The figure of Moses seems to tower over all other characters of the Old Testament. He is the one on the mountaintop to whom God speaks with unparalleled intimacy and leads his people out of bondage. Yet, he is also deeply human, someone whose soaring triumphs are offset by frustration and longing: his own people ignore his teachings and quickly forget God’s promises, he is denied entrance to the Promised Land, and his relationship with his own family is often tenuous at best. Join us this summer beginning Sunday, June 28th as we learn from the life of Moses who reveals remarkable resilience as he weathers the disillusionment of dreams unfulfilled in our series, Overcoming Disappointment.
Sunday, July 5, 2026 / Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
When we ponder the greatness of Moses, one of the first words that comes to mind is “perseverance,” perseverance in the face of frequent criticism, dedication born of keeping his mind focused on the presence and the promise of the God who summoned him and who would always be with him. Join us for worship as we explore the origins of Moses’ call and the need for us to remember ours in our message, Remembering the Source (Exodus 3:1-15) as our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, continues. Our worship celebration will also include the sharing of Holy Communion.
Sunday, July 12, 2026 / Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Perhaps failure and disappointment can teach that we may fail at one thing, we may fail at several things, but that does not mean we are failures as people. We will join Moses and the Israelites beside the waters of Meribah as our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, continues with Failing Forward (Numbers 20:2-13).
Sunday, July 19, 2026 / Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
When coping with dreams that have been dashed upon the rocks of reality, author Joseph Campbell offers an important thought: “We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” Join us as our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, continues with a closer look at Numbers 27:12-23 in our message, New Dreams for Old Ones.
Sunday, July 26, 2026 / Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
As the Israelites are scurrying to stuff their luggage with all the precious things that they have plundered from the Egyptians, Moses is busy keeping a promise. Instead of enriching himself, he reveals his greatness in keeping the promise of taking the bones of Joseph with them as they depart from Egypt. Our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, will continue in our message, Keeping Promises (Exodus 13:17-22).
Sunday, August 2, 2026 / Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Humility ultimately means recognizing that we are not God and it is not our responsibility to run the world. Join us for the message, It’s Not All About You!, as our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, continues with a closer look at Exodus 18:13-27. Our worship celebration will also include the sharing of Holy Communion.
Sunday, August 9, 2026 / Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Moses spent the last half of his life in the company of people who made demands of him and complained about everything to him. Yet he flourished, reaching old age with “his eyes undimmed and his vigor unabated.” Join us as our summer worship series, Overcoming Disappointment: Lessons from the Life of Moses, concludes with the message, Choosing a Happy Ending (Deuteronomy 34:1-12).
Sunday, August 16, 2026 / Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
As persons of Christian faith, we are confronted with the same question Jesus asked Peter and his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” If someone off of the street were to ask you, “Who is Jesus to you?” what would you say? How would you respond?
Our message, Who Do You Say That I Am, will come from Matthew 16:13-28.
Join us for worship this August and September as we take a closer look into our Wesleyan roots. Each Sunday will offer a glimpse into John Wesley’s life and the origins of our Methodist tradition.
Informative handouts will be provided in the weekly bulletin.
Our worship experiences will feature many of John Wesley’s own prayers along with hymns from his brother, Charles, who was one of the most prolific hymnwriters of all time (Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, to name just a few!).
August 23, 2026 / Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The early eighteenth century was a time when spiritual vitality was ebbing in many parts of the Church of England. As a young man at Oxford, John Wesley could feel it, not only in the church and university but in his own soul. He felt there must be more to the Christian life than what he knew. Wesley longed for something more. It was in his longing that the seeds of the Methodist revival were sown. Our message, Precursors to Revival, will come from Revelation 3:14-22.
August 30, 2026 / Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In 1730, at age twenty-seven, John Wesley read William Law’s recently published book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. It convinced him “of the absolute impossibility of being half a Christian.” He was determined to be “all-devoted to God,” what he called an “altogether Christian.” The concern not to be “half a Christian” would continue to plague him and would greatly shape his ministry and preaching. Our message, A Longing for Holiness, will come from 1 Peter 1:13-16.
September 6, 2026 / Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
In 1732, the British established their first new colony in America in five decades, Georgia. James Oglethorpe was the visionary and de facto leader of this effort and encouraged clergy to come and “convert the natives.” It is in the City of Savannah, on this new missionary adventure, that John Wesley’s faith and ministry flounders. Our message, A Crisis of Faith, will draw from Romans 4:3-5; 5-2a. Our worship will include the celebration of Holy Communion.
