Future Sermons

I've been working on my sermon calendar for the next year. I'm pretty excited with my plans so far. Thought I would share my overall themes and see if you all have any input. Let me know your ideas, illustrations or worship element suggestions!

Good Words in James
James will be a five week series on the the Epistle of James. James offers very straightforward concepts on the words we choose to use, not showing partiality and demonstrating our faith through our deeds (faith without deeds is dead!).

Vision
I have spent the last four months meeting with about half of our worshiping attendance in small groups for four weeks at a time. We brainstormed the following areas together: Intentional Discipleship, Missions, Evangelism/Growth and Short/Long Term Goals. I will spend four weeks revealing those results and offer a WUMC sized vision for tomorrow!

Relationships
Five weeks discussing the difficulties and keys for success in the following relationship situations: singleness, marriage, children, friendship and Christ. These areas are not completely solidified and I may tweek them:)

Give it Away
Even in recession, many are still living in abundance- but some are not. We will spend four weeks proposing different ways to "give away" our abundance. I'm thinking of focusing on the following areas: stuff, food and money (outside church/inside church). I'm hoping this will be a month to focus on Missions and all the ways we can serve and help. I also have a bombshell of an idea that I am hoping to reveal in September in preparation for this series!

Ruth
I read the Old Testament book of Ruth a few weeks ago and was absolutely floored! It's a beautiful story of God's provision and love; it's romantic, tragic and awe inspiring . . . and four chapters long.

Christmas Series
I don't know just yet- but it will be something Christmassy'. How about some help here!?

Romans
After Christmas we will begin the highly thought provoking New Testament book of Romans. It's 16 chapters long and will likely be our Lenten focus taking us to Easter. In Romans, Paul is writing to the Church in Rome that is no doubt experiencing growing pains. He painstakingly emphasizes the importance of grace by faith alone in Jesus Christ to a pagan culture. Romans will help deepen our Christian beliefs and stretch us in areas concerning God's sovereignty and our Jewish cousins (our faith relatives).

The Pieces Come Together!

Ministry can be a lot of work. Sometimes it's a lot of work for not a lot of results. I don't operate well that way. I'm admittedly very reward oriented. A few things have come together lately that feel very rewarding and they all involve leadership. Linda Scouby did a great job this weekend as our new Volunteer Coordinator. I'm very excited about Linda's commitment to volunteerism. This week's new news began on Monday with a phone call from Kim Kirby. Kim agreed to be our Church Council Chair! Kim is ministry driven and I believe she will do a great job as our new Council Chair. The third surprise came after a meeting with one of our high school students. We decided we needed to move forward on organizing youth ministry even though we hadn't received another two adult leaders. Kylee has a strong faith life and even though she is in high school, she feels ready to be a leader to her peers. However, she also would love to have adults join her in leading and loving our teens. Which made last night even more amazing when Rogers Strickland let me know that he wanted to help with our Youth Ministry next year!
In the words of Hannibal on the A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together"! Remember, nothing happens without leadership. Thank you to those who are stepping forward and picking up the scepter of leadership:)

This weekend at WUMC!

What’s Going on this Week with WUMC!

Charge Conference- Wednesday the 4^th

Be here at 6pm for the Potluck Dinner. We will have turkey along with what other delicious side dishes you bring along as well. Our District Superintendent, Susan Cox, will join us for dinner and the evening. After dinner, we will have the business section of the evening and watch a video message from our Missouri Bishop, Robert Schnase. This is an annual time of celebration and fellowship for our church- hope you can join us!

Campout at the Stricklands’ – Friday the 6^th and Saturday the 7^th

It is going to be a beautiful weekend- 70’s and sunny! Come out Friday night for a bonfire and hayride around 6pm. Feel free to stay in the Stricklands’ lodge or campout next to the pond! We will have breakfast and a time of worship and devotion Saturday morning. We will have breakfast (pancakes) between 8am-9am and worship/devotion shortly after. Feel free to go on a hike or fish in the pond the rest of the morning.

Stewardship Series- Volunteerism: An Inward Focus- Sunday the 8^th

This Sunday the teaching segment will be on Volunteerism: An Inward Focus. A Gifts/Volunteer Survey was included in the Newsletter. You may have picked yours up on Sunday, if not you should receive it in the mail this week. Please consider filling the Survey out before our service on Sunday and bringing it with you. If you would like to download it, print it off and fill out additional Surveys, you can find it on our web site, www.westonumc.com ; click on the top tool bar FORMS and click “Interest & Talent Survey” to print the form. At the close of the service this weekend you will have an opportunity to bring your surveys forward to the kneeling rail area.

A Combine and Stewardship

I just finished up my first sermon for our Stewardship Series that begins this Sunday. I worked on my sermon from home this morning so I could have a view. Sometimes having an office with no windows makes me feel a little confined. While I was working on my sermon I heard a loud humming sound. I looked out the corner of the window and I could (still can) see a large combine beginning to harvest the neighbor's corn field.
How interesting that while I am working on the Stewardship Sermon series that the corn in the backyard would be harvested. The neighbors could have left the corn there. They could have spent all that time, energy and money in planting and caring for the corn and then watch it die. But instead they are harvesting it so that they and others will experience the flavor and nourishment of tasty corn. You see what's coming next, right?
I guess God could give us all gifts, resources, relationships and abilities and never expect to harvest those things, right? Maybe God just wanted us to look cool and that was it. Or, maybe God has an expectation? Maybe God desires a harvest from his investment? Consider it- metaphorically at least. I don't want anyone running over to my house and jumping in front of the combine!