FUSION Gathering at 6pm! I hope everyone has a great week!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Chesterfield Berry Farm
We had a blast at Chesterfield Berry Farm on Sunday!
Check it out:
See you all tomorrow night for Midweek Meal & Mission at 5:30pm, then on Sunday at 6pm for FUSION Gathering!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Speak Series: What Are My Spiritual Gifts?
This week we talked about spiritual gifts. We often understand spiritual gifts to be things we are good at. However, sometimes God gives us spiritual gifts of things that we are not so great at! Think about Moses. Moses had some sort of speech impediment and yet God called him to lead the Hebrew people and confront Pharaoh about the injustices happening. God works in us through our strengths and our weaknesses!
We took a look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and learned that every believer receives a spiritual gift and that these gifts are given for us to help bring about the Kingdom of God. There are also a variety of different gifts and they are given to us by the Holy Spirit. We talked about ways we have seen others use their spiritual gifts, and took a look at what spiritual gifts we may have and how we can use them. We looked at Timothy's story (2 Timothy 1:1-14) and looked at the spiritual gifts Timothy might have had to lead the church. God gives us the gifts we need to accomplish the tasks he sets before us.
We each wrote a letter to ourselves, including how we feel God is encouraging us and challenging us and how God may be gifting us to serve the church and the world! We folded these into an envelope and addressed them to ourselves. Sometime down the road, I will send them out as a reminder to everyone of the things God is doing in their lives!
What spiritual gifts has God given you? Administration, celibacy, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith, giving, healing, helping others, hospitality, interpreting tongues, knowledge, leadership, martyrdom, mercy, miracles, prophecy, service, speaking in tongues, teaching, voluntary poverty, wisdom, worship? Comment on this post with your responses.
YOUTH & PARENTS: Don't forget that this Sunday, October 30th, we will not have a regular youth meeting at 6pm. Instead we will meet at church at 1pm and take a trip to Chesterfield Berry Farm for an afternoon full of hayrides, corn mazes and more! Cost is $10. Please let me (Lyndsie) know by Friday if you plan on going so I can make sure we have enough drivers. Parents, if you are interested in driving, let me know!
We took a look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and learned that every believer receives a spiritual gift and that these gifts are given for us to help bring about the Kingdom of God. There are also a variety of different gifts and they are given to us by the Holy Spirit. We talked about ways we have seen others use their spiritual gifts, and took a look at what spiritual gifts we may have and how we can use them. We looked at Timothy's story (2 Timothy 1:1-14) and looked at the spiritual gifts Timothy might have had to lead the church. God gives us the gifts we need to accomplish the tasks he sets before us.
We each wrote a letter to ourselves, including how we feel God is encouraging us and challenging us and how God may be gifting us to serve the church and the world! We folded these into an envelope and addressed them to ourselves. Sometime down the road, I will send them out as a reminder to everyone of the things God is doing in their lives!
What spiritual gifts has God given you? Administration, celibacy, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith, giving, healing, helping others, hospitality, interpreting tongues, knowledge, leadership, martyrdom, mercy, miracles, prophecy, service, speaking in tongues, teaching, voluntary poverty, wisdom, worship? Comment on this post with your responses.
YOUTH & PARENTS: Don't forget that this Sunday, October 30th, we will not have a regular youth meeting at 6pm. Instead we will meet at church at 1pm and take a trip to Chesterfield Berry Farm for an afternoon full of hayrides, corn mazes and more! Cost is $10. Please let me (Lyndsie) know by Friday if you plan on going so I can make sure we have enough drivers. Parents, if you are interested in driving, let me know!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Speak: Picked for God's Team
In Scripture, we see that God often seems to call the least likely candidates to help bring about God's kingdom! Last week we talked about what it means to be disciples of Christ. This week we looked at how God chooses people for different tasks!
We first took a look at Jeremiah. God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, and Jeremiah's response was "but I'm only a child!" But God knew that Jeremiah could do the job, because he was faithful! We also looked at Amos. God also called Amos to be a prophet. Amos was just a shepherd, but God knew that Amos was faithful and would obey God's calling no matter what. Amos had a rough time as a prophet--no one liked him or listened to what he said--but Amos continued to do what God asked him to do. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also received a calling from God. She was to give birth to the Son of God! She was just a teenager, and would endure much hardship for being pregnant before she was married to Joseph. But God gave her strength and the angel told her to not be afraid, and Mary listened to God and stayed faithful.
God doesn't ask us to be perfect, skilled or even popular people in order to be God's disciples. He simply asks us to follow Him and be faithful! What is it that God is calling you to do? Comment on this post with your responses.
