Living it! A devotional Journey
John 15:1-17 New International Version The Vine & the Branches I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one s life for one s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
October 21ST By Rev. John Keeny Giving God, I know that generosity comes from a grateful heart, BUT sometimes it is hard to be grateful when I don t feel I have enough enough friends, enough love, enough things, enough money, enough time. Does a sense of gratitude come from a sense of enoughness? Or does a sense of enoughness come from a sense of gratitude? I don t know, but I know that they are related; and that they effect my generosity, my humanity, and my relationship to you and. Giving God, Grant me the liberating sense of enoughness. So I ll know how to be grateful and how to be generous. Then I can find the money, make the time, give the love, share the things, enjoy my friends, and thus live fully as a fruitful member of Church. Giving God, may I want for nothing that does not add to a sense of your presence and my aliveness.
October 22nd by Lauren Newsom Dear God, Thank you for the abundant gifts you graciously give us. Help us to remember that everything we have really belongs to you and that you have entrusted us as stewards of these gifts. We pray that our hearts and hands be open to let your abundance flow through us to bless others and help bring them closer to you. In your name we pray,
October 23rd BY Dale Lund Dear Lord, We see your goodness and beauty everywhere, if we look closely enough. We hear your loving promise and plan for us, if we pay attention. We have opportunities to get involved and put into action your will for us, if only we decide to take the first step. UMC offers all of these opportunities and so much more. Thank you for our church, and for the many ways it touches and will continue to touch others for years to come. Help me to see, hear, and act in such a way to support this ministry. In your name I pray.
October 24th By Rev. Anna Guillozet Generous God, Giver of all that we have and trusting us as stewards, grant the community of a deep sense of your generous Spirit moving in and through us. Make us aware of our diverse gifts, and let your Spirit awaken within us impulses to give, not only of our material resources: our money and our possessions, but also of our spirits: our prayers, our time, our talents and our witness. And when, O God of community, we think that our giving is a matter for only ourselves, call us anew into our family so that we can give beyond ourselves. May our love for You and our love for each other mark us as disciples of Jesus, always working to bear fruit in the world. We pray in the community of God who gives, Jesus who leads, and the Spirit who sustains.
October 25th by Linda Guyton Gracious God, It has been almost 12 years since I walked through the doors of this sacred space. And in that time we as a church have grown in so many ways. We are blessed with strong pastoral leadership, a beautiful music ministry, vibrant children programs and the list goes on. We are also blessed to have a strong and growing congregation. Each Sunday I leave here re-energized, re-fueled and ready for whatever comes my way. You have guided this church to help create an atmosphere one that is hard to describe by words but just needs to be experienced and felt. So I thank you, God, for all you have given us here at King Avenue. Continue to watch over us as we move forward and grow in our spiritual journey.
October 26th BY Rhonda Luetje Gracious and Loving God, Sometimes it s hard to believe that there s anything I could ever do to make a difference in this world. Help me to embrace the uniqueness of who you have created me to be, and LIVE IT EVERY DAY so that I can do just that. Thanks be to and its wide variety of ministries that enable me to use my gifts in ministry to you. May Church use my financial gifts to help grow and add ministries so that all may find a way to serve you.
October 27th BY Rev. Linda Middelberg Savior of the world, You have loved us and chosen us. Chosen us to be your friends. Chosen us to live in your joy. Chosen us to bear fruit. Help us to live our lives securely connected to your life-giving love, so that our fruit might be lasting and plentiful. May we use our fruit to nourish our community and our seeds to plant fruit to nourish the next generation.
October 28th by Tom Wallace Lord, I pray that UMC stays on the path of being the church for ALL people and never strays. This church through its love, resources and family helped me when I lost my faith due to the loss of my wife. UMC restored me with faith and will, and gave me a reason in life for missions and volunteerism. Thank you, God, for bringing me out of the darkness and into the light. Thank you for the love that shines through United Methodist Church.
October 29th BY Judith J. Nolette Lord, UMC has so graciously welcomed all in our congregation. Guide us to be as generous with others as we ve been taught by this church. Remind us to show our gratitude for the love, guidance and wisdom we have received. Open my eyes and heart every day.
