Spiritual Gifts
For the October newsletter, I had so many things to tell you, I named my article Pastor’s Ponderings. Well, this month I have many things to tell you, as well, so my Ponderings continue.
On September 5th, prior to starting weekly summaries of the committees of the church, I preached on Spiritual Gifts. Paul teaches us a lot about these gifts in several of his epistles (letters). I have placed three examples below.
Romans 12: 4-6 (NIV) 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
1 Corinthians 12: 26-28 (NIV) 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
1 Corinthians 14:12 (NIV) So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. In my message, I encouraged you to discern your Spiritual Gifts by spending time in prayer, studying the Bible, asking those who know you well, and serving. I hope and pray that using this method, you have discerned your gift or gifts, so that you can now discern how you can best serve God and your church. The nominations committees will be filling the church leadership positions, so the slates can be voted on at the December ad board meetings. I titled this document using the lyrics to I Am the Church, because when we started talking a bout serving and the various committees of the church, Connie Nash spread her arms and said, “We are the church.” All of us are the church, young, middle-aged, and elderly. That brings me to my second pondering.
Confirmation
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Very soon, I will be inviting the youth of our church from upper-elementary to high school age to join a confirmation class. We will meet 13 to 15 times over several months and will be confirming these young people as members of the church in May, 2022. Please be in prayer that our young people will want to officially join the body of Christ as full-members.
The Future of United Methodism
I have nothing new to report on the future of the Church. General Conference, as of now, is still scheduled for August, 2022, at which a vote will be taken on the document, The Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation. Should this plan pass, the door will be officially opened for the Global Methodist Church to be established as the traditional, orthodox church and for the progressive United Methodist Church to continue. Please keep reading, asking questions, doing whatever you can to garner an understanding of the future of Methodism. I am always available to answer questions or to attempt to find the answers.
Mark Your Calendars
LeValley take-out soup dinner is Saturday, November 4th from 3:00-6:00pm. Be sure to get your orders in by November 1st .
Berlin Center is hosting a turkey supper for church members and families on November 13th at 5:30pm. Main dishes will be provided, but bring a side-dish to pass. Please sign-up so Penny Rust and Marilyn Palmer will know how many to plan for. There will be food, fellowship and games. LeValley members are welcome.
The bell choir from Belding Congregational Church will be at LeValley on Sunday November 21st at 1:00pm. Please plan to attend.
Watch your bulletin each week, as new events may get scheduled. It is Thanksgiving month. Let’s gather together for worship, food and fellowship to thank God for His provisions and to continue to ask for his blessings because ♫“I am the Church, You are the Church, We are the Church Together…”♫
Give thanks with a grateful heart Give thanks to the Holy One Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing; Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.
Blessings,
Pastor Nancy
