Vision 2017: from Good to Great “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great [churches], principally because we have good [churches]. Few people attain great lives, […]
We are the risk takers, the change makers, the Adventurers of life! Welcome to 2017! By now you should know we are on a great adventure as Christians. This means we do not shy away from challenges, we do not hunker down in fear or play the blame game. We are called, we choose, and […]
2014 Garage Sale Handout Each year we collect our excess, our unwanted trinkets and our overpriced treasures and offer them to be sold for God’s Kingdom and for God’s Glory. This year we raised over $4,700 to touch our community, our nation and our world with the love and Grace of Jesus Christ. Let’s join […]
Children’s Ministry Mission for 2013 “It should be your care, therefore, and mine, to elevate the minds of our children and exalt their courage; to accelerate and animate their industry and activity; to excite in them an habitual contempt of meanness, abhorrence of injustice and inhumanity, and an ambition to excel in every capacity, faculty, […]
Satisfy- to fulfill the minimum expectations, needs, or demands It’s hard not to have an Easter hangover. I get caught up in our Lenten studies, engaged in the events of the Passion of Christ leading to a special sunrise on Easter morning. So it’s probably not surprising that I find myself on Monday morning scratching my head and wondering what […]
Did you know (I didn’t) that the word passion comes from the Latin word “pati,” which means to suffer or endure? The connection resonates with me. Passion is intense, it pulls us, it drives us to new places, and sometimes, it even eludes us. Yet we often think of our passions as only enjoyment and […]
Crowds are clueless. They never get it right. They cheer for the superstars, and look past the saints. They glorify the rich and even cast votes for a new American Idol. Crowds are addicted to all the hype, bling and buzz they can consume, but then complain of loneliness, fatigue and overload. They look for […]
I am incredibly excited about our trip to Haiti! The ironic thing is that when I attended our first “missions team” meeting about six months ago I had no intentions of being anything more than a supporting member of the group who helped from behind the scenes. In fact, had it not been for Erin’s interest […]
What Specific events have helped inspire you to participate in this mission trip? Over the last several years, I’ve developed a passion for international mission. Pastor Steve’s accounts of his Haiti experiences and my own experience as a missionary in Ghana have inspired me to participate in this trip. Why do you feel called to […]
Haiti Team, That is a great answer to prayer! I will happily ride in a dump truck. Never done it before–I think Haiti will add more new “firsts” for me. I am getting more excited about the trip as it gets closer. I found a great free app for my phone: Brainscape French Creole. Apparently it […]
Sojourn: To dwell for a time; to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident or as a stranger, not considering the place as a permanent habitation; to delay; to tarry. I believe we all have a deep ache in our hearts to change lives and make a lasting, positive difference, to leave our […]
Eternal and ever present God, we open ourselves to you in the spirit of reverent prayer. We pray for your guiding spirit as we have gathered to send these, your disciples, on a new and exciting journey. Your love has redeemed them, Your message has inspired them and your Holy Spirit has called them from […]
This will be the third journey to Haiti in as many years. I’ve made this journey each year to reconnect with my spiritual roots, feel something spiritual and to see life from a completely different perspective I can’t find around here. So I travel to a place that is about as different from my ‘normal’ […]
Two Weeks from Today! I leave for ten days with five other people on a journey to Haiti, not just a different country, but a different world. Although I can’t take you all with me, I’d still like you to be part of the experience (if you want). Here’s How… On February 16, our team […]
I have a vision of a Generous Church… gen·er·ous 1. Liberal in giving or sharing. 2. Characterized by nobility 3. Marked by abundance; ample 2. free from pettiness in character and thought, 3. full or plentiful Generous in their praise of God and care of others. Generous with their resources to fulfill a mission that is challenging, inspiring, and […]
This coming February 16th a team from FUMC will be travelling to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to meet, connect and share our faith with our brothers and sister in Haiti. The red arrow point to the location in a place called Bon Repo, Haiti. If you follow this link you’ll be able to see the surrounding area […]
We’re all sojourners, refugees in a foreign land and to some extent, nomads. We cannot stay here on Earth forever, our destination lies beyond to a place we’ve never been before, or can’t remember if we did. We wander through life trying to find our way, hearing music that sounds familiar but we can’t quite place. We’re like […]
There was an interesting experiment done in the 1920 that examined our inability to walk in a straight line while blindfolded. It seems that we all are curiously unable to walk in a straight line without some sort of external reference to know when we’re off course. As a result, we continue to walk […]
I had a conversation this week about the purpose of the church, it’s mission and even about its ability to help us make sense of our lives in the confusing, chaotic world in which we live. It seems that we’re all a bit confused, perhaps even conflicted, by the relevance of our faith […]
Have you ever picked up a good mystery novel only to read the end of the book before you had ventured very far into it? When you do finally get around to reading all those middle chapters, you already know something the characters don’t and so with a sort of divine perspective you […]
