A Beginning and an Ending?

This week I was blessed by a beginning and an ending.

This past Sunday, over 30 families were commissioned by our laying on of hands, prayer and blessing as they move out of the walls of Bel Air UMC and into the community of Abingdon to Emmorton Elementary School. It was a powerful and touching experience for all of us as we saw, not the end of our goal to start a new ministry and worship service in Abingdon, but a huge first step into fulfilling the mission of our church " to make disciples of Jesus Christ, as we show all people the way to the Father, teach them to know the Son, Jesus Christ, and prepare them to grow in faith and ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit."

Praying for The Vine at 9:20 Service

I invite you to "drop by" Emmorton Elementary

this Sunday from 10-12. The Vine team will be there to welcome you and you can join in a brief consecration and communion service. They will happen every 30 minutes, starting at 10AM. I will be dropping in between the 920 and 11 service.

Praying for The Vine at 11 Service, Photo by Jim Schepers

 

Then, on Thursday night, we concluded our Next Steps Class, as Pastor Stan reminded us about our call to "Serve". As we concluded the service with Communion and said our good-byes, many people commented about how the course touched them and how the small groups gave them a chance to discuss and commit to their NEXT STEPS as followers of Jesus. I realized that the course was over, but, like The Vine, it is only really the beginning of practicing the things that we had studied, how a Disciple of Jesus needs to Worship, Pray, Learn, Give, Proclaim, Relate, & Serve.

One of the important images I want to keep in front of us is this idea that we are on a Journey with Jesus. We do get times to rest, we call that Sabbath, but also, we look for ways each day to grow in our faith and make an impact in the world with the grace and love of Jesus Christ!

So what is your next step?

Please pick up our Lenten Devotional, "24 hours That Changed The World", this Sunday! It is a powerful little book with a short reading for each day of Lent! When was the last time you bought a Christian Devotional and used it! The cost is only 6$ and it fits the theme of our Lenten Sermon series and small group study.

In Jesus,

Barry

http://www.baumc.com/