Midweek Moment

Right now we are in the midst of the study, Just Walk Across the Room. This study is meant to help us see ways we can each engage in evangelism. This study is designed to help take the mystery and fear out of this calling we each have, and replace it with strength and confidence.

Several weeks ago, a member of our study shared the following devotional with me:

“When I was a teen, I witnessed an auto accident. It was a shocking experience that was compounded by what followed. As the only witness to the incident, I spent the ensuing months telling a series of lawyers and insurance adjusters what I had seen. I was not expected to explain the physics of the wreck or the details of the medical trauma. I was asked to tell only what I had witnessed.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be witnesses of what Jesus has done in us and for us. To point people to Christ, we don't need to be able to explain every theological issue or answer every question. What we must do is explain what we have witnessed in our own lives through the cross and the resurrection of the Savior. Even better is that we don't have to rely on ourselves alone to do this. Jesus said, "but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).”

We have learned in this study that what Bill Crowder wrote above is true. We do not have to have all the answers or be able to explain every theological concept. We just have to be faithful. We have to be willing to trust God, place ourselves under the care and direction of the Holy Spirit and just walk across the room. We just have to be willing to share what God has done for us in our lives.

Folks, we are not called to be lone rangers saving the world by our own strength. However, we are called to be faithful disciples willing to empty ourselves of our own pride, ego, and fear, and allow God to fill us with God’s power, strength, and love. Next time you feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to talk to someone about your faith, I want to encourage you to listen. The Holy Spirit is not always going to send you to a stranger, maybe it is a neighbor, co-worker, friend, or relative. It will probably be someone with whom you already have a relationship. I just want you to go, trusting in God and trusting the Holy Spirit. You may not bring that person to faith, but you will bring them one step closer.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

The Incarnation: I AMExodus 2:23b - 25 and Exodus 3:1-15

Bible Challenge 10/27 - 11/02

Greetings All!

We are firmly into the New Testament again, which we will finish before the end of the year. This week we will finish the book of Matthew and get a halfway through the Gospel of Mark.

Mark is believed to have been the first Gospel written, about 50AD, as the other three Gospels all quote it, but Mark does not quote the others. The author is believed to be John Mark, the son of a Jerusalem widow whose home was a meeting place for early believers (Acts 12:12). Mark most likely recorded the event as he heard them firsthand from the disciple Peter. The book's non-Jewish flavor suggests it may be have been written to believers in Rome. At this time, Rome had begun persecuting Christians. This is book is clearly meant to encourage suffering believers. Mark shows Jesus as the suffering servant who came to die as the Savior for the world (including non-Jews). Over 40% of this short gospel focuses upon the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus' final week.

Here is the schedule:

27, Sunday: Matthew 9-12

28, Monday: Matthew 13-16

29, Tuesday: Matthew 17-20

30 - Matthew 21-24

31 - Matthew 25-28

01 - Mark 1-4

02 - Mark 5-8

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are beginning a new preaching series centering on our understanding of the Incarnation of God. The Incarnation is so much more than an event or a definition. The Incarnation influences who we are, what we believe, and how we act. It helps us begin to understand the depth of God's love and the nature of God's character. It points towards a whole new life and set of goals and priorities. Over the next few weeks we will look at the Incarnation as we unpack what it means to us as Disciples of Jesus Christ. So invite a friend and come be a part of the celebration!





2. Pumpkin Patch - The Pumpkin Patch will end next week and we can still use your help. This is a very important event in the life of the church and I want to encourage you to continue volunteer this week. We need people to help sell in the patch and people to help with a few administrative duties. This is a great way to meet the community, help our church, and simply have a great time while doing it all. You can signup to help in the Patch at the Connection Station in the Narthex.





3. Charge Conference - Monday, November 4th, from 6:30pm - 7:30pm you are invited to be part of our Cluster Charge Conference at First UMC, Ocala. We will gather in their Family Life Center for a time of Communion, worshipful work, and Spirit-filled music. I hope you will make plans to attend and come be a part of this time of fellowship and worship.





4. Nursery Help - We are looking for people to help us staff our nursery on Sunday mornings. The number of young people we have in the nursery is growing and needless to say, that is a good thing! If you are interested in helping Ms. Joy care for and teach our kids during worship, please let the church office know. You can email by clicking here, or call 629-5688. Thus far, we have had five people sign up and we are looking for at least eight. Remember the old adage, many hands make light work. I hope you will consider volunteering to help support this ministry.





