CJ's Communiqué January 2012

Happy New Year! Have you made any new resolutions? January can be a month filled with the “winter blues,” but as Christians and United Methodists it also offers opportunities for growth in our spiritual formation, especially for prayer. Here are some specific areas of prayer focus for the month that coincide with our liturgical calendar:

1. Epiphany, January 6. Ask God to bring more “epiphanies” into your own life for the year (those “aha” moments).
2. Baptism of the Lord, January 8. Ask the Lord to bring more disciples to Metro who need to be baptized. This experience is a witness of our faith in Jesus and to the Church.
3. Human Trafficking Awareness Day, January 11. Did you know that human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business around the world? Please pray for this to cease and ask God how you can get involved.
4. Human Relations Day, January 15. Pray that in all our diversity we will celebrate the heritage of God’s salvation for all people.
5. Martin Luther King’s Birthday Observance, January 16. Pray for the walls of racism to be broken in every nation, including the USA. Give thanks for MLK’s vision of freedom for all peoples, nations, races, and color.
6. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-26. Pray that all our differences as Christians will be broken down and that we will seek to be one in Christ’s love.

Thank you to all who will be praying. You do make a difference.
 

Thank You

Thank you to all our volunteers for the Angel Tree Ministry, to those who purchased gifts, and to those helpers who delivered the gifts. We had 16 children this year and your graciousness was God’s blessing. The children received a joy because of you. Thanks again.
 

Resumed Schedule

Wednesday Bible Studies: 4:00 PM and 7:30 PM, resuming January 11. All are welcome. At 4:00 PM, we are continuing the Gospel of Mark and at 7:30 PM, the Gospel of Matthew. Study gives us the opportunity to grow in our knowledge of God and each other. This may be an opportunity for “Epiphany!”

Wednesday Dinner and Worship: 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Come for a time of fellowship around the table through “food, fellowship, and study.” Our schedule resumes on January 11.

Sunday School for all ages continues at 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings. If you are not in Sunday School or Bible Study, please make this a part of your resolution for spiritual formation in 2012.
 

Confirmation is Coming!

Confirmation is the time for our youth to become official members of the Church and pledge their commitment to Jesus and the Body of Christ. If you have a child between the ages of 11 to 13, please contact Rev. Miles for more information. Our class will most likely meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. We also need sponsors to pray, support, and mentor our youth involved in confirmation. Adults, please contact Rev. Miles if you are willing to participate. Classes will begin in February and meet through the end of April.
 

Growing and serving together,
Rev. Cathee Miles
Minister of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation