ONE CHURCH ONE PASSION MANCHESTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

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1 ONE CHURCH ONE PASSION MANCHESTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

2 THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, JUST AS YOU WERE CALLED TO ONE HOPE WHEN YOU WERE CALLED; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, JUST AS YOU WERE CALLED TO ONE HOPE WHEN YOU WERE ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL AND CALLED; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE THROUGH GOD AND FATHER ALL OF ALL, AND WHO IN IS ALL. OVER ALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL. EPHESIANS 4:4-6 EPHESIANS 4:4-6

3 PASTOR S LETTER... 4 MUMC HISTORY... 6 INITIATIVE OVERVIEW... 9 FAQ WEEKLY GUIDE FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO. MATTHEW 6:21 3

4 SENIOR PASTOR GREG WEEKS THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. HEBREWS 12:1 4

5 Manchester UMC Family - One of the most exciting things I ve discovered in my four years as your Senior Pastor is this: the members of Manchester UMC always do things in a BIG way! Whether it s building a breath-taking sanctuary, digging wells in Mozambique, producing a children s musical, hosting thousands for Holiday Brass, or giving thousands of Gifts in White We can t help ourselves. We do big things because we love God in a big way! That s why I m excited about the next big thing God is leading us to do. In this booklet you ll read about what leaders, members, and staff of this church have prayerfully discerned over the past four years. You ll read about steps to deepen and expand worship like we ve never done before. You ll read about a new ministry that will take the Gospel beyond our walls to reach people whom others feel are unreachable. You ll read about a plan for eliminating debt and freeing resources for new ministries. As God fulfills bold new steps over the next two years, wonderful things will happen. We are a large, diverse congregation. Some are old, and some young. Some have traditional tastes, and others contemporary. Some enjoy singing, and others enjoy leading a mission project. The initiatives you ll read about will use this diversity to God s glory. We will celebrate each other s calling, and we will grow closer together as a faith community. We will be united in reaching others for Christ. In other words, we will act as ONE. And when people act as ONE, big things happen! Looking forward to the future God has planned, Greg Weeks Senior Pastor 5

6 MANCHESTER UMC HISTORICAL TIMELINE Manchester UMC founded; members worshipped in homes Construction of a frame church on Woods Mill Road 1953 First organized choir began construction of brick chapel (now Historic Chapel) 1959 Renovation of the chapel 1965 Construction of the education building 6 education building chapel service Sunday school

7 1969 New sanctuary completed (now Fellowship Hall) 1982 Chapel placed on the National Register of Historic Places 1984 Construction of administrative offices, narthex, youth rooms, and music rooms 1998 Current sanctuary completed 2006 Chapel s 150th Anniversary Celebration ,985 MUMC members participated in missions activities, touching 10,662 lives 7

8 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; IN ALL YOUR WAYS SUBMIT TO HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT. PROVERBS 3:5-6 8

9 WHAT IS THE ONE INITIATIVE ABOUT? ONE is a two-year generosity initiative to provide vital resources that will help Manchester UMC move boldly to accomplish God s purposes for the future. We are calling the Manchester UMC family to invest unprecedented levels of compassion, capital, and energy to see God work powerfully here at MUMC and around the world. Why ONE? Many reasons! We are ONE church - Manchester United Methodist Church. We have ONE mission - to make a difference for Christ in the world. We are directing all of our giving for the next two years (January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016) into ONE fund. (Learn more about this model on page 14.) This will include everything MUMC will do over the next two years, from our general fund to local partnerships, from global outreach to worship service expansion everything in the huge vision God has given us to help people discover Christ and make a difference for Him in the world is covered in our ONE initiative. The following few pages will explain in more detail exactly what our priorities and projects include: ONE CHURCH ONE PASSION. TOTAL TWO-YEAR GOAL: $8.6 MILLION 9

