A Moment for Mission
“Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, … that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’” — Isaiah 2:3a, NRSV
When an academic mentor informed Emma Storer about the Gift of Hope Scholarship, supported by the annual United Methodist Student Day offering, she applied. “It was so meaningful,” she said, “to know that someone out there, a brother or sister in Christ, supported me, regardless of never meeting me face-to-face. That is a godly act to me, for which I am incredibly fortunate.”
One of our denomination’s six special offerings, United Methodist Student Day celebrates young adults by giving them a financial and spiritual boost. The offering supports both undergraduate and graduate students.
As United Methodists, we strive to make a difference and to discern what God has called us to do. Gifts to the United Methodist Student Day offering help send young leaders like Emma into the world with the justice-seeking, healing and compassionate values that have been instilled in them over the years.
On this Special Sunday, we partner with other congregations to support the next generation of disciples on their educational journey. We invest in a channel of hope for young leaders who bring their Wesleyan values into their schools and professions.
United Methodist Student Day calls the church to support students as they prepare for life in uniting faith with knowledge. Our contributions acknowledge that we—the church—have confidence in them and in their abilities.
Please give generously. Your gift will make a difference in someone’s future!
Children’s Message
Place paper stepping stones along the path that the children will take to hear the children’s message. Invite children to follow this path to you.
Did you notice today that you walked a path to our space for today’s message?
Our memory verse is from Isaiah 2:3: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, … that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”
Sometimes, we think of God as being up high. Isaiah imagined God up on a mountain. That might be one way to learn God’s ways and God’s path for us, but we also learn about God by going to Sunday school and worship, reading the Bible, and listening to our family and friends.
Today is United Methodist Student Day. Our special offering gives money—called “scholarships”—to college students as they follow God’s plans for their future.
Let’s pray: Teaching God, thank you for these children. Help them to be lifelong students, learning to walk in your paths. Guide them as they follow Jesus. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the opportunity to support young adults on their educational journey. Teach them your ways so that they may walk in your paths. We love you. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries: First Sunday of Advent — God of peace and justice, in the past year we have once again witnessed the fruits of war: lives cut short, children made orphans, homes devastated, and hearts broken. We pray to see the day that Isaiah saw in his heart, when swords are pounded into plowshares. These gifts we give this morning, may they be used to make human hearts ready for peace and for the reign of your son. In his holy name, we pray. Amen. (Isaiah 2:1-5)
Newsletter Nugget
Some of us are students now, while others are celebrating college reunions. Regardless of where we are on our educational journey, we probably remember dreaming about our future. We may have counted on college scholarships to help us achieve our dreams.
We observe United Methodist Student Day on the last Sunday in November. Through our special offering that day, we become catalysts of change, nurturing students for leadership roles in the church and the world.
Gaylon Wynne Moore shared her story. Preparing to attend Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, she searched for scholarships to help defray the cost of her education. She found information about the United Methodist Student Day Gift of Hope scholarship on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry website and applied.
“This scholarship,” Gaylon said, “allowed me to take a study-abroad course over the winter break. I went to Belize to study intercultural communications.”
The Gift of Hope Scholarship, she added, “encourages students to attend college and achieve their goals.”