Soccer isn’t a diversion from life. Soccer is flow, finesse, focus and fair-play. Life in 90 minutes or less. For the last couple of years I’ve been more intentional about getting outside the church instead of looking at the world through stained glass window and polished brass. If you haven’t gathered my now, most of […]
I think everyone should have an “I believe” statement. It’s a place to collect your values, your priorities and your goals. Every cause produces and effect, every effect is looking for its cause. Be more of a cause in your life than an effect. I have found that most people are happy just being an effect […]
The story of Jesus healing the paralytic in Mark 2:1-14 is more than just another example of Jesus’ power of healing and restoration, it is also the dedication and compassion of a group that brought this paralytic to Jesus. It is not enough to know the truth if you never do anything with it. It […]
An innocent man is condemned by his community, abandoned by his friends, betrayed by a close associate, scourged until the flesh is just barely covering his bones, hung on a piece of wood in public to slowly suffocate, and is mocked, beaten and ridculed in the process. And we call this a “Good Friday”? Are […]
I had to take my car into the garage last week for a tune-up. It was running very rough and wouldn’t even idle when in gear, which meant I had to put it in neutral every time I came to a stoplight or traffic slowed down. What a pain! I think it was actually misfiring […]
Surprised by Haiti It has been my experience that God usually delivers more than I ask for, better than I hope for and in ways I never expect. Of course when my view of the world is too small, or my heart grown too cold, anything God does will be bigger, better and […]
I know that there are hundreds of different ways to describe the church as it exists today, some good, some not so good. This ambiguity leaves many confused and struggling to create a definition all their own, often with disastrous consequences. I though I would give several definitions a try. See which one describes you best and then take a stab […]
Church means many different things to many people. To some it is an event, a building, an organization, a place on the map, a charity, and a group of people. When we actually consider getting involved in “a church” we are bombarded by all kinds of internal questions: What will I get out of this? […]
Following Jesus is never as easy as some would have you think. If you are experiencing times of doubt, troubles, grief, anxiety, fear, and depression, you are in company with the Apostle Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, David, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph … well you get the pictures. Life is difficult and being a […]
A look at the faithfulness, generosity and gratitude of First United Methodist Church Williamstown, West Virginia Making Disciples ~ Making a Difference 2011 Annual Report FUMC Homepage Related posts: Centennial Moment II Centennial Moment XIII Centennial Moment XV Centennial Moment I
“Herod was disturbed, and all of Jerusalem with him.” Matthew 2:1-12 When we stop to consider all the activities of Christmas we are left with two questions: “So What? Now What?” When Herod encounter the Magi, he was disturbed by their presence, their questions and their conviction to travel so far. The problem was that […]
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson As we step into the flow of God’s story, I feel there is a growing excitement that God is moving us, shaping and equipping us to live beyond the ordinary. We are, after […]
What is our task in this world as children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus? Our task is reconciliation. Wherever we go we see divisions among people – in families, communities, cities, countries, and continents. All these divisions are tragic reflections of our separation from God. The truth that all people belong together […]
“At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matthew 11:25-26 When we get past all the frenzy of the Christmas experience, what’s left with the nagging […]
New Birth – A Living Hope Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 Hope for the Future “For I know the plans I have for you,” […]
Everyone has rules or principles they live by, unfortunately most people don’t give them much of a thought. As a result we are often swept away the winds of changing attitudes, fashion and expectations. We all feel pressure to conform and become something different. But unless we know who we are, or who we want […]
All people long for God. Period. Some may say the exact opposite, but our desires, actions and values suggest something completely different. We all long to connect with something greater than ourselves, we long for the heart of God. There is simply no better way to connect with God than to learn who God is […]
“Nothing dangerous is happening here.” Those who hold this belief about God and church have made themselves irrelevant to all things spiritual because they’ve swallowed the Enemy’s first line of attack: “I don’t exist.” You can’t and won’t fight a battle you don’t think exists. This is right out of The Screwtape Letters, where Lewis […]
To what extent are we a Christian community? According to William Willimon, Bishop of the Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, We are Christian to the extent that we conform to and are confronted by the Word of God. In Romans 12, Paul advises his readers not to be conformed to the pattern of […]
Leadership [polldaddy poll=5333439] Related posts: How do you handle Money? Leadership Development Team Self Esteem Leadership Values
God wants you to grow up. “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything.” Eph. 4:15a (Msg) “We are not meant to remain as children…” Eph 4:14a (Ph) Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you is to mature and develop the characteristics […]
What we are most committed to both as people and as the church define who we are and what we will become. As we look to the future we must come to terms with what kind of church are we now and what kind of church we want to be. When I think about FUMC, […]