10 ONE HEART THE JOURNEY Imagine if we were all joined as ONE on a journey poured out for the Gospel. Imagine what would be possible when thousands of MUMC believers join together to ignite change inside and outside this church. Imagine if we all acted from ONE heart. Being that united church body takes everyone s individual help. We are all at different places in our generosity journey. God is always challenging us to grow in our relationship with Him, including our giving. For some of you, you ve never given a financial gift to Manchester before. Others of you have been faithful tithers for years, but have never considered going beyond the tithe. The spiritual discipline of giving is personal. You take your first step at some point, and then the next, and then the next. After a while, it simply becomes a part of who you are. What would it look like if every one of us who calls Manchester UMC home would reflect on the personal giving path, asking where God wants us on the path, and then take that bold step of faith to move to that place? We look back to celebrate where we have been as a church, and we each individually look forward to where we will go next, united as ONE church with ONE passion. That s what the ONE initiative is all about. 10 THEN THE PEOPLE REJOICED BECAUSE THEY HAD OFFERED SO WILLINGLY, FOR THEY MADE THEIR OFFERING TO THE LORD WITH A WHOLE HEART 1 CHRONICLES 29:9

11 THE PATH Where are you on the continuum below? Where would you like to be, and what s your next step to get there? Prayerfully consider this as you complete your commitment card. I give beyond my tithe to MUMC. EXTRAVAGANT GIVER I give 10% of my income to MUMC. FAITHFUL TITHING I give consistently to MUMC, but less than 10% of my income. INTENTIONAL I give to MUMC, but not consistently. OCCASIONAL I have not given to MUMC before now. FIRST TIME 11

12 ONE CHURCH: $6.4M Manchester United Methodist Church is ONE church - but through our Annual Ministry Spending Plan, we can do MANY things! $2.9 million 2015 Ministry Spending Plan $3.0 million 2016 Ministry Spending Plan $500,000 Debt service for Funding MUMC s Annual Ministry Spending Plan is a fairly normal practice for members, but don t think this means that we re just doing business as usual! In the next two years, we want to do everything we can to reach more people with Christ s love. In addition to everything in our Annual Ministry Spending Plan, this also means: expanding our Sunday school program to add an 11:00 a.m. program rolling out a new way to learn about missions engagement with classes and events beginning a whole new Sunday night Faith Formation offering for adults/parents and their young children exploring new ways to engage with our UMC partners in Mozambique offering services and concerts to share our new state-of-the-art organ with the surrounding community 12

13 ONE PASSION: $2.2M Our ONE passion is clearly stated in our mission statement: Make a Difference for Christ in the world! And we have many plans to do just that in new and exciting ways! $1.8 million Eliminate debt (including the organ repair/renovation) that will free us to explore even more opportunities to make a difference for Christ in the world in the future! $335,000 Expand Next Generation ministry efforts. This will include a new pastor, program expenses, a mission project, and a whole new worship service with upgrades to facilities and equipment, a music director, and music. $106,000 Enhance both our traditional and contemporary services through music, A/V improvements, and staffing. This could include: upgrades to microphones, monitors, backdrops/retractable screens, and additional LED lighting. $25,000 Plant new congregations, support clergy leadership excellence, and reach young people by participating in the UMC Missouri Conference s Pathways Partners program. 13

14 ONE FUND: $8.6M You may have been a part of a stewardship campaign in the past during which you were invited to give gifts to certain funds. There were different funds for operating and for building. While this approach served us well, we have chosen a simpler way with this ONE initiative. Manchester UMC is ONE church. Our ONE passion is clearly stated in our mission statement: we want to Make a Difference for Christ in the world. We are united in reaching others for Christ. In other words, we will act as ONE. And when people act as ONE, big things happen! From now on, everything we do is part of ONE, and everyone can participate! Everything we do will be included in ONE fund to which we give our generosity. This is a way to consider your total giving to Manchester UMC, and we can now celebrate the total giving of our congregation as ONE united church. The One Fund Breakdown Worship - worship, music, choirs, special services, etc. Faith Formation - program costs for classes for children, youth, and adults. Mission/Outreach - mission and outreach projects in our church, and throughout the city, country, and world. Apportionments - a method of giving that proportionately allocates the United Methodist churchwide budget to conferences and local churches. These funds are dispersed through education, mission projects, and more. Debt Elimination/Building freedom from debt provides fiscal security for continued ministry growth and innovation. Ongoing campus building support ensures a welcoming environment and a solid operational base for Christ s mission. Faith Formation* 20% Apportionments 8% Debt Elimination & Building* 27% Worship* 33% Mission & Outreach* 12% 14 *administrative costs are allocated throughout these categories

15 ONE INITIATIVE Q&A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How long is my commitment? The ONE initiative is a two-year commitment from January 1, 2015 through December 31, It is our prayer, however, that ONE will inspire your continued giving relationship with God and your life is dramatically altered because of it! How should I note a gift is intended for ONE if given prior to January 1, 2015? You re always welcome to begin your giving early to ONE! See page 18 for info about First Fruits Weekend. First Fruits envelopes will be mailed to you at the end of October. They will also be available in the pews and around the church. You may write First Fruits on the other line on regular offering envelopes through the end of December as well. How can I give? There are many ways to give to ONE: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Gifts are transferred from your bank account by the church treasurer on the 20th of each month Online giving Using the Community Login of the church website, make one-time gifts or set up recurring gifts to be deducted from your bank account or charged to your credit card Direct your bank Request your bank send gifts directly to the church, from your bank account Personal check Cash Use an envelope and include your name and address 15

16 ONE INITIATIVE Q&A Can I give real estate, stocks, bonds and other assets? Yes! We encourage you to consider what other types of stored resources could benefit MUMC through the ONE initiative. Please consult the finance office on how these types of gifts work. What about missions giving (Easter & Christmas offerings and special UMC Sunday offerings)? Will loose plate offerings go to ONE? Beginning in January 2015, missions gifts will be collected in designated envelopes for Easter, Christmas, and special UMC Sunday offerings. Although missions will be funded through the ONE initiative, you may also write missions or another specific designation in the other column on the offering envelopes located in the pew racks. Loose plate offerings will also be counted toward ONE. What will happen if we miss our target? We have two years to reach our goal, and reaching it is our priority! Leadership Board will closely monitor the progress of ONE to ensure the most effective and efficient rollout of our Ministry Spending Plan. To that end, the Board will determine priorities based on the giving response by the congregation. What are you asking me to do? First and foremost, we re asking you to pray. Think about your personal giving relationship with God. Consider what it might look like if we all joined together as ONE church body, united in our ONE mission together. Be prayerful, and respond accordingly. Follow God s leading - nothing more, nothing less. Then complete your commitment card accordingly. 16

17 Please join us in making a radically generous commitment on Commitment Weekend OCTOBER 25-26, 2014 YOUR ROLE IN ONE We ask everyone at Manchester UMC to commit to ONE in three very specific ways: OWNERSHIP OF YOUR NEXT STEP. The spiritual act of giving is a journey. What is that next step for you? How will you grow in your generosity? How is God calling you to use your resources over the next two years? Prayerfully consider these questions and ideas to help you determine your commitment before the Lord. To help guide you in understanding your next step, refer to the back of your printed commitment card. Then complete your card to submit on Commitment Weekend, October NEARNESS TO THE LORD. We ask everyone at MUMC to be intentional about their time in prayer with the Lord, especially as we join together in this exciting new vision. Use the enclosed devotional and prayer guide daily. Please hold the ONE initiative and projects in prayer. Pray consistently and fervently for God to show you how you can participate in ONE. Only with God s help can we truly be ONE church with ONE passion. ENTHUSIASM FOR ONE. Fully engage in the initiative and its projects. Be the kind of Christ-follower the Bible describes. Look for ways to strengthen MUMC. Offer your time and gifts to influence others and encourage devotion to God s church as we move forward as ONE. 17

18 SAVE THE DATE NOVEMBER 8-9, 2014 FIRST FRUITS WEEKEND On November 8-9, we will have what we re calling First Fruits Weekend. We ll announce our total commitments on that date, and we ll celebrate what God has done in each of our lives to that point. It s also when each of us will be challenged to take a big step in our commitment. Many who are sacrificing some stored resources or savings are encouraged to give those on this day in order to accelerate the vision God has for MUMC. Others may choose to accelerate current giving by giving more than usual on this date to help us kick-start our ONE initiative in a big way! We encourage everyone to participate in our First Fruits Weekend so together we can begin to make a huge impact through our generosity. HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH, WITH THE FIRST FRUITS OF ALL YOUR CROPS; THEN YOUR BARNS WILL BE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING, AND YOUR VATS WILL BRIM OVER WITH NEW WINE. PROVERBS 3:

19 HOW TO USE THE BACK HALF OF THIS BOOKLET ON THE WEEKEND Use the following sermon notes pages to jot down scripture references, main ideas, and takeaway points during each service over this five-week series. Be sure to bring this booklet to service each week as a reference guide. DURING THE WEEK Throughout the next five weeks, devote a few moments each day to read the daily scripture passage and pray accordingly. Use these verses and prayer suggestions as inspiration for your daily reading and prayer time. WITH OTHERS Small group curriculum can be found on the last page of each week s devotions and prayer guides. Share the scripture verses, questions, and applications with your group each week. 19

