Pemberville
United Methodist Church
We Are Called
Matthew 9:9-12
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
NIV
What's My Mission?
Luke 9:57-62
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
59 He said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
NIV
What's My Message?
Lk 8:26-39
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,
which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.
30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
NIV
Heavenly Father,
may I glorify you in all I do.
Blessed are you forever and ever.
The creation is filled with your glory.
Help me to never forget that you, the one true God, sent Jesus to be my savior.
Let me trust the power of eternal life your Son,
my Lord Jesus Christ offered to this world and to me.
In the light of your perfection, I see my own failings.
I confess that I have been preoccupied by my own needs.
Forgive me for the times when I have neglected others, and have lacked generosity.
By your power restore me to faithfulness.
Today, and every day, help me to complete the tasks you have for me to do,
as I fulfill them, let your glory shine through all I do,
so others will see your nature through me.
Remind me daily of the truth of your goodness and
redeeming love of Jesus our lord.
May I always live through your power and peace
and in unity with all others who are faithful to you.
Keep me committed to my responsibility for this world,
even when my commitment may not be popular.
I ask that you will keep me from the power of evil.
Now bless me with your truth and keep me faithful to it.
Let me live, that others will come to believe in you because of my example.
May the whole world experience your love through me
and through others faithful to you.
Direct my thoughts, speech, and steps to the end
that I may walk in your way today and always.
In the name of our risen king Jesus I pray. Amen.
Who's My Mission?
Jn 4:1-18, 39-42
The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 When the Lord learned of this, he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. 4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" 13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." 16 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17 "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world."
NIV
Heavenly Father,
We bless you Lord, as we love you with all of our hearts, minds, and our soul.
Thank you for sending Jesus our Lord, and for your plan of salvation.
We pray father that you will give us your eyes for the lost.
Place within us mercy and love for others that will encourage us to seek them.
Let your message of salvation ring though our testimony as we share with them
how you God have a purpose for them, and a future in heaven with them.
We affirm Lord, that you can do the impossible. We pray for the release of the captives, release them from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
By your power, strengthen them to resist the temptation of the evil one,
strengthen them to stand in opposition to everything that the power of darkness is doing to prevent them from to coming to salvation.
We pray as the Holy Spirit works in them, they will seek to know God, and they will confess Christ as Savior and Lord and turn from sin.
May those we minister to yield all to follow Jesus and grow in Him.
In Jesus name we pray,
AMEN
Why Am I On Mission?
Jn 13:1-17
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
NIV
COMING NEXT WEEK
Why am I on Mission?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and your love that is so engaging
you sent a messenger to us when we were lost in this world.
A messenger of salvation, Your Son, our Lord Jesus.
Thank you for restoring us to wholeness, to follow you Jesus, to be your disciples,
living our lives on mission with you, engaging the lost where ever we go.
Father we pray that you will give us your eyes for the lost.
Through your pouring out of the holy spirit into our lives,
may we be receptive to your calling, in the very moment, to serve others.
Bring multitudes of people to us, everywhere we are, to share our story with,
To serve, and to lead into a loving relationship with you Lord.
So that they may be washed, through baptism, for entry into your house.
May all we do bring you all the glory.
In Jesus name AMEN
Bring Someone With You
Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
NKJV
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace, and your love.
Thank you for sending Jesus into this world on a mission of love,
on a mission of restoration, and salvation, seeking the lost, seeking us.
Thank you for calling us to follow Jesus in a life on mission with Him.
We acknowledge Father, that our baptism is our appointment into ministry for you.
Thank you for appointing us to serve our community of love within your church.
As we go, give us a merciful heart Father, give us your eyes for the lost,
and empower us by your presence of the Holy Spirit to reach the lost.
Let all those we meet know you and your perfect love through our example.
May you get all the glory, as you draw them in with an unfailing love,
a love that flows from you Father to Jesus, from Jesus to us,
and from us, to them.
Let them know your perfect plan that you have called all to have a part in.
We lift up to you lord, your church, your disciples, your family, your children,
here at Pemberville UMC, bless us Lord that we may be a blessing to others.
Expand our community of love, and bless us with the blessing
of a growing congregation, empowering our ministry serving you.
Keep your hand upon us, guiding us to your final victory.
Keep us from doing harm, by guiding us to do only the good deeds that you have prepared in advance for us to do.