LIFE Groups may be the answer…
LIFE stands for Living in Faith Everyday, and it represents the second step in the process of Christian growth at First United Methodist Church (FUMC).
Love God. The first step is to Love God which simply means that we all start with a personal relationship with God. We do this through private prayer and public worship. Private prayer is something that we encourage every member at FUMC to do on a daily basis, although most of us find we need it even throughout every day. Public worship at FUMC is simple: every service has a time to praise God through songs and prayers of thanksgiving, to hear the Bible read and explained, and to respond to that Word by recommitting our lives to live as followers of Jesus.
Love Others. The second step is to Love Others, and we do this primarily through LIFE groups. Every time a LIFE group visits, we focus on three things: laughing, learning, and loving. Laughing reminds us to have fun together-- sharing in a good meal, fun activity, light conversations, and other things that help us remember that life can be good. Learning reminds us that we need to talk about the scriptures and challenge each other to figure out how the Bible pertains to today’s situations. Loving reminds us to take care of each other. We all need Christian friends to pray with us or for us, to walk by our side, and to help us through the tough times of life. LIFE groups are made for that purpose!
Serve the World. The third step and goal of every Christian at FUMC is to Serve the World. Once you have a good relationship with God and have connected with others through a LIFE group, you’re ready to learn how God wants you to be fulfilled. God has created us all very differently. As you grow in your relationship with God and others, you will learn that you have a certain combination of gifts, styles, and passions. When you commit to do things that don’t allow you to use those, you will feel frustrated and burned-out. When you do things that allow you to use those, you will get more and more energy and fulfillment in your life. Our goal at FUMC is to help each other find the place(s) to serve that gives meaning to our lives in work, play, and ministry - inside or outside of the church!
Joining a LIFE group is a step in your journey as a Christ-follower. It is a step that leads to more meaning, more purpose, and more fulfillment in your life. I pray that you will find a group that helps you move toward new life. It may happen quickly, or it may happen slowly over time. It is your walk, your journey, but you are not in it alone when you have a LIFE Group!
In Christ’s love,
Mark McDonald
You may see a pdf of the Fall 2010 LIFE Group booklet by clicking here.
