Cling To Hope

Intro

First Sunday as a Global Methodist Church

I know there is still some confusion and mixed feelings

Today I want to do the impossible, I want to effectively tend to all the emotions

I will provide a moment to mourn

We will honor our past and

We will look forward with great hope for the future

The Loss

Some of you have grown up in the UMC

Some of you have grown up in this church

While the names of this church have changed, and we are still here, there is still a sense of loss

Let us acknowledge those feelings and lay them at God's feet

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

The Joy

We can all be grateful for the UMC

Some of you have been baptized and confirmed by the UMC

I found my calling which was affirmed in the UMC, they gave me a place to serve and ordained me

We have all gained something from the UMC even if you've only been in this church for a short time

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

The Hope

For nearly 50 years the UMC has been fighting over the sexuality issue

Bishops have been elected who do not agree in the divinity of Jesus or His resurrection

Bishops and clergy have been ordained who do not line up or agree with the BOD

It took me longer to get ordained because I'm conservative

All of that is now behind us

We are a part of the GMC

We fully own our property

The GMC is devoted to an historic orthodox faith that has been handed down through our Wesleyan heritage

The organization at the top is lean and maneuverable

Romans 8:26–30 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Let God do the work

What Do We Do Now?

We continue to devote ourselves to knowing God and making Him known

Pray for this church and the GMC

Pray for your families

Trust the Spirit to lead