Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Greetings, Church,
This past Sunday we celebrated Epiphany and considered what it might mean for us to seek the Savior in 2019. We distributed guiding prayer cards and encouraged individuals to read, reflect, pray, and study this scripture in 2019 so that the text helps to open our hearts and lives in new ways to Jesus. If you have not yet received a guiding scripture card, we will have them available again this coming Sunday. We will worship at 11:00 a.m. with Sunday school groups meeting earlier at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome! As always, worship is family-friendly. We provide nursery for infants and preschoolers, worship bags for children, and children’s church, which provides our younger, school-aged children with guided time where they learn to love God and love others. Invite neighbors, friends, relatives, and coworkers to experience God’s grace with us.
Just a few reminders as we share ministry and as we love and care for one another and others:
As we look ahead into 2019, loving God and loving our neighbors, I want to share the Wesley Covenant Prayer that we prayed together this past Sunday. It is a traditional Methodist prayer that is prayed at the start of the new year as a recommitment or refocus to God. You may want to use this pray in your personal or family devotions.
I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
May the love of Christ be with you so that you may share that love with others.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Amy
P.S. As winter approaches, please note that any changes with our ministry schedule due to inclement weather will be shared through a phone tree call, on this website, and on Facebook here. If you would like to be added to the phone tree, please contact Mechelle in the church office at 704-924-8322 or monticello_methodist@yahoo.com.
Greetings, Church,
This past Sunday we celebrated Epiphany and considered what it might mean for us to seek the Savior in 2019. We distributed guiding prayer cards and encouraged individuals to read, reflect, pray, and study this scripture in 2019 so that the text helps to open our hearts and lives in new ways to Jesus. If you have not yet received a guiding scripture card, we will have them available again this coming Sunday. We will worship at 11:00 a.m. with Sunday school groups meeting earlier at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome! As always, worship is family-friendly. We provide nursery for infants and preschoolers, worship bags for children, and children’s church, which provides our younger, school-aged children with guided time where they learn to love God and love others. Invite neighbors, friends, relatives, and coworkers to experience God’s grace with us.
Just a few reminders as we share ministry and as we love and care for one another and others:
- January Mission of the Month: For Monticello’s January mission of the month, we will remember our neighbors at Scotts Elementary School and share food for weekend food bags for students. There are food lists that you may pick up at the mission of the month table. Thank you to Teresa Tucker for coordinating these food bags each week. Please let Teresa know, if you have any questions.
- Healthy Conversations Gathering: In February, The United Methodist Church will gather for a special called General Conference. Usually, General Conference meets every four years; however, two years ago at the regularly scheduled conference delegates voted to meet after two years to discuss matters regarding human sexuality. If you would like to learn more about The United Methodist Church and this upcoming special called General Conference, please join us on Saturday, January 12 at 9:00 a.m. at Broad Street United Methodist. Rev. Mary John Dye will lead this Healthy Conversations gathering. Please email me ASAP, if you plan to attend but have not yet contacted me. Thank you! (amyspiv@hotmail.com)
- Second Sunday Lunch for Young Adults: Young adults are invited to gather for lunch and conversation this coming Sunday, January 13 at 12:30 p.m. at Groucho’s Deli (101 E. Broad Street, Statesville). Please contact Tim Moore for more information. (timothyscottmoore@hotmail.com)
- Children’s Music: Each third Sunday our Monticello children share music during worship. Parents and grandparents, mark your calendars for Sunday, January 20. Cindy Stikeleather will lead the children. They will practice at 10:00 a.m. and share music during 11:00 a.m. worship.
- 2019 Ministry Budget Giving Commitment Cards: If you haven’t returned you commitment card for 2019, you may do so anytime. Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity in joyful giving, as we seek to make and nurture disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The information that you share about your 2019 giving helps our leadership plan and prepare for upcoming ministry.
- Capital Campaign: Thank you for your generosity, as we prepare for future ministry. We continue to receive commitment cards and gifts, and we individually give varying amounts that are proportional to our own, personal circumstance. However, our collective generosity goes much farther together. No matter the amount, our gifts will make a difference. You may return your gift by the end of January or give anytime here.
As we look ahead into 2019, loving God and loving our neighbors, I want to share the Wesley Covenant Prayer that we prayed together this past Sunday. It is a traditional Methodist prayer that is prayed at the start of the new year as a recommitment or refocus to God. You may want to use this pray in your personal or family devotions.
I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
May the love of Christ be with you so that you may share that love with others.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Amy
P.S. As winter approaches, please note that any changes with our ministry schedule due to inclement weather will be shared through a phone tree call, on this website, and on Facebook here. If you would like to be added to the phone tree, please contact Mechelle in the church office at 704-924-8322 or monticello_methodist@yahoo.com.