20 WEEK ONE SERMON NOTES ONE ADVENTURE: WHEN GOD CHOOSES YOU SEPTEMBER 27-28, 2014 MATTHEW 4:

21 WEEK ONE DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30 READ ROMANS 8:38-39 Give thanks to God for a generous love that never ends. Praise God for His generosity of love and assurance. Pray for those who do not know God and His love. READ EPHESIANS 1:4-5 Praise God for loving us as a parent loves a child. Give thanks to God for loving us from the creation of the world to the end of time. Pray that people will accept God s love freely and fervently. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 THURSDAY OCTOBER 2 READ JOHN 13:34-35 Thank and praise God for calling us to be disciples. Give thanks to God for taking us on an adventure that leads to the love of humankind. Pray that people will know we are disciples by the love we show to others. READ JOHN 3:16 Give thanks and praise for the sacrifices God made for us. Thank God for the generous gifts of salvation and grace through His son, Jesus Christ. Pray that people joyfully sacrifice for God s great gift. 21

22 FRIDAY OCTOBER 3 SAT/SUN OCTOBER 4/5 READ JEREMIAH 29:11 Thank and praise God that MUMC will continue to go on an adventure with God. Give thanks to God for wanting the best for His children. Pray for the children and youth of MUMC - our future leaders, volunteers, and members. Pray that MUMC will seek new challenges for the Lord and make those challenges a reality. READ 1 JOHN 5:2 Praise and thank God for all the services provided through MUMC. Give thanks for our pastors, staff, and volunteers involved in worship and outreach. Pray for our pastors, staff, and volunteers that the help (time, talent, tithes) they need will be provided. Pray that we as a church will have teachable hearts during worship and Sunday school classes. WEEK ONE CURRICULUM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS: What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ in today s world? Would you be willing to drop your net and follow Christ wherever He leads? BIBLE STUDY / DISCUSSION: What adventure with Christ would you take if you knew you could not fail? What adventure with Christ would you still like to have? Think of a time when God called you to an adventure. Did you do it? What were the results? READ SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:19-20, John 8:31, John 13:20, John 13:34-35, Luke 14:27, Luke 9:23 APPLICATION AND REFLECTION: being chosen by God consciously choosing to follow the risks of discipleship the perks of discipleship looking forward to... 22

23 WEEK TWO SERMON NOTES ONE VISION: OUR LEMONADE STAND OCTOBER 4-5, 2014 MARK 4:1-9 23

24 WEEK TWO DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE MONDAY OCTOBER 6 TUESDAY OCTOBER 7 READ ISAIAH 52:7 Thank God for calling our pastoral staff to lead us. Pray for our pastors to be energized by God s Word. Pray that our congregation will hear with open hearts and singleness of purpose. Make us captives to Your Word and witnesses for Your Gospel. READ HEBREWS 13:20-21 Pray for revival among God s people. Pray that our church will work for what pleases God. Pray that God will equip us to do mighty works in this community. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 8 THURSDAY OCTOBER 9 READ MATTHEW 10:8b Praise God for giving us a legacy of generosity at MUMC. Pray that no Christcentered program at our church will lack funding. Pray that our humble service will be increased by God to do great things. Pray that our lemonade stand will forever be sweetened by the love of Christ. READ 2 CORINTHIANS 9:10 Give thanks for the mission God has given us. Pray that our message of love and grace will find fertile soil in our neighborhoods. Pray that people will be willing to make sacrifices for God s Kingdom on earth. Pray that God grants us the courage to accomplish His will. 24

