Go Light Your World

my-gift-to-you

Too many of us endure “the holidays” as a six week marathon of way too much to do, way too much to eat, and way too much stress.  We forget that “the holidays” are “holy days” set aside for the purpose of basking in the comfort and joy, the “glad tidings of joy” Baby Jesus brought to earth. 

Throughout November and December worship at CUMC will be focusing on keeping the light of Jesus burning in our hearts and carrying the light of Jesus into the world.

Here are a few ideas of how you can participate.  “CANDLES” are available during our worship service – our goal is to light up our worship space with 500 of these paper candles!

  • Gather with other Christians in a small group to pray, learn, and grow together. Disciple’s Path is meeting after church and includes a group format for nearly everything on this list. Or you may already be involved in another Bible or Study Group.  So each time you attend - WRITE IT ON A CANDLE!
  • Celebrate God’s presence in worship with a faith community.

For every 3 TIMES YOU ARE IN WORSHIP,  write it on a  CANDLE!

  • Practice spiritual discipline by spending time each day with God studying and reflecting on the scriptures, praying, and / or using a devotional guide.

For every WEEK YOU SPEND INTENTIONAL TIME WITH God, write it on a CANDLE!

  • Give generously to a mission or ministry God has placed on your heart. Are you making an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox?  Or bringing items in for our Advent and Christmas Offerings?  Or placing money in Salvation Army kettles?  Each time you give, WRITE IT ON A CANDLE!
  • Volunteer at a Mission or ministry God has placed on your heart. Did you set up a Trick or Treat table at the church?  Are you helping out at Kid’s Food basket?  Santa Claus Girls? or the CUMC Operation Christmas Child Relay Center?  Each time you volunteer, WRITE IT ON A CANDLE!
  • Invite someone to come to church with (and be sure to WRITE IT ON A CANDLE!)

We will be adding to the resources below each week!

As we seek to draw the light of Christ into our lives this season leading up to Christmas I suggest the following to help individuals, couples and families spend focused time with God daily. 

  1. A favorite guide for daily devotion is The Upper Room. Copies are available in the church entry – ask one of our greeters!
  1. For family devotions please see:

http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/get-your-spirit-in-shape-family-devotions   (there is an audio podcast at this sight – it’s 30 minutes, but it you don’t have to get more than 10 minutes into it to get several great ideas that are realistic for your family)

http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-family-guide-for-a-disciples-journal

  1. For couples devotions please see:

http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/spiritual-practices-and-devotional-resources-for-couples

  1. Online Resources for Daily Prayer
    These are arranged from the simplest to the more complicated forms of daily prayer. All of these are services you can use while sitting at your computer. You may want to spend some time playing around on these sites just to see what is available, but then select one and stick with it for a while. Otherwise, sampling may take too much energy and distract you from God and prayer.

The Upper Room Daily Devotional: a simple daily prayer with scripture reading, meditation, prayer, and thought for the day.
http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/