Aldersgate Experience 1
Connecting Knowing Loving Growing
January 2014
Experience
Every year I make New Year’s resolutions and every year I fail by February. Fortunately, Lent comes along and I can take them up anew as a Lenten promise! But I think one of the reasons why I don’t stick with them is because I need a community of people to support me and hold me accountable. So, what if we made group resolutions? Who is with me? Here are some ideas. Let me know what you think…Twelve seemed like a good Biblical number, but there’s certainly room to add a few more. Be it resolved, that in 2014, we the people of Aldersgate United Methodist Church will… 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)
Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We will love our neighbors as ourselves. We will pray every day. We will consistently worship the Lord, study his word, and serve him in the world. We will act like the church we want to be by extending grace and forgiveness instead of judgment and condemnation. 6) We will find brand new ways to give back to God a portion of our time, talent, and treasure. 7) We will trust God when we feel anxious or afraid of what tomorrow might bring. 8) We will continue to walk the same path with those with whom we disagree and recognize that we might grow as Christians from engaging someone or something that is new, uncomfortable, different or challenging. 9) We will talk to someone we know who doesn’t go to church and say something inviting and encouraging to them about our faith. 10) Behind people’s backs and in front of their faces we will respect others and build them up instead of tearing them down. 11) We will ask for forgiveness and forgive one another just as Christ forgives us. 12) We will create space for Sabbath in our lives each and every week. Who’s with me? May you be blessed in the year of our Lord 2014. Grace and Peace, Pastor Doug