25 FRIDAY OCTOBER 10 SAT/SUN OCTOBER 11/12 READ MATTHEW 9:38 Pray that we may see where God is at work, and that we may join in that work. Ask God to provide the means for MUMC to work in the field of His choosing. Pray that our children and youth will follow Jesus into adulthood. Pray that our congregation will be united in faith and purpose. READ MATTHEW 16:24 Pray for our church family at MUMC, that we may look beyond our own interests and take up our cross. Pray for those who volunteer in our outreach ministries and encourage them. Pray for those involved in Faith Formation as teachers and care-givers, and give them wisdom and patience. WEEK TWO CURRICULUM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS: How is our church like a lemonade stand? How are we called to care for the body of Christ? What is our church s calling outside the four walls of this building? BIBLE STUDY / DISCUSSION: What would happen if there were no sowers of God s Word, or no Alex s lemonade stands? What if we didn t care for our neighbors or only thought of ourselves? What if we stopped caring about others all together? READ SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15 What shall we do? Stand by and do nothing, or follow these examples and spread Christ s love? APPLICATION AND REFLECTION: What should have happened if the sower had not sowed broadly? Reread Mark 4:1-9 and look closely at each area where the seeds fell. Where are you in the sower s field? 25

26 WEEK THREE SERMON NOTES ONE CHURCH: THE MOSAIC OF COMMUNITY OCTOBER 11-12, CORINTHIANS 1:10-13a, 3:5-7; COLOSSIANS 3:

27 WEEK THREE DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE MONDAY OCTOBER 13 TUESDAY OCTOBER 14 READ 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 Pray for singleness of purpose in our church. Pray that our congregation will join together to plan our future. Pray that our leaders and pastoral staff will be encouraged as we move into new ministries. READ 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11-13A Pray for healing of any divisions in our congregation. Pray for harmony between those who want change and those who don t. Pray that each of us will understand at a heart level it s not about me. Pray that we will see our differences as strengths. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15 THURSDAY OCTOBER 16 READ 1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-7 Pray for focus on our mission. Pray that the needs of our community will be foremost in our thinking. Pray for open hearts to the leading of the Holy Spirit and wisdom in the ways in which we use our resources. READ COLOSSIANS 3:11 Pray for hearts open to all people. Pray that any personal agendas are laid aside for one passion in sharing Christ. Pray for a willingness to go beyond our comfort level in reaching out to others. 27

28 FRIDAY OCTOBER 17 SAT/SUN OCTOBER 18/19 READ COLOSSIANS 3:12-15 Pray for loving hearts toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray our fellowship will be genuine and be a witness to those outside our church. Pray that genuine affection for each other will make our differences seem like colorful pieces of our mosaic. Pray for a revival that will bind us together strongly in love. READ EPHESIANS 3:14 Pray for the families in our congregation. Pray for the families of our church that they may be founded on the love of Christ. Pray that we will worship one Lord, share one faith, and be consecrated in one baptism. WEEK THREE CURRICULUM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS: What is a mosaic, and how is our church like a mosaic? How do you see your role in healing divisions of the church? What does the peace of Christ mean? READ SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13a, 3:5-7; Colossians 3:11-15 BIBLE STUDY / DISCUSSION: What was the issue in the Corinthian church, and how does Paul address it? (3:7) In what sense is our congregation similar? What does the Bible say to us now? APPLICATION AND REFLECTION: The diversity within our church is God s way of providing us with a variety of tools to accomplish our mission. The passage in Colossians makes one key observation. What is it? What is our motivation for bearing with each other and how do we achieve peace in our hearts? (v 15) 28

29 WEEK FOUR SERMON NOTES ONE SACRIFICE: PASSING JESUS TEST OCTOBER 18-19, 2014 MATTHEW 14:13-21; 15:

30 WEEK FOUR DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE MONDAY OCTOBER 20 TUESDAY OCTOBER 21 READ MARK 8:36 Pray for a God-serving heart. Jesus was the ultimate humble servant. Pray for the Kingdom priorities and an open heart to follow God s will. Pray that we can be the light that reflects God s love and forgiveness. READ PROVERBS 11:25 Pray that we show God s generosity through our giving of ourselves, gifts, and time to others. Pray that we can be encouraging servants. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead us to those who need encouragement. Pray for a joyful attitude - a fruit of the Spirit. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22 THURSDAY OCTOBER 23 READ PSALM 103:13 Pray we show mercy to others just as God has shown us mercy. Pray that God gives us eyes to see the needs of others and a heart to respond. Pray God s Spirit of compassion be found in our relationships. Remember: God delights in showing mercy! READ EPHESIANS 4:31-32 Pray that we forgive others as God has forgiven us. Pray that we have compassion to others. Pray that we can be kind to one another, even when others are not kind to us. 30

