First United Methodist Church

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9am Contemporary | 11am Traditional

News & Devotions

Embracing the Vision: Call of Intentionality 

“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink” 

The Diversity Ministry is a relatively new ministry to our church family and born out of the recent home meetings with Pastor David. At every home meeting, a church member raised the request to intentionally increase our church’s diversity. We heard this request and formed a lay team to support this ministry. Under the guidance of Pastor David, Annette Snedaker leads this ministry and how we can passionately seek Matthew 25:31-46. This call from the Gospel according to Matthew is heavy on the hearts of this ministry team.  

The Diversity Ministry meets monthly to strategize how to broaden the reach of our vibrant family and further grow into serving in the image of Jesus the Christ.  

 In November, Forum – one of our adult Sunday school classes – asked Annette to share with the class updates from this ministry. This is just one more example of how we are strengthening our connections and engaging one another across ministries as one vibrant family. At the heart of this Sunday morning discussion was a time of acceptance and curiosity: 

  • Honest storytelling 
  • Overview of the Diversity Ministry 
  • Vibrant dialogue  

Drawing from Steven Covey’s book, “The Speed of Trust,” one of the first objectives the diversity ministry emphasizes is to always build trust – build trust between those engaged in the movement. Before we bridge into any unchartered territory – geographically, economically, or culturally – we must first build bridges between one another.  

Call of Intentionality 

Let’s join the Diversity Ministry in investigating what this call of intentionality and inclusive perspective means in our daily lives.  

Matthew 25:31-46 – New Revised Standard Version

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”