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MISSION
STATEMENT OF CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
"To Serve God by Sharing Compassion and Love”
One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All
The graphic on the worship
folder for September 20 showed hands reaching toward one another in the form of
a cross encircled by the words Partners in Ministry. It was an
accurate description of what happened during worship as the congregations of
Christ and Union Avenue churches gathered to sing praises to God and celebrate
what it means to be the people called United Methodists in the community of
Alliance.
Thanks are expressed
to our ushers and greeters for practicing radical hospitality by warmly
welcoming the members and friends of our sister church. Special words of
appreciation are also sent to the members of the Chancel Bell Choir, under the
direction of Lew Shields, and to the Chancel Choir, under the direction of
Bradley Bonam, for providing inspirational and exhilarating musical selections.
It was my sincere joy
to formally introduce my colleague and friend, the Reverend Hoyte L. Wilhelm, to
the congregation. Pastor Wilhelm’s message A Timely Challenge
encouraged each worshiper to plumb the depths of his/her faith as, together, we
continue to discern what God is calling us to be and become as United Methodist
Christians in this community.
On World
Communion Sunday, October 4, the saints that constitute Christ and Union
Avenue churches will gather together at 11 a.m. at Union Avenue to share the
sacrament of God’s love and forgiveness. It will be my privilege and joy to
deliver the message, One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All, and to
assist Pastor Wilhelm in the administration of Holy Communion.
Shared worship services at Christ UMC on September 20, and Union Avenue
UMC on October 4, are the prelude to additional opportunities for worship and
study planned for the future. Please see the article Shared Worship and
Study Opportunities in this edition of The Chimes for
dates and times of shared ministry opportunities with our friends at Union
Avenue Church.
The hymn writer captures the significance of Holy Communion and shared ministry
for the followers of Jesus Christ when he writes:
One
bread, one body, one Lord of all,
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many throughout the earth,
We are one body in this one Lord.
As the body of
Christ, let us gather with fellow United Methodists whenever and
wherever the opportunity presents itself. We are, in fact, one in the
Spirit and one in the Lord.
L. Chris Martin, Pastor |