31 FRIDAY OCTOBER 24 SAT/SUN OCTOBER 25/26 READ HEBREWS 13:16 Pray that our offerings to God and others will bless others abundantly (like the boy with his fishes and loaves). Praise the Lord for all we have been given. Pray that we can use God s blessings to us to be blessings to others. READ 2 CORINTHIANS 9:12 Pray for worship services to reflect God s power and love. Praise the Lord in advance for a vibrant, powerful, and Lord-glorifying worship service! Pray that we serve the Lord in ways that show His character in our lives. Pray that we serve God and others as an act of gratitude and love, not out of fear. WEEK FOUR CURRICULUM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS: What do you think of this miracle? Could a miracle like this take place today? READ SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:13-21, 15:32-39; Exodus 16:1-36 BIBLE STUDY / DISCUSSION: Why does Jesus challenge the disciples to feed the people? How can this small basket of fish and loaves feed everyone? Are there similarities to these two stories to the one told in Exodus 16? What is the characteristic of Jesus handling of the crowd in Matthew 14:19? What is significant about the first things Jesus does? What does this miracle teach us about compassion to others? Does this miracle provide the disciples an opportunity to serve Jesus? What ways do we have to serve (inside and outside the church)? APPLICATION AND REFLECTION: Remember: God can do things that we cannot, like heal others or feed many from little! 31

32 WEEK FIVE SERMON NOTES ONE PROMISE: THE POWER OF THE RING OCTOBER 25-26, 2014 LUKE 15:

33 WEEK FIVE DEVOTIONS & PRAYER GUIDE MONDAY OCTOBER 27 TUESDAY OCTOBER 28 READ PSALM 19:1 Acknowledge God s creative power. Give thanks to God for creation, and for placing us in the middle of it. Pray for those whose view of the world has been soured by circumstances. Pray that we will not take our blessings for granted, but will use them for God s glory. READ PSALM 107:32 Thank and praise God for our heritage in the faith community. Give thanks for MUMC. Pray that our congregation will continue to move forward in service to our community. May our hearts be united in our resolve to do the will of God. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29 THURSDAY OCTOBER 30 READ JEREMIAH 33:3 Give thanks for God s availability to us. Give thanks for our church building - a place for worship, fellowship, and study. Pray that people will continue to gather at MUMC to be enlightened and energized. Pray that our focus will be on many gifts, one Spirit! READ PSALM 103:10-11 Give thanks for God s everlasting mercy, regardless of our behavior toward Him. Give thanks for God s compassion toward His children. Pray that our congregation will unite in faith as we experience God s love and grace. Pray that we will be instruments of God s forgiveness and mercy. 33

34 FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 SAT/SUN NOVEMBER 1/2 READ JOHN 16:27 Give thanks for God s unfailing promise to be there for us. Give thanks for those in our community who turn to God with a new faith. Pray for the children in our congregation who will be tempted to turn away from God. Pray that the hearts of those who worship at MUMC will be softened by the Holy Spirit, and offer their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness willingly and generously. DAY OF PRAYER & PRAISE Take time today to give thanks for God s love, grace, and mercy. Thank God for Manchester UMC and its mission to make a difference for Christ in the world. Give God praise for the work He has done in your mind and heart through these daily devotions and prayer time. Ask for God s help in seeing your commitment through. WEEK FIVE CURRICULUM ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS: Why are we timid in our faith? What does it mean to be a disciple? How will you grow your faith through worship and prayer? How does a faith community provide ways to serve? In what way will you show God s love in the community and the world? BIBLE STUDY / DISCUSSION: In what ways do we depend on ourselves instead of God? The prodigal son experienced his father s grace; how have you experienced God s grace? Make a mental assessment of the resources God has placed at your disposal; how will you use them in your Heavenly Father s Kingdom? Given that we stand on the shoulders of the previous generations, how can you help provide a legacy at MUMC for future generations? APPLICATION AND REFLECTION: What other ways do we see rings used as symbols in our culture? What are some examples of the prodigal son in today s world? With whom do you identify in this Biblical story? Why? 34

35 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PROGRESS UPDATES VISIT MANCHESTERUMC.ORG/ONE

36 THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, JUST AS YOU WERE CALLED TO ONE HOPE WHEN YOU WERE CALLED; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL. EPHESIANS 4: WOODS MILL ROAD MANCHESTER, MO MANCHESTERUMC.ORG/ONE

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