Month: January 2020

Theme:            Our relationship with God and with one another in the church is dependent on our taking part in sharing the love and grace of God rather than focusing on our control or getting our way.

Purpose:          The congregation will consider their particular role of ministry versus falling into distractions.

Scriptures:       Isaiah 9:1-4  God will shine a light to all people which will lead to hope and celebration.

Matthew 4:12-23        Jesus calls the disciples to be “fishers of men.”

Questions:

Why did the disciples choose to follow Jesus? What does it mean for us to follow Jesus and to be a disciple? How does our need to serve God by using our particular gifts affect our relationships with Christ and with other Christians? How does our need to offer light into darkness differ from proselytizing or telling people what to believe? What is the joy of serving God (isn’t it work)?  How do we enter into a relationship in which we are part of the light rather than serving obligations to do work for God?

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Theme:            God’s love is a present strength to all those who open their hearts to the loving kindness and compassion that God wants to share through us to all people.

Purpose:          The Congregation will examine and open themselves in their trust in God’s loving care for them.

Scriptures:       1 Corinthians 1:1-9     God knows you and has promised to strengthen you.

                        John 1:29-42   Jesus’ call of his disciples knowing their strengths and weaknesses.

Questions:

What does it really mean that God loves us? Does God really know what we need or is God too distant from us to be able to know much about us? How do we perceive God’s nature as far as being present and caring? What strength do we gain through trusting in God’s love and knowledge for us? Do we trust that God can know us and accept us? How do we deal with our feelings of guilt and fear that separate us from God?

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Theme:            We are renewed by the promise that God’s love will sustain us and keep us close.

Purpose:          The congregation will find confidence through God’s love and approval for every one of us.

Scriptures:       Isaiah 42:1-9    God will give light to the covenant people and keep them safe.

                        Matthew 3:13-17        Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan – God identifies Jesus as blessed and love.

Questions:

What does our baptism mean to us now that we are grown up and older? How does our baptism continue to be a source of new life? If Jesus was sinless what does his baptism mean for us? What is the difference between God sending Jesus to stand with sinners and God being a punishing judge? How does the love and compassion of Jesus enable us to grow in our faith? What does it mean to worship Christ who was humble and accepting of people who were flawed and challenged?

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Theme:            God’s light is the gift of experiencing the will of God which brings healing and peace to all who will receive him.

Purpose:          The congregation will experience awareness of God’s love for all people.

Scriptures:     Ephesians 1:3-14          The plan of God is for all to experience wholeness and salvation.

                       John 1:1-18       The Word of God, came into the world, and for all who will receive him gives the power to know eternal life.

Questions:

What does it mean to us that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us?” What is the wisdom or knowledge that comes to us through Christ Jesus being the “Light shining in the darkness?” How do people experience that light? What is the darkness in which people dwell? What does it mean to set our hope on Christ? How do we experience the light in a way that gives us hope when things are difficult?

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