October 30th BY rev. Colleen Ogle Divine Master and Friend, For children sweet faces brown, white, black, bashful or bold singing and praising with open hearts and minds For hurried-but-happy chefs serving good food to people hungry for companionship For the grateful testimony of those once alienated; but now confident, beloved For music, art, space, and words that point to Real Love For pastors earthy, funny, human Your friends and ours, sharing the gospel of peace For holding hands with strangers, singing hallowed be thy name and becoming one. We are thankful for this open-door home where Christ is the host. Make us constant and committed givers to the ministries of this community. May we carry the grace we experience here to people who do not yet know they have a Friend.
October 31st by Luke Fox Dear God, We are grateful for all of the things you provide us. You have looked over the people of our church, and you have affected our lives every day. In your name we pray,
November 1st BY James White Dear Lord, As I continue to pray for your will to be my guide, I pray that your will be the guide for. Continue to let your will infiltrate our Spirit as a church and community, which will allow us to continue to spread like vines among your people. In Jesus name I pray,
november 2nd BY Rev. Stan Sutton Lord, Thank you for this refuge and refueling respite called King Avenue. Its whirl of mission and activity stirs the senses with vigor and anticipation. The joyous voices of the choir, the organ, the bells, and the carillon curtain off the noise and cares. is not Eden, Lord, but close. Thank you for our United Methodist ancestors who built this beacon of hope, love, and inclusion. Bless the faithful who preserved this oasis over the decades. Grant us the courage to be equally good stewards of all your creation. In the name of the Christ, we pray.
november 3rd by Keith Naas Lord, Let your Spirit guide me as I use the gifts you have provided me. May it help to plant the seeds of faith, hope and love in our community. Let your Spirit lead me to see the fruits of your grace in both my neighbors and my trespassers. May it help me to nurture, grow and experience in new and engaging ways.
november 4th BY Rev. CeAn Wilson Eternal God of Abraham and Sarah and Hagar; God of Leah and Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah, and Jacob; God of Ruth, Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary; God of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses; God of Peter and Paul, Eunice and Phoebe; God of all creation: creator of the universe, the earth and all creatures who live and breathe, large and small. You have made of one blood all nations: we remember our remarkable foremothers and forefathers; we remember your creativity and our place in your creation. Remembering the ancestors of our faith causes us to believe that you might call even us to be part of your plans for the world. We dare to believe that we are truly stewards of your creation and indeed, co-creators with you as we plant our gardens, cultivate our vegetables and flowers, fuss over our lawns, and manicure our golf courses. Our stewardship may also be our care for the other people in creation as we seek community with you and with each other. We find joy and blessing in sharing life and love with others in Jesus name and ways. Thank you for the opportunities.
november 5th by Mary Nienaber Dear God, Watch over our church family that continues to thrive like the branches of the vine that grow together. Help us to love each other so that we may all continue to experience the joy that King Avenue brings to our lives each day.
November 6th BY Erin Hays Dear God, We pray for your guidance this day. All that we are and all that we have are sweet gifts from you Lord. Help us to share our gifts with you and others Lord, so that all may come to know your love, grace and mercy through the thoughtful and prayerful ministries of.
november 7th BY Rev. John Wooden Remain in me as I remain in you. God of the one true vine, in you we grow, we live and we have our being. We are your branches, fragile yet strong, we pray to you this day for guidance and courage as we go forth into your creation, living out your call upon our lives, and sowing your seeds of mercy, compassion and justice for all of your children. We pray all this in the name of Christ Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
november 8th by Kristen Collins Dear God, Lead us to be connected on the vine, through Jesus, in your name. Continue to bless us to work together to bear your fruit, spreading your peace and love to all who come in contact with us. Guide us to abide by your command: Love each other. Remind us of all our blessings so that we may, in return, give to in a way that will continue those blessings for others. In Jesus name,
November 9th BY Bill Hegarty Lord, You and I have been on quite the journey. I thank you for all that I have learned and for always being with me on the way. And on the way you sent me to for which I am so grateful. This place truly inspires. Here I have found peace, balance, and an accepting community who honors and respects all. May it always be so.
November 10th BY bret baird Dear Lord, Thank you for the opportunity to be in service for UMC. Help us all to realize that this opportunity allows and asks us to support the church through all avenues including words, prayers, witness, time and financial means. Please use our collective skills, talents and experience to provide a safe place for all to know your love today and always. Thank you for our home we have found in.