Day: November 27, 2018

As many of you are aware, The Council of Bishops has called a Special Session of the General Conference of The United Methodist Church to be held February 23-26, 2019 in St. Louis, to address human sexuality in the Book of Disciplines. The purpose of the Special Session will be to receive and act on a report from the Commission on a Way Forward based on the recommendation of the Council of Bishops.

The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church has asked that Methodists all over the world commit to a prayer and fasting initiative called Praying Our Way Forward prior to and during the Special Session.  We are being called to pray for God’s leadership to guide us effectively in fulfilling the mission of the church and to come together in unity. In prayer, we can be one in Christ.

As part of Praying the Way Forward, Gathered In His Name  (GIHN) an intercessory prayer group at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park is requesting that our church community join us in 12 weeks of prayer in solidarity with Methodists all over the world.  We will include a short suggested weekly prayer for the next twelve weeks in Thursday at Three.  We hope that each person will take time to pray.

As members of our Vibrant Family at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, we are aware of the need appreciating our brothers and sisters in Christ and listening to their stories.  We are cognizant that we have different backgrounds, experiences, opinions and beliefs but in spite of our differences we have a common core set of beliefs as United Methodists that serve to unify and bring us together through God’s love and grace.

Weekly Prayers:

Week of 12/3/18:

Precious Jesus, we pray for members of our own vibrant family at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park in order that we might hear each other’s point of view, embrace, and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Week of 12/10/18:

As we pray for our vibrant church family, let us pray for unity.  Guide us to remember with gratitude that each of us has unique gifts and stories.  Keep us aware of our beautiful differences and show us your way, which is always the best way.

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  1 Peter 3:8-9

Week of 12/17/2018:

Guide us along Your path as we interact with our brothers and sisters throughout our day.  Keep us mindful of You.  May we follow in Your footsteps and grow in our understanding of our need for unity.

^“ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

Week  of 12/24/2018:

As we pray for unity within our church family, Lord we ask for your help in remembering that we are all part of the body of Christ together and let us trust the spirit is at work in our conversations and interactions.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  Colossians 3:16

Week  of 12/31/2018:

May we feel your presence throughout our day and may we show compassion to all. Guide us as we interact with others in understanding, peace and love.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  Matthew 22:37-39

Let’s start with the history. The Methodist “class meeting” was started in 1742 when a group of Methodists were trying to pay off a building debt in Bristol. These meetings were divided into groups of 12 people where one person in each group was designated leader and responsible for visiting each person every week in order to collect one penny in order to pay off the building debt.

As this plan was put into practice, it became apparent that many Methodists were not keeping the “General Rules”, which were: do no harm, do good, and practice the means of grace (i.e., prayer, searching the Scriptures, receiving communion). Similarly, many of the attendees happily experienced Christian fellowship for the first time.

This class meeting quickly developed into much more than a capital campaign. It became a crucial tool for enabling Methodists to watch over one another in love and support and encourage one another. In fact, John Wesley thought the oversight and support the class meeting provided was so important, it became a requirement for membership in a Methodist society.

Fast forward to today, we believe the new connect groups (and the existing ones) allow us to “watch over one another in love”. We are called to invite others into our lives so that we can grow in grace.  We still believe we need one another in order to persevere on this journey.

We hope you will make time to join us on Jan. 13 to learn more about our church’s Connect Groups.