We first took a look at Jeremiah. God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, and Jeremiah's response was "but I'm only a child!" But God knew that Jeremiah could do the job, because he was faithful! We also looked at Amos. God also called Amos to be a prophet. Amos was just a shepherd, but God knew that Amos was faithful and would obey God's calling no matter what. Amos had a rough time as a prophet--no one liked him or listened to what he said--but Amos continued to do what God asked him to do. Mary, the mother of Jesus, also received a calling from God. She was to give birth to the Son of God! She was just a teenager, and would endure much hardship for being pregnant before she was married to Joseph. But God gave her strength and the angel told her to not be afraid, and Mary listened to God and stayed faithful.
God doesn't ask us to be perfect, skilled or even popular people in order to be God's disciples. He simply asks us to follow Him and be faithful! What is it that God is calling you to do? Comment on this post with your responses.
Don't forget to join us next Sunday for our movie night!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Speak: My New Job
This week we talked about the job God calls us to as a Christian...being a DISCIPLE! To start off, we paired up and played a game where we had to match old world trades/jobs with their description. Did you know that a luthier is a person who makes and repairs stringed instruments? Or that a smelter is a metal worker? Only one group got them all correct! Way to go Zach and Sarah!
Like these old world trades, Jesus' disciples learned their "trade" of being a disciple by living and working alongside Jesus. In groups we read Luke 14:25-35. Each group wrote down three characteristics of a disciple they found in this passage, along with one question they had about the passage. We discussed how Jesus used hyperbole when he said we must hate our parents, siblings and even ourselves. What Jesus means is that compared to how much we love God, it should look like we hate everyone else! We talked about the reasons some people don't become Christians and live as disciples of Christ. The youth had some really great questions that we tackled together as a group to answer!
Together we discussed ways we can live out our roles as disciples of Jesus while we are at school and at home. Then we each received a piece of fabric. With a fabric marker, we each wrote down one thing God is calling us to do to be better disciples. I challenged everyone to keep this piece of fabric with them throughout the week to remind them to work on what they wrote down. If they bring the piece of fabric back with them next Sunday night and can report on how they have worked on being a better disciple this week, they will get a new FUMC T-shirt!
What is God calling you to do to be a better disciple?
Like these old world trades, Jesus' disciples learned their "trade" of being a disciple by living and working alongside Jesus. In groups we read Luke 14:25-35. Each group wrote down three characteristics of a disciple they found in this passage, along with one question they had about the passage. We discussed how Jesus used hyperbole when he said we must hate our parents, siblings and even ourselves. What Jesus means is that compared to how much we love God, it should look like we hate everyone else! We talked about the reasons some people don't become Christians and live as disciples of Christ. The youth had some really great questions that we tackled together as a group to answer!
Together we discussed ways we can live out our roles as disciples of Jesus while we are at school and at home. Then we each received a piece of fabric. With a fabric marker, we each wrote down one thing God is calling us to do to be better disciples. I challenged everyone to keep this piece of fabric with them throughout the week to remind them to work on what they wrote down. If they bring the piece of fabric back with them next Sunday night and can report on how they have worked on being a better disciple this week, they will get a new FUMC T-shirt!
What is God calling you to do to be a better disciple?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Speak: My New Life
This Sunday at FUSION Gathering we moved our focus from God as the creator, to the God who is still creating and very much still a part of our world! We began with a chalk board reflection on "What do you think it means to be saved?" We then had a hula hoop competition where Dante dominated in both heats! We talked about like the hula hoop, there had to be something that caused the motion of the hula hoop to begin. Similarly, there had to be a causer to set the world in motion. But, God didn't simply set the world in motion and then stop being involved. God is creating anew and is a part of our lives every day.
We took a look at Ephesians 4:17-24 and discussed how the image of clothing (throwing off the old and putting on the new) can help us understand salvation. When we become Christians, God asks us to throw off our old way of life and put on a new one. Salvation is not a one stop shop, either! It is God creating us anew each and every day.
We spent some time in small groups exploring three ways Jesus described himself:
We took a look at Ephesians 4:17-24 and discussed how the image of clothing (throwing off the old and putting on the new) can help us understand salvation. When we become Christians, God asks us to throw off our old way of life and put on a new one. Salvation is not a one stop shop, either! It is God creating us anew each and every day.
We spent some time in small groups exploring three ways Jesus described himself:
Living Water
Bread of Life
Light of Life
We talked about what water, bread and light are like and what they do for us. Then we explored how Jesus is like these things to us and how these images tell us about the new life God offers to us. Instead of our normal prayer circle to close, we passed around bread. As we each took a piece from the loaf, we named one thing we are thankful to God for as our prayer for the evening. I wonder, what are you thankful to God for in your life? Comment on this post with your responses. 
Don't forget your help is needed THIS Sunday after the 11am service with unloading the sheds for the UMW's yard sale. Meet in the Social Hall!
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