Fall Sermon Series: Recreation

Step into a journey of profound spiritual renewal with our sermon series, “Recreation.” This five-week sermon series shows us God’s mighty work to recreate us through five specific channels – the Spirit, history, calling, connections, and empathy. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and uplifted as we delve into these five channels of God’s remarkable recreation. Join us each week as we embark on this transformative learning and growing journey, and invite your friends and family to experience the power of God’s recreation alongside you.

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6

Uncover the extraordinary role of the Holy Spirit in recreating our hearts and minds. Experience the transformative touch of the Spirit, breathing new life into our souls and guiding us toward a deeper connection with God. Let us open ourselves as we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the Sacrament of Baptism at the service.

September 10 – “Recreation: Through History” (Wesley Day)

Scripture: Joshua 4:1-7

We celebrate the second Sunday of September as Wesley Day (formerly Wesley Heritage Day). This is the day to celebrate the first worship in our current building on September 16, 1956. This year, we will mark 133 years of Wesley UMC’s mission and ministries in Vienna, VA. Our history has become the DNA of a church community and built a church identity. Let us remember God’s work through Wesley UMC with gratitude and anticipate God’s continued work through us with celebration and fellowship.

Scripture:

Some are centered around becoming more educated and focused as laity while some are centered around serving the church as clergy by becoming a licensed local pastor or ordained as an elder or deacon. Our new Seminarian Intern will share her calling story to God’s ministry as an ordained elder.

September 24 – “Recreation: Through Connections”

Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8-16

The story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath does not share any commonality besides their desperate situation of starvation. Yet, God led these two figures to be part of God’s miraculous story in great desperation. The story demonstrates God’s sovereignty and omnipotence, reaching every corner of God’s creation beyond cultural, ethnic, religious, and gender differences. God’s power has no limit and binds us together. Through each connection that we make with God and each other, ourselves and our community are recreated.

October 1 – “Recreation: Through Empathy” (World Communion Sunday)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17; 21-22

To celebrate World Communion Sunday, the focus of the message is on Korean Bible Women, indigenous female evangelists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Despite differences in social class, educational level, marital status, age, and past, numerous Bible Women dedicated their entire lives to sharing the gospel and evangelizing those who were socially marginalized and physically isolated due to culture, tradition, and region. They served as examples of empathetic leadership, which contributed to the inclusivity of socially marginalized individuals and groups. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians emphasizes the unity and shared participation of believers in the body and blood of Christ.