For the love of God we offer ourselves to God in many ways. 

 

November 1 and 8th, each member and friend of Pleasant Valley UMC will have the opportunity to show this love by committing to serve God through the church.

 

Fellowship hall will be full of ministry opportunities for each of us to show the fruit of living out the "5 Practices," which we have been studying about these past few weeks.

 

Each of you will receive two commitment cards in the mail next week.  One of those cards will include radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development and risk-taking mission.  You will be able to write the ministries that you commit to under each category on the card you receive.  We will receive those cards as part of a commitment service November 8th. 

 

You will receive one card entitled extravagant generosity.  This card will include your commitment to underwrite the ministries of the church through financial gifts to the church.  We will receive these cards on November 8th as well as part of the commitment service.

 

In a church the size of Pleasant Valley we are offering opportunities for you to live out these important practices of discipleship.  Our ministry leadership and ministry teams are working hard right now to provide you with quality opportunities to serve and grow in Christ through PV.

 

Some of them may challenge you mightily and take you outside of your comfort zone.  Some of them may reconnect you to ministry you have not had the opportunity to do in a long time.  Some of them may be a revelation to you as you may have never heard of such an opportunity before.

 

Whatever the case, we have this opportunity before us as a church to be faithful disciples who bear the fruit of Christian practice in numerous ways through this great church family.

 

Be in prayer about your commitments and be open to the movement of the spirit in your life as you consider your practices for 2010!

 

The preacher for Sunday will have a familiar last name and will bear some resemblance to you outside of our bald heads.  My dad, Dr. Marshall Stanton, will be bringing the gospel message Sunday as we all think about "Risk-taking mission."  Have a blessed and fruitful weekend.

 

Grace and Peace to you all,