A Moment for Mission
“‘To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself.’” —Mark 12:33, NRSVUE
On United Methodist Student Day, we partner with other congregations in a special offering to support the next generation of young disciples on their educational journey.
Dating back to 1872, this fund was the first collection taken in United Methodist Church Sunday school classes to advance the education of their children. The United Methodist Church recognizes that educating children was and still is a strong investment in the future of the church. The special Sunday was established as a Children’s Fund and in 1940 was renamed Student Day. Initially, this Sunday was observed in June, but since 1968 it is traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday in November, though individual churches can celebrate it on a date that works best for that church.
One of the denomination’s six special offerings, United Methodist Student Day celebrates young adults and gives them a financial and spiritual boost.
When you give to the special offering on United Methodist Student Day, you invest in a channel of hope for young leaders who bring their wisdom and Wesleyan values into their schools and professions. Your contribution is an acknowledgment that the church has confidence in them and in their abilities.
United Methodists are striving to make a difference in the world and discerning what God has called them to do. Gifts to the United Methodist Student Day special offering help send young leaders into the world with the justice-seeking, healing and compassionate values that have been instilled in them over the years.
Please give generously:
Write a check to your local church with “UMSD” in the memo line.
To give online or set up monthly giving, go to UMC.org/SSGive.
Children’s Message
Hold up a large heart cut-out.
A heart often reminds us of love. Now, let’s hear what Jesus says about love in the Bible. In Mark 12:28-34, Jesus tells us that the most important commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
(Hold up the backpack.)
Backpacks help us carry what we need to learn in school. Do you know that our church has been helping children go to school for a very long time? Over a hundred years ago, in 1872, The United Methodist Church started collecting money to help children get a good education. This fund was first called the Children’s Fund and is now known as United Methodist Student Day.
(Take out the school supplies from the backpack and show them one by one.)
These school supplies remind us of how important learning is. Just like Jesus taught us to love God and our neighbors, we show love by helping others learn and grow. When we help students go to school, we are sharing God’s love.
Prayer
Holy one, we present our gifts with thanksgiving for all you have given to us. Bless them and multiply them as they provide opportunities for education. Bless the students as they pursue their dreams. Guide them to use their knowledge and skills to serve others, love their neighbors and reflect their love for you. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“‘to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself.’” —Mark 12:33, NRSVUE
Jaci Murden has always viewed higher education as a way to better herself and her future. She is grateful for the scholarships she received from different United Methodist organizations throughout her college career. She says, “These scholarships have helped to provide me with a Christian higher education that has prepared me for a professional career. When a church pours into a student it creates a relationship and makes the student want to pour back into the church. I think that it is very important for the church to foster and develop the next generation to become future leaders of the church. Helping to support the next generation in their education is just one of the ways we can support the future church.”
United Methodists are striving to make a difference in the world and discerning what God has called them to do. Gifts to the United Methodist Student Day special offering help send young leaders into the world with the justice seeking, healing and compassionate values that have been instilled in them over the years.
When you give to the special offering on United Methodist Student Day, you invest in a channel of hope for young leaders who bring their wisdom and Wesleyan values into their schools and professions. Your contribution is an acknowledgment that the church has confidence in them and in their abilities.