5. Evangelism Study - We have started a new study entitled, Just Walk Across the Room. This study, written by Bill Hybels, helps shed light on the nature, purpose, and necessity of evangelism. You will be introduced to what evangelism really means, as well as ways all of us can engage in its practice. If evangelism terrifies you, this study is for you. It evangelism confuses you, this study is for you. If evangelism is right up your alley and you have that spiritual gift, this study is for you. So as you can see, this study is for you. We will meet for two more sessions, November 6th, and November 13th, all Wednesdays. The class will be offered twice a day at 11 A.M. and 7 P.M. For more information please visit our website by clicking here.





Advent Conspiracy Update - I have been incredibly moved at how this congregation has responded to support this challenge. Each week I will post an update of how much has been raised towards our goal. If you would like more information about this challenge and the charities that will be supported with the proceeds, please visit our website by clicking here.

Fundraising Thermometer by:
Provided by Easy Fundraising Ideas

Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Last week I was in Leesburg for the first part of the week, leading a gathering for a Conference Board I serve. This group is called Shade and Fresh Water and we have been in existence for about 13 years seeking ways to strengthen the spiritual health of the clergy, their families, and the staff of the Florida Conference. One of the benefits of our group diversity is that we are so blessed to have several Spiritual Directors serve on this board.

This past week, one of these Spiritual Directors would take turns helping us begin our day together. Each day we would meet at 7:30 A.M. with a time of silent prayer and meditation in the small chapel at the Life Enrichment Center. We would enter in, take off our shoes, and sit quietly as we listened to chant music play in the background. It was a tremendous way to start our day, giving the Holy Spirit a place to commune with us, speak to us, and strengthen us.

I was so amazed at how this affected my day. I found myself feeling closer to God. I found my grace and patience towards others and stressful situations had increased. I felt myself operating from a deeper well of strength, a closer sense of being connected to God.

I tell you all of this to invite you to find a way, or renew a way, in which you can connect with God. Maybe you find that quiet time to just sit and listen. Maybe you find that place where you can volunteer and feel the presence of God in your midst. There is no way we can continue to be all God called us to be, if we do not take time to connect with God daily. So look at your routines, readjust if necessary, add new aspects if needed, but I encourage you to connect with God, not once a week, but daily. God is eager to connect with you, God just needs the opportunity.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Laity Sunday: The CallLuke 10:1-12 and John 21:15-19

This past Sunday was Laity Sunday. I love this time as we celebrate the wonderful gifts and diversity that make us the body of Christ. This past week we had our wonderful laity involved in all aspects of the service from Monica praying in Spanish, to Melva praying in Dutch, and Ed teaching us the difference between novice and professional.

This weeks message was brought to us by our new Music Ministry Director, Joan. I pray you will listen again and remember how God has called  and equipped each of us to answer the call.

A huge thank you to all of our laity for bringing Christ into the lives of so many people. You are a wonderful community giving a tremendous gift.

Bible Challenge 10/20 - 10/26

Greetings All!

This week we finish up the Old Testament with Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi and head into the first four chapters of the New Testament with the Gospel of Matthew.

Haggai was one of the prophets who ministered after the return of the people from exile to Jerusalem. Both chapters of this book urge the people to proceed with the rebuilding of the temple.

Like Haggai, Zechariah ministered to the exiles after they returned to Jerusalem. His name means "Yahweh has remembered" and he was of the priestly line. The first six chapters deal mainly with the nation's past history told through a series of eight visions. Two years elapse between that and chapters 7-8 which deal with the question of whether the days of mourning for the destruction of the city should be kept any longer.

The last of the books of the Old Testament, Malachi is named for a prophet. And the name means "My messenger or God's messenger." There is virtually no biographical information concerning the author in this book and very little historical information for placing it as well. We can infer that Malachi was a prophet in Jerusalem at some point after the return of the exiles and probably before Nehemiah. He speaks out against lax religious and social behavior of the Israelites, in particular the priests.

Matthew is the first of the Gospels recorded in the New Testament and is also one of the three "synoptic Gospels" (meaning similar or together because they include some of the same stories in the same sequences and the same words - John is the exception). This Gospel is attributed to one of Jesus' disciples, Matthew the tax collector. And from the information and perspective he includes we can tell that he was writing to a primarily Jewish audience: he stresses Jewish law, he doesn't explain Jewish customs, and in the beginning of the Gospel he includes a genealogy which takes Jesus' ancestry all the way back to Father Abraham. There are seven main sections in this Gospel, with a prologue about Jesus' early life, five sections covering his ministry and the last section about his death and resurrection.

I hope you reading this week is full of new revelations. Here is the schedule:

20, Sunday: Zephaniah 3; Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1

21, Monday: Zechariah 2-5

22, Tuesday: Zechariah 6-9

23, Wednesday: Zechariah 10-13

24, Thursday: Zechariah 14

25, Friday: Malachi 1-4

26, Saturday: Matthew 1-4

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.