Celebrate the Gift

From October 2012 Beacon Newsletter

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

           

Paul offered this enthusiastic greeting to a church he loved. The church sent him words of encouragement, supported him financially and was making disciples for Jesus Christ. Paul knew that the church in Philippi was a gift to himself and to the world. His loving letter to the church demonstrated that he celebrated that gift.

           

This October we will, like Paul, celebrate the gifts of the church. Specifically, we will celebrate the gift of First UMC’s people and its mission. Literally, thousands of lives are affected, enriched and changed by the ministries of our church. From our faith formation opportunities to our outreach programs and mission projects, we are a people transformed by God to transform the world.

           

On October 14 we will celebrate the gift of the mission of our church. On October 21 we will celebrate the gift of people in our church and on the 28^th we will celebrate the gift of our church. On that Sunday we will also give thanks for the gifts by making our financial pledges for 2013.

           

First UMC is a community of faith that reflects Paul’s words to the Philippian church,  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Blessings,

Pastor Sherry