Discipleship at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park

Say Yes

The View from the Tower February 2011

By last summer, I had heard enough Beth Moore references from my friends to become curious, and so I took my first Beth Moore Bible study on the life of David. I enjoyed this class so much that I continued with her study of John. I was amazed that she can take a portion of scripture that I had heard a hundred times and find meaning in it that I had never considered. She uses the original pre-translation verbage and historical context to boil passages down to the most accurate portrayal of God’s point. She manages to do so while keeping it interesting and simple. When Beth is done explaining her interpretation, I think, “Well, yes! Of course!” Beth Moore’s classes have significantly strengthened my personal relationship with God. I tend to be very concrete. To truly grasp a concept, it has to be really spelled out. Therefore, I’ve tended to view the Bible as a collection of educational stories that form a moral base within a person, rather than as an instruction manual. I obviously knew that to be a Christian meant to be a good person, but what exactly was my assignment? I assumed the answer was too complex for me. Then while studying, I read the fol-lowing passages: For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40) If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15: 10-12) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Could it be so simple? 1. Believe that Jesus is the son of God. 2. Love each other as Jesus loves us. 3. This is exactly what love is. I was so excited at this realization that I (briefly) wanted to get a tattoo of the message so that I wouldn’t forget!

I’m feeling a little exposed as I suspect that anyone reading this sees how infantile my understanding of God’s word is. Yet, that’s exactly what this study has done for me - it has shown me how little I know and how much I can learn from studying scripture. I am humbled by two major realizations. First, de-spite being raised in the church, I have so much to learn! Second, it is amazing to see the Holy Spirit work through Beth Moore’s studies to get messages through my thick skull. Studying scripture with Beth opened my mind and made me receptive to God’s individual message for me.

Lis Essary, Beth Moore Bible Study

lis

Say Yes to Bible Study

Studying scripture opens your mind and makes you receptive to God’s individual message for you.

Say Yes to Leadership

jennifer

A few years ago, I determined that I wanted to live intentionally, with purpose. If you are like me, your desire in life is not just to finish, but to finish well. I didn’t want to go through the motions, I wanted meaning in my life - being strong until the end. In order to do so, I needed to begin with the end in mind.

This meant determining my mission and my stewardship. The decisions I was making today would deter-mine how I would be remembered tomorrow. Therefore, clarity and focus on Biblical principles would insure a life well-lived.

By facilitating the MOMS (Ministry of Moms Sharing) group this past fall, I was able to work towards this mission. The group provided the opportunity to have discussions with other women who are in the same season of life as I am and how best to apply Biblical principles to our everyday activities. (For anyone who has been through the season of little children, I think you will agree that the days are long, but the years are short.)

As a group, we came to recognize that moms are constantly “doing” for others and sometimes neglecting themselves. Since mom sets the tone of the household, (and I am sure you’ve heard the expres-sion, “when Mom’s not happy, no one’s happy”) rest and renewal are necessary to re-energize. Being fully engaged in the moment with our families is just one of the keys to living intentionally with purpose.

Jennifer KeithMOMS (Ministry of Moms Sharing)

Clarity and focus on Biblical principles will insure a life well-lived.

I was having issues with someone at the office and sought a sympathetic ear from my husband, Joey. He advised me to view co-workers in the same way we view people who’ve stepped on to the same elevator – that is, without any expectations that you share anything in common except the common purpose of catching a ride. Of course, the expectation once you get off the elevator is that, at your des-tination, you will find people with whom you share a more substantive common purpose.

Richness in life is found in those destinations and in the communities of people we find there. For me, the Cornerstone Sunday School Class has been one of those destinations for just over a year. What distinguishes Cornerstone – and any community of faith – is that it’s the kind of community that pre-pares us for the multiple and varied elevator rides that comprise our lives, and the multiple and varied people we encounter along the way – our co-workers, our children’s teachers and their friends’ par-ents, people at the grocery store, other drivers on the road. How will I react when another driver cuts me off? Will I be the person who talks on my cell phone or talks with the clerk who is ringing me up at the grocery store? Being committed to both excellence at work and devotion to family and friends, what is the right balance in managing my time?

How would Jesus want me to answer these questions, big and small? Some of the answers are obvious. Cornerstone reminds me on a weekly basis to act accordingly. For those answers not so obvious, the class has helped me explore, in a community of faith, what Jesus asks of me as a Christian. And Cornerstone reminds me that all of those other people on the elevator are all part of God’s community, and it is incumbent on us as Christians to bring God into life’s every elevator ride.

