Gratitude Sunday

This Sunday is Gratitude Sunday, a day of giving thanks for the work of Jesus Christ in our lives through Stonebridge United Methodist Church. In our get-it-done society, let’s take at least one Sunday and say thanks for what our Savior has done for us through our church family. May our faces glow with delight as we remember the times of blessing. May our thanks on this special Sunday make God smile. 

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Grateful

I am so grateful to be the pastor of Stonebridge UMC. The 30th anniversary celebration was phenomenal! The sounds of praise filled Celebration Hall as we sang the songs of faith and received the blessing of special music. The video testimonies were a reminder of the impact of the Gospel of Jesus and changed lives. You reminded me of what the church should be like as a worshipping community. 

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Why is There So Much Suffering?

This Sunday’s sermon will tackle the great human struggle with suffering. Does God Really Care? Why is There So Much Suffering? For Christians the answer to the question of suffering is found in Christ. Christ, the eternal Son of God has lived on earth as a human being and endured hunger, thirst, temptation, shame, persecution, nakedness, bereavement, betrayal, mockery, injustice, and death. Only Jesus is in a position to fulfill our deepest longing. 

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30th Anniversary Celebration

Let us never forget, for it is important to remember the struggles, the achievements, and the determination of those who built the great institutions of our society. These memories instill wisdom, inspire gratitude, and create new visions for the future. 

This is why we are putting so much energy into the 30th Anniversary of Stonebridge UMC, September 21st. The Anniversary team has planned an awesome combined worship service at 10:00 am where we will Remember Our Roots, Empower the Present, and Imagine the Future. We will celebrate through special music, video testimonies, and I will be preaching on Hebrews 11 – Answering God’s Call Into the Future

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The Power of Prayer

Bounds continues with this challenge, “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better organizations, or more novel methods. The Church needs people whom the Holy Spirit can use – people of prayer, people mighty in prayer. The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods, but through people. God does not anoint plans, but people of prayer.”

As I read this powerful book, I was struck by the truth of the tension between methods and the power of prayer and the anointing of God’s Spirit. Please join Amy and me to strive for God’s anointing through our connection in prayer. Prayer makes the difference. 

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A VBS God Sighting

Molly wrote this earlier in the week, “I have to share a “God Sighting” with you all because it really moved me. At closing today, there was a little girl in the front row who was singing ‘’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus’ with so much passion that I could tell… she was feeling every word that left her mouth. This is why! Why we make the last-minute pivots, smile when we feel like raising an eyebrow, hug when we want to run!!!” 

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Worshipping Together

This Sunday, July 6th, there will be one service in the RAC at 11:00 am. Breakfast will be available starting at 10:15 am. We will have both the Celebration Choir and the full worship team leading us in song. I am excited about what we have planned for this July 4th weekend as we celebrate the freedom to express our faith in Christ. Let’s use this special service to get to know each other better. It’s going to be a great time to share the love of Christ and meet someone new. 

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Following Our Hearts

An elderly Christian lady with arthritis struggled to attend church services on crutches. Despite the pain, she attended every service. When asked how she managed, she replied, "My heart gets there first, and my legs follow."

Over the last five weeks, members of Stonebridge UMC have hosted seven home meetings for our IMAGINE Listening Tour. The spirit of this listening tour was amazing. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a wonderful heart for Jesus that beats within the work we are doing. The passion you have for our ministries is inspiring.

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Light in the Darkness

All of us carry the scars of the past. These scars are the results of wounds with many names - inflicted by failures, humiliations, or bad conscience. Perhaps, caused at a time when we needed understanding or compassion, and nobody was there to give it. Perhaps it was the result of the unthinking actions of others. Sometimes, the result is of our own doing. For me, I have come to understand these times as “the dark night of the soul.” In these desperate moments, God’s love and assurance have come as a starburst of light. 

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IMAGINE Listening Tour

On Tuesday, we had our first gathering for our IMAGINE Listening Tour. Thanks to Roger and Amy Dankel for hosting and Doug and Andrea Darby for co-hosting. It was amazing. We had a full group for this first meeting. We celebrated the great things happening in our church ministries, discussed future priorities, and brainstormed ways to engage every member in ministry. The energy and enthusiasm were outstanding. 

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Confirmation

In our tradition, confirmation is a time of learning and growing in faith for our younger teens. It is a sacred act that signifies a deeper commitment to the Christian faith, empowering individuals to live out their beliefs and participate actively in the life of the Church. At this Sunday's 9:45 a.m. service, we are receiving into faith in Christ and membership in the church the young people that have gone through our confirmation training.

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Great Things Are Happening

Wednesday night, 65 men gathered to hear Don Smith share his testimony of recovery and faith. We were all moved by his message. The turnout was outstanding, and the spirit of support and friendship was felt by all. This is just the beginning of reaching out to help men grow in their faith and find a place of support and sanctuary. Be on the lookout for future events as we plan to expand the opportunities to bring men together. 

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