Outside the Box with Pastor David Christy: Generosity of Spirit

Dear Fellow Ministers,

It is always good to get to worship together, and this past week’s worship was amazing: great music, presentation of Bibles to our 1st graders, and Pastor Susan had a wonderful sermon about remembering our origins as Christian Community. You can view the service here.

Thank you for your patience as the work continues on the Sanctuary (see today’s video update and photos). Your generosity of spirit is wonderful at the end of 11:00 worship, when everyone helps get our worship space ready for youth group, and then later in the week we get ready for worship again. You are exemplifying what it means to be Christian Community (our theme of worship during the month of September).

This week we will be working through a beautiful passage from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. We will be considering where we put our individual emphasis when it comes to being community. I hope you will read this passage with me as God forms a sermon in us this week.

MUMC has a wonderful communication structure that allows us to really focus in on worship on Sundays. By reading the offerings from the church (the Friday Celebration Newsletter, the screens on Sunday mornings, viewing the website, reading this weekly email, etc.), it allows us to be “all in” with our worship each Sunday so that we don’t take our worship time making announcements. We feel that is important so that our focus is on proclaiming Jesus Christ each time we worship.

This Sunday, churches across the Western NC Annual Conference will be taking up an offering to help with the rebuilding of churches and communities in our mountains after Hurricane Helene one year ago. Please view this video from Bishop Carter here. If you would like to contribute you can make your check out to MUMC and mark it “Hurricane Offering” in the memo line (if giving online, choose Other for the Fund and note Hurricane Offering). 100% of the collected money will go to help our neighbors who are still struggling.

We are so blessed to be a connectional church, and we are stronger together. This is our theme of our worship series, Christian Community In a Me, My, Mine World. Thank you for living that out. Please join me in praying for our church and its witness in the community and world. Thank you for the way you all live your faith “outside the box”! I look forward to being in ministry with you this week!

In Christ’s Service,
David

Did you know that over 20 potential volunteers shared dessert/coffee and learned about ways to serve with our 3 local Global Impact partners who focus on education? If YOU have interest in serving at COSKids Child Development Center, Alliance Center for Education and Greenway Park Elementary, please contact Amy DeVore.

Did you know that following the September Family Worship service, several of the United Kids families worked together to create colorful thank you murals for local First Responders. The posters were delivered along with a basket of breakfast goodies to thank these amazing people for all they do for our Community.

Did you know that 75 people participate in the Melody Makers senior adult community choir? This is a record for the group! Save the date for their annual Christmas Concert: Tuesday, December 9, 11 am in the Sanctuary.