Kathy Ho and Joe SaccoCornerstone Sunday School Class

Say Yes to Sunday School

All of those other people on the elevator are all part of God’s community, and it is incumbent on us as Christians to bring God into life’s every elevator ride.

kathy and

joe

It’s Sunday morning. I am peacefully sitting in church, listening to the uplifting music, when much to my dismay, Rev. Jayne Rideout comes out to greet the congregation. I realize that it is once again “Member-ship Sunday.” This is the day that all of the people who have attended the membership class become mem-bers in front of God and the rest of us. I start computing the familiar math in my head - 52 Sundays times 5 years equals 10, carry the 1, blah, blah, blah, for a grand total of 260 Sundays!

Once I come out of my math stupor, I realize we are halfway through the ceremony with some extremely friendly looking people standing in front of the congregation. I try to focus on these people to see if they somehow look more “Christian” than I or just plain more “together.” I decide they do not. They look per-fectly normal.

The familiar reasons why our family has not joined the church start to scroll through my brain as if I’m trying to convince myself that we have tried as hard as humanly possible to fit it into our busy schedule. The reasons go as follows: we never seem to be in town for four straight Sundays (even though it’s clearly stated that there is a makeup day scheduled during the week if needed); we’ve been attending church here too long…now it’s just too late and I feel silly; followed by the dreaded, “ I just plain hate the idea of standing in front of a church full of people, it’s so embarrassing!” Now, by this point in the service, I have managed to not pay attention to the final part of the ceremony and we are reading a response to the group in front of us. This is the Sunday I make the decision that we will be joining this church family dur-ing the next New Member Class.

My husband, Craig, and I attended the New Member Class for the required four consecutive Sundays. The funny part is that after the first Sunday, the feeling of being “required to attend” melted away and was replaced with the pure enjoyment of meeting the new people in our group. Everyone we met was so nice and even had some of the same reasons we did for not joining. The other transformation was being able to appreciate Rev. Jayne Rideout as one who seemed to be full of interesting information about our church, denomination and religion. She created a comfortable environment in which we felt relaxed and excited to be involved in the process. Once the classes were over, I realized how painless it had been. When we joined the following Sunday, I was still a little nervous in front of the crowd, but we did it as a family. Afterward, people who thought sure we were already members, commented to us that they were not mem-bers either and really needed to join but had been hesitant because they had been attending so long!

One of the key points that was emphasized during this class was that we should become involved in our church in a small group. This idea has terrified me as well because I am very selfish with my time. But I have made some great new friends and am happily singing with some of them in the Grace Ensemble. What has become so apparent to me during my time with the ensemble is that when you find your spiritual gifts or interest, the time you spend doing whatever it is does not feel like “donating time” or serving, but more like a little gift to yourself. I can now feel guilty for an entirely new reason - having too much fun during choir practice!

Laurie Hanson, New Member Class

Say Yes to Commitment

laurie

When you find your spiritual gifts or interest, the time you spend doing whatever it is does not feel like “donating time” or serving, but more like a little gift to yourself.

Travis and I joined the church when our first child was four months old. Most sermons were heard from the foyer of the Matthias Family Life Center between cries and diaper changes. Our second child was born soon thereafter, and we found ourselves feeling a bit isolated and consumed with the responsibilities of being new parents. When we attended church Sunday mornings, we knew a face or two, but longed to be more connected and involved.

We were invited to be a part of Dinner for Eight with three other couples. Around the comfortable setting of a dinner table, we finally felt the connection and fellowship we had been craving! God used this group to remind us how refreshing and encouraging fellowship can be.

Through the women in the group I got involved in the women’s min-istry, and we instantly felt more at home on Sundays. We laughed, we shared stories, concerns, joys and over the course of four dinners, we built community. Basically, we loved every minute and felt so blessed to be included. Yes, there were tales told of fishing adventures and toddlers eating dog food, but more importantly, we connected on a deeper level that comes only from the common bond of faith.

Sarah and Travis CepregiDinner for Eight

Say Yes to Fellowship

sarah and

travisConnecting on a deeper level only comes from the common bond of faith.

Thanks to my parents I had an introduction to Jesus at an early age. My siblings and I were very in-volved with church activities and that message was one that my wife and I repeated with our family. Life became very busy with children growing up and parents growing older. We were caught in the middle without enough time for anything.

After we moved to Florida and joined First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, we knew that we really wanted to focus more on scripture, so we began to read the Bible from cover to cover. Then came experiences with the Purpose Driven Life study, Alpha, Disciple Bible Study, Walk to Emmaus, and a mission trip to Costa Rico - all things that were shaping both of us as we walked with the Lord.

Thanks to the faithfulness of encouraging friends and to the study of scripture, thanks to prayer and fel-lowship and the companionship of other Christians who are growing with Christ, thanks to ministries that serve others, and most of all thanks to God’s grace I am a believer who is both a follower of Jesus and a messenger of his story. From daylight to dark I live for the Lord and every thought is for Him. Sure, I enjoy football and play some golf with grand-sons, but all of that time I am remembering that message that Jesus gave us, that promise and command to go and make disciples. I am Spirit filled and my joy is to spread the word of that promise. It means everything to me.

Jack Hays

Say Yes to a Small Group

jackNorlin Ham and Jack Hays repair bicycles for Bicycle Blessings.

Be a follower of Jesus and a messenger of his story.

Prayers: . . . of healing for members of the church family who are ill.. . . of sympathy and comfort for family and friends following the deaths of Jayne Kear (October 13), John Hall (October 16), Jim Cruce (October 19), Rosalie Gwinn (November 3), Bill Walters (November 14), Hall Whitworth, Sr. (December 7), Christine Kilbourne (December 13), and Tom Ivey (January 14).. . . of thanksgiving and celebration for the births on November 12, of Robert Anthony DeVoe, son of Ben and Sandy DeVoe, on December 3, of Abigail Grace Strong, daughter of Ryan and Natasha Strong, on January 12, of Emma Grace Ferguson, daughter of Scott and Barb Ferguson, and on January 14 of Thomas Law-rence, son of Greg and Lisa Lawrence.

Gifts: Make a difference by keeping your generous giving up to date. Read the latest financial report at fumcwp.org/ generous giving.

We will be loyal to the United Methodist Church and support it with our:

Presence: (averages) October - Worship: 903 Sunday School: 312 November - Worship: 812 Sunday School: 336 December - Worship: 909 Sunday School: 322 Christmas Eve: 3,237 January - Worship: 880 Sunday School: 310

service: Thanks to Tommy Cullens for providing the roses for the columbarium on All Saints Sunday. Thanks to those who donated blood at our last blood drive. Ralph Bender reached the milestone of having given three gallons. Mark your calendars for the next blood drive on February 13. Save a life.

So, you want to say Yes

Rev. Jayne Rideout and Michele Van Son review plans for the Lenten study of the book the Hole in Our Gospel.

. . . to Bible study

. . . to leadership

. . . to Sunday school

. . . to joining the church

. . . to Christian fellowship

. . . to a small group

. . . to finding out what your gifts are?

There are many ways to participate in the Discipleship Ministry of this church.Contact Minister of Discipleship Rev. Jayne Rideout at 407-644-2906, ext. 236 or jayner@fumcwp.org or our new Lay Transition Coordinator Michele Van Son at 407-644-2906, ext. 258 or michelev@fumcwp.org. Either of them would be excited to help you through the process of finding where you can say Yes! Discipleship Ministry offers opportunities to grow in a union of hearts and minds with others who have also responded to God’s call.

Recently baptized The View from the Tower February 2011

Adeline Claire Dettore, daughter of Kevin and Jana Dettore, was baptized October 17, 2010.

John William Saunders, son of John and Dina Saunders, was baptized October 31, 2010

Alexander James Kamada, son of Alan and Kristi Kamada, was bap-tized December 26, 2010.

Max Robert Nielson, son of Jeff and Melanie Nielson and brother of Jay, was baptized January 9, 2011.

Jackson Kenneth Shaw, son of Adam and Jackie Shaw, was baptized January 16, 2011.

Evan Matthew Elwell, son of Grady Elwell and Beth Kassab and brother of Elise, was baptized January 30, 2011.

Julia Kathleen Donalson, daughter of John and Teresa Donaldson and sister of John, was baptized January 23, 2011.

Sloan Marie Dinklage, daughter of Brian and Marie Dinklage and sister of Taylor, was baptized January 23, 2011.

Hunt McCarley Davis, son of McCarley and Lise Davis and brother of Campbell, was baptized December 5, 2010.