"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created.  And You shall renew the faith of the earth..."

Come, Holy Spirit

We have so much to be thankful for, and we know that you are part of all of that.  And yet in that same breath, we also carry pain.  Like Hannah in the temple, who brought God her prayer, we desperately need God's ears, God's grace, God's healing touch.  Today, we lift up all of the hurt and pain we carry, and we reach out to others to ask, "Where does it hurt?"

I've Been Meaning To Ask...Where Does It Hurt?

As we begin Advent with the  “Little Apocalypse”  in Luke 21: 25-36,  we  remember how far from home we are.  The world is not as it should be.    Many  of  us  feel  as  if we are wandering  with no clear way forward.

This first week of our Close to Home worship series speaks  to our deep longing—for our home to be made whole, made right, and made well. With deep longing,  we watch for God.  Thankfully,  God enters a homesick world.

Homesick

Contracts are important in this world. It’s where two parties say what they’re willing to give and receive, and if either party doesn’t live up to their part of the commitment, the contract can be dissolved. 

A covenant, though, is different. A covenant is something we make with God.

Covenant Renewal

Covenant Renewal Service

Following Jesus involves the sometimes difficult and painful process of opening up—transforming from being turned inward in self-absorption to being turned outward in love and service.

It doesn’t mean sacrificing to the detriment of ourselves, but it means putting ourselves with others—not thinking of ourselves as apart from, but connected with others and our whole world.

Climate + Faith: Gardening The Garden

Climate + Faith: Gardening the Garden

Today, we continue in our worship series—Curious Church: Wondering Our Way Forward.

For many reasons, we are heading into a new chapter as a church—as we think about how we use our building and prepare for a capital campaign, and as we pray about hiring a new staff person to attend to the people God has placed in our care; as we think about the way culture’s relationship with the church has changed, and how we can use the unique gifts God has given us as a church to be in partnership with our community.

And as with any big (or small) change, it’s important to listen to where to Spirit is leading. The best way I know how to attune myself to God’s Spirit is through curiosity—asking questions, and then opening myself to the Spirit’s prompting. So, in this series, we are getting curious together: “What does the next season look like for us?” “How is God calling us to be a safe space here and now, at this time in history?”

This isn’t about “fixing the church,” or discovering all the answers, but opening ourselves to the movement of God, trusting that God is leading us to the incredible things we haven’t even imagined yet.

If you think about it, this is how Jesus taught—through questions and parables and invitations, rather than easy answers.

Today, curiosity leads us to think about our mission, and how God is leading us forward.


Wondering Our Way Forward: Curious About Our Mission

On Sunday, September 15, 2019, Rev. Heidi Welch delivered a second sermon in the series, "Why?"  

Why do we learn together? The scripture focus is Acts 2: 42-47.  What's your "why?"

Why do we learn & grow?

Why Do We Learn Together

Brecksville UMC strives to be an inclusive church. We intentionally make space for everyone to encounter a loving God—no matter your age, gender, race, income level, sexual orientation, or ability. No matter if you’re an atheist, someone struggling with faith, you live with constant faith in your heart, or you’re somewhere in between. You are welcome here and you are invited to participate in the life of our church.  Here at BUMC we’re all about creating safe spaces to grow with God and one another!

Wondering Our Way Forward: Curious About Our Mission

BrecksvilleUMC