I want to thank everyone who helped make last Sunday's services so wonderful.  We had a number of people working on an Emmaus Walk so Charlie Ayers, Chellee Bailey and Milanda Taylor filled in for them.  In addition, our children's choir under the direction of Wendy Self blessed us in both services. And, finally, we were blessed to welcome Tammy Harbin, our new choir director/accompanist, in our traditional service!  We are truly blessed by the talent of our members and staff!

This week, we will continue exploring the distinctive emphases of United Methodism. This week we will focus on God's preparing grace, the grace that is work in our lives long before we are even aware of God.  Some of you may be familiar with the term "prevenient grace, " the grace the comes (venient) before (pre) our knowledge and acceptance of God's grace. And our Scripture this week comes from the fifteenth chapter of Luke, the chapter that focuses on lost things and God's response.

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:1-10

• What does the shepherd do when he discovers that one of the sheep is lost?
• What does the woman do when she discovers her coin is lost?
• What is the main emphasis in both of these parables?
• What do you think Jesus wanted the Pharisees and scribes to learn from these parables?
• What you think Jesus wanted the tax collectors and sinners to learn from these parables?
• What do you think Jesus wants US to learn from these parables?
• What do these parables teach us about the nature of God?

NURTURE

EMPOWER

WORSHIP

LOVE THEM IN

INVITE PEOPLE INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

FELLOWSHIP

ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY