East Heights UMC

Sermon ~ October 28th

Reformation Sunday
Message: The Wisdom to Know the Difference
Date: October 28, 2007
Speaker: JC Kelley

Download sa_sermon_10_28_07_the_wisdom_to_know_the_difference.mp3

Streaming...

Sermon ~ October 21st

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
Message: Attending The Door
Date: October 21, 2007
Speaker: Charles Claycomb

Download sa_sermon_10_21_07_attending_the_door.mp3

Streaming...

Gather 'Round the Table

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
Message: Crippling Guilt, Liberating faith
Date: October 21, 2007
Speaker: Rev. Kate Moorehead

Download gather_around_the_table_kate_moorehead.mp3

Streaming...

Sermon ~ October 14th

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Message: Excellence and Fruitfulness
Date: October 14, 2007
Speaker: JC Kelley

Download sa_sermon_10_14_07_excellence_and_fruitfulness.mp3

Streamings...

Sermon ~ October 7th

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Message: Extravagant Generosity
Date: October 7, 2007
Speaker: JC Kelley

Download sa_sermon_10_7_07_extravagant_generosity.mp3

Streaming...

Sermon Notes PDF

Week 5:  Extravagant Generosity

To begin...

1.       Indentify with our mission:  “To share with all people the unconditional love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”

2.       Understand our vision:  “A community of faith where everyone is welcomed, respected, and valued and where individuals are transformed by the abundance of God’s grace into passionate disciples who are changing the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

3.       Meditate on these scriptures:  2 Corinthians 9:11 and Luke 21:1-4

So what can I do?

Adults:

·         Reflect on:

o    How your prayers, presence, gifts, and service are currently spent.

o    Where do your time, energy and money come from? To whom does it belong?

o    What are your priorities, how have they changed in the past?

·         Does how your time, energy and money get spent each week reflect those priorities? How might they match more closely?

·         Generosity is spiritual fruit. Focus on making changes joyfully, not out of guilt or obligation.

Youth:

·         If you have a job or even an allowance, commit to give a percentage (10% is a tithe) of your “income” every week to the church for its many missions and ministries.

·         Challenge yourself to go without at least one of your normal drinks (soda, energy drink, etc.) every day or eat at home instead of going out and give the money you would have spent to our Sunday school offering.

·         Instead of buying new clothes, downloading music or going to the movies, give that money to an organization that helps those who go to bed hungry each night.

Children:

·         Do you get an allowance?  Did you receive some money for your birthday?  Offer a percentage of your money to the church.  Ask a family member to help you figure out how much you should give.  There are envelopes at the Summit check-in where you can give your offering.

• If you and your family are at a restaurant, consider taking a meal from the restaurant and give it to someone who looks hungry.  There are a lot of people downtown who don’t have money to buy any food.

Sermon ~ September 30th

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Message: Risk Taking Mission
Date: September 30, 2007
Speaker: JC Kelley

Download sa_sermon_9_30_07_risk_taking_mission.mp3

Streaming...

Sermon Notes PDF

Week 4:  Risk-taking

Mission

and Service

To begin...

1.       Indentify with our mission:  “To share with all people the unconditional love of God revealed to us in Jesus Christ.”

2.       Understand our vision:  “A community of faith where everyone is welcomed, respected, and valued and where individuals are transformed by the abundance of God’s grace into passionate disciples who are changing the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

3.       Meditate on this scripture:  Matthew 25:40

So what can I do?

Adults:

·         Spiritually nourish others – the first step is being in service.

·         Risk-taking mission and service doesn’t (necessarily) mean traveling overseas or putting yourself in danger. It does mean pushing your boundaries beyond comfort zones and focusing outward.

·         Review page 84. When serving, who’s in control? Who should be?

·         How are you in service and/or mission now? Who could you nourish? What are your gifts? Where are you called? Who might you support in their “risky” efforts?

Youth:

·         Be consciously aware of those in your school, on your team, in your choir or band whose parent might be in prison or absent due to addiction or those who go to bed hungry every night or those who are in some way “different” than you.  Step out of your circle of friends and reach out to them!

·         Become an active part of the Mission Possible Team to plan our monthly mission opportunities for our youth.

·         Commit to giving at least 4 hours a month in mission with those in our city who need to know someone cares.

·         Give a week of your summer as a member of our Mountain T.O.P. Mission Team or Middle School

Mission

Team.

Children:

·         Work with your family to put together a “Ruth Kit.”  The Ruth Kit project, developed by the Nooma class, is a first response to homeless people – look at the Nooma Blog (http://ehumc.typepad.com/nooma) and click on the Ruth Kit link to see what goes into the kit.  Join us as we distribute the kits on October 6 at noon (we’ll meet at the church).

• Pick up a “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” box from Julie and collect money for UNICEF, an organization working in 156 countries to provide healthcare, clean water, nutrition, and education to children in need.