What exactly does that mean? Is it just another slogan “filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing” [Macbeth]? Well I certainly hope not, but I do think it probably needs some further discussion. I believe we all have a purpose in life, something that God is calling us be, and the church is no different. […]
Over-Achievers: The dictionary defines an overachiever as someone who achieves success over and above the standard or expected level. The lives of overachievers are marked by an uncanny ability to achieve success despite times of uncertainty or when facing what seem to be insurmountable odds. They seem to have little or no fear of failure and […]
“…and Jesus grew in Wisdom, Stature and Favor with God and Man.” Luke 2:52 We want every child to grow up to learn the value of … Wisdom – “I need to make wise choices.” So I will… Trust and follow God’s design Spend time getting to know God Do whatever God says Discover God’s […]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxfLK_sd68&feature=player_embedded] I hope you enjoy this video; I found it helpful and challenging. The purpose of the Missional church is to equip those who attend on Sunday morning to take the church to the community. Instead of having altar calls and invitations giving by professional clergy, the church experience is to engage, equipp and encourage […]
This is a copy of an invitation sent out to people who have visited our church in the last 9 months but who for reasons unknown have drifted away. It is a simple way to invite a dialog if they so choose. During summer most people like to slow down and relax a bit. Me, […]
For Them – Every Child deserves a chance to experience, explore and embrace God’s love in and among God’s people. When children see real life men and women living as disciples, they are encouraged to learn about God’s dream for their lives too. They deserve to have a place where people give generously of the time, talents and […]
“I will say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be Free!'” Isaiah 49:9 The highest aim of mission-minded people is not self-protection but self sacrifice, to empty themselves of themselves in order to be used by God and filled with the Spirit of God. They know first hand what addictions […]
Kingdom Focus “Love each other with genuine affection,and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:10 The Kingdom is our true home, the place we most long to be and the place where Christ in all and through all and above all. In the Kingdom of God people experience life differently than they do in this […]
Imagine a young couple going to a 5-star restaurant. It is a restaurant without Styrofoam hamburger shells, chicken nuggets or soda fountains. This is a five star restaurant, the kind that makes a suit and tie for guys and dresses for ladies seem natural and appropriate. The couple enters and are greeted by maître dee who […]
Christ Centered ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Acts 17:28 Jesus is the starting point for our story. What came before this is insignificant compared to what comes after it. We are captivated by Christ, by His life, His message and His mission. They resonate within us and we feel […]
Week of July 3, 2011 As Christians we have an obligation to pass on those values and beliefs to the next generation. As a church I hope we can pass along to our children these key values Christ Centered / Kingdom Focused / Mission Minded. Scripture Verse Deuteronomy 6:20-25 Sermon Slides worship 07.03.11 Christian Independence […]
Our church has a large screen in the front of the santuary for visual support of the worship experience. Now I realize that for some the screen is a nuisance and for others a sign of the decline of true worship. But for a new generation, images are more apart of their vocabulary than the […]
THE POWER OF C-H-A-N-G-E Part 1 – Connect I’ve always heard that religion is about reformation. But Christianity is about transformation. Those two things are not the same. The former is about what a person can do to make self-improvements – Ladder People. The latter is about a person totally yielding to the Person of […]
The Story (Extravagant Grace!). The Story of God calls to us every moment of our lives. It whispers to us on the wind, invites us through the laughter of good friends, reaches out to us through the touch of someone we love. We’ve heard it in our favorite music, sensed it at the birth of […]
I spoke to a man the other day who does market research (focus groups and interviews) with a wide range of people: what they like and don’t like; what they think and feel about various things. He said that overwhelmingly what people want more than anything else is belonging: to fit in and be accepted; […]
THE POWER OF C-H-A-N-G-E Part 1 – Connect I’ve always heard that religion is about reformation. But Christianity is about transformation. Those two things are not the same. The former is about what a person can do to make self-improvements – Ladder People. The latter is about a person totally yielding to the Person of […]
THE POWER OF C-H-A-N-G-E Part 1 – Connect Part 2 – Help Others I’ve always heard that religion is about reformation. But Christianity is about transformation. Those two things are not the same. The former is about what a person can do to make self-improvements – Ladder People. The latter is about a person totally […]
From The Apology of Aristides the Philosopher to Emperor Hadrian, 125 A.D.: Further, if one or other of them have bondmen or bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their […]
A Sleeping Giant There is a sleeping giant in today’s Church – the unfulfilled potential [unrealized ‘sending’ capacity] of God’s people. Imagine releasing this capacity, even a small percentage of it. Consider the impact of passionate Jesus-followers sharing their story of fellowship and faith and becoming “sent” leaders in their communities. What would be the […]
A Place of Healing for those in crisis, grieving or suffering from broken dreams or shattered relationships. [Read 1 Samuel 16:14 & 23] [14] Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. [23] Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take […]