September 13, 2026 / Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
After his Aldersgate experience and with a new understanding of God’s grace, John Wesley came back to the idea of personal holiness and doing good works in the community. The difference now was that good works were no longer attempts to prove his love or God or win divine favor, approval, or affection. Good works became a way of life as outward expressions of the fruit of the Spirit coming from his faith. We will be looking closely at Ephesians 2:1-10 in our message, The Necessity of Grace.
September 20, 2026 / Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Eight years before his Aldersgate experience, he had begun practicing acts of mercy as an essential part of faith. From his diary in 1731, Wesley and his co-workers in Christ would follow this pattern of pastoral visitation: “Monday, Bocardo Prison; Tuesday, Castle Prison; Wednesday, children; Thursday, Castle Prison, Friday, Bocardo Prison; Saturday, Castle Prison; Sunday, poor and elderly.” Our message, Works of Mercy, will focus our attention on James 2:14-18.
September 27, 2026 / Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
As John Wesley preached in the fields, on the docks, in marketplaces, and in town squares, challenging the spiritual malaise of the Church of England, he roused much opposition, some of it rather violent. And yet, he refused to give up. As he continued his message, his notoriety increased and he was invited to preach in ever more pulpits. By the time he reached old age, he was considered to be a kind of national hero, having been used by God to touch countless lives. Our worship series will conclude with Persevering to the End (Matthew 5:10-12).
Shaped by a profound Wesleyan heritage, the people of The United Methodist Church are stepping in faith into a new season of ministry. Since 2021, the Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table have journeyed together in prayerful collaboration, seeking God’s wisdom and discerning a hope-filled vision for this unfolding era in The United Methodist Church.
This renewed vision is more than words—it is an invitation to embrace joy and hope as we live God’s mission. It also provides us with a clear, Christ-centered framework for missional unity and collaboration across our worldwide connection.
A collaborative effort of the Connectional Table and the Council of Bishops, this new vision statement is the result of a multi-year process of discernment to capture these kernels of truth rooted in scripture and lead the United Methodist Church forward into a hope-filled future.
Learn more about this vision at ResourceUMC.org/Vision.
The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.
LOVE BOLDLY:
We passionately love God and, like Jesus, embrace and include people of every age, nation, race,
gender, and walk of life. [Matthew 22:37-39 | John 13:34-35]
SERVE JOYFULLY:
With the heart of Christ, we journey alongside the most vulnerable among us, offering care and
compassion with joy. [Psalm 100:1 | Nehemiah 8:10 | John 13:14-15 | 1 Peter 4:10]
LEAD COURAGEOUSLY:
Following Jesus’ example, we seek to resist and dismantle all systems of evil, injustice, and
oppression, striving for peace, justice, and reconciliation. [Joshua 1:9 | Ephesians 6:10]
In this new season, God is calling United Methodists to embody this vision as we:
Grow and form disciples
1. What discipleship programs or initiatives can we develop to deepen spiritual growth in our church?
2. How can we encourage every member to take steps in their personal journey of discipleship?
3. What are creative ways we can engage people of all ages in forming disciples?
Develop Christ-like leaders
1. How can we identify and nurture emerging leaders within our congregation?
2. What training or resources do leaders need to effectively embody this vision?
3. How can leadership practices in our church align more closely with the example set by Jesus?
Stand in solidarity with the poor and the most vulnerable
1. What specific needs exist among the poor and vulnerable in our community, and how can we address them?
2. How can we amplify their voices and advocate for their well-being?
3. What long-term initiatives can we pursue to ensure ongoing support?
Seek health and wholeness for all people and creation
1. How can our church contribute to physical, emotional, and spiritual wholeness in our community?
2. What role can we play in caring for creation and promoting environmental health?
3. How can we integrate health and wholeness into our worship, education, and outreach programs?
October 4, 2026 / World Communion Sunday
Theme: Love Boldly
Text: John 13:1-15
1. How can our church actively embrace and include individuals from diverse backgrounds in our ministries?
2. What steps can we take to reflect Jesus’s bold love in our interactions within the community?
3. How can we break down barriers and create spaces where everyone feels truly welcomed?
October 11, 2026 / Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Theme: Serve Joyfully
Text: 1 Peter 4:8-11
1. Who are the most vulnerable members of our local community, and how can we serve them with joy and compassion?
2. How can we cultivate an environment where serving others becomes a joyful expression of our faith?
3. What partnerships or collaborations could enhance our service to the community?
October 18, 2026 / Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Theme: Lead Courageously
Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
1. What are the systems of injustice or oppression we feel called to resist and dismantle in our community?
2. How can we lead ourageously in addressing issues of peace, justice, and reconciliation in practical ways?
3. What support or resources do leaders in our church need to embody courageous leadership?