The next two weekends are important ones for Manchester UMC. The church calendar is relatively empty, as we experience a few weeks of hiatus before beginning our new season of ministry. We are taking a pause, a rest, a few weeks of sabbath.
And during this time, we have the opportunity to contemplate where we are and what lies ahead. This time is a gift to us, open space to pray, to think, and to discern where the Spirit is leading us, both personally and as a church community. That’s where the next two weekends come in.
United Methodist membership vows include promising to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. In worship on January 7 and 8, we will consider our discipleship promises, and renew them together as an act of worship.
The tool we use for this renewal is called a “Discipleship Promise Card.” The Discipleship Promise card is for you. No one will see it except for you and God! Each of the five promises has quantifiable options you can choose, in order to make your vows tangible. In this way, we bring faith alive in embodied and meaningful ways.
The following weekend, January 14 and 15, I’ll share some thoughts about what lies ahead of us as a congregation. I will include thoughts about the 2023 budget, adjustments to the staff structure, and the important priorities that this new year presents for Manchester UMC.
I am so excited about where this congregation is, and where we are heading! This year promises consistent growth, spiritually and numerically. Relationships that exist are going to be deepened. New relationships will be formed. Lives are going to be changed.
Grounded prayerfully in Scripture and with a consistent focus on the Reign of Christ among us, we are steadily moving into the future that God has in store for us. The Holy Spirit is at work among this congregation in a powerful, miraculous way, and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.
Please make a point to be present in worship these next two weekends, as we pause to breathe together, to pray together, and to contemplate where we are and what lies ahead. See y’all in church!
