A Moment for Mission
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you.” —Ephesians 1:17, CEB
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 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.
For example, Ben Rohn is the child of a United Methodist pastor and a high school math teacher. His church was committed to helping him find out about financial resources to attain his educational goals. One of those resources was a scholarship through the General Board of Ministry and Higher Education. He shares part of his experience, “Being a college student is always a huge financial responsibility. There are a number of stressors in my everyday life as a busy student, and this gift relieves some of that stress. I am so very thankful for the gift to my educational future.”
He continues, “This scholarship has made my educational journey easier, and there are so many others out there who need the help to gain the education to make a difference in the world. The United Methodist Church has done so much good for the community, and this is a way to ensure that the young members of our denomination have the resources needed to keep the charitable spirit of our church alive and thriving!”
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
Materials:
A toolbox (play or real)
Please repeat after me today’s memory verse that Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus 1:17:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .
will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
that makes God known to you.”
Do you know what wisdom means?
It means having good judgment, making good decisions and knowing the right thing to do.
Why do you think Paul was praying for the church to have wisdom?
He wanted them to know Jesus better. When we know Jesus better, we become more like him, and we can make better choices that honor him.
What are some ways that we receive wisdom?
We get it by learning! Just like we go to school to learn math and science, we can learn more about Jesus and the Bible. And we don’t just stop learning when we finish school, we keep learning throughout our lives.
Repeat the memory verse again:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you.”
Just like this toolbox, our minds are like a storage place for knowledge and understanding. We need to keep filling our minds with new information and experiences. Maybe there is a new language you want to learn or a skill you would like to improve. What tools would you like to have in your “mind toolbox”?
As a church, we want to help you keep your toolbox full of everything you need as you grow and learn in the church and other parts of your life.
We never stop learning and growing in our knowledge and understanding of God and the world around us. We need to keep our toolbox organized and well stocked to be able to fix and build God’s world. We need to keep our minds open to new ideas and experiences in order to continue to learn and grow throughout our lives.
Let’s say the memory verse again:
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you.”
Offertory 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. Give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation to grow in understanding of your great love for them. Guide them to use their knowledge and skills to serve others, to work toward justice and equality and to contribute to the common good.
As our gifts come together with those of other United Methodist churches, remind us all of your love and power. Thank you for the communities of faith that offer nourishment and support. Receive these gifts in the name above all names, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you.” —Ephesians 1:17, CEB
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.
For example, 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.
Please give generously by addressing a check to this church and writing “UM Student Day” in the memo line or place your gift in the Special Sunday envelope. To give online or set up monthly giving, go to UMC.org/SSGive.