A Moment for Mission
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.” —Psalm 19:7-8a, NRSVUE
Bishop David Wilson is the first Native American bishop of The United Methodist Church. A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, he was elected in November 2022. Wilson leads the large Great Plains Conference, which encompasses the states of Kansas and Nebraska.
Your support of the Episcopal Fund apportionment helps pay the salaries and benefits of United Methodist bishops and allows them to travel across their episcopal areas to provide mentorship and leadership. This fund was one of the three general apportioned funds that were part of the financial plan of The Methodist Church from the time of its unification in 1939. Your support, through your congregation’s faithful giving, is what makes the shepherding ministry of our bishops possible.
Bishop Wilson’s parents met when they began attending a Methodist church in Tulsa. They later moved to Muskogee (Oklahoma) and started attending in 1966 or 1967, before it was The United Methodist Church (in 1968). Speaking about his experience with The UMC he says,
“I grew up in the church active as a layperson. I did everything, like teaching Sunday school when I was 15 years old, leading worship and assisting with Communion. It became a natural part of who I was as a layperson, and I later accepted the call.”
Bishop Wilson is looking forward to getting to talk about issues concerning Native people in the Great Plains Conference, including about the impact of church-run boarding schools.
Adapted from an excerpt of a story by Jim Patterson, UMNS reporter, Nashville, Tennessee.
Children’s Message
Show the children a shepherd figurine from a nativity set or another symbol that represents leadership.
In The United Methodist Church, a bishop is a leader chosen to serve and guide the church community. They are like shepherds who care for and watch over the people of the church. Just as a shepherd guides and protects their sheep, bishops lead and care for the pastors and congregations in their area, called a “conference.”
The United Methodist Church is organized into different groups called conferences. Think of them like big teams of churches in specific areas. Each conference has its own bishop. So, just like a team has a coach to lead and guide them, a conference has a bishop to provide leadership and support.
Our bishop’s name is <NAME>. S/he provides spiritual guidance, ordains and appoints pastors, make important decisions and supports and encourages pastors and church members in our ministries. United Methodist bishops are like shepherds who care for us and help us grow closer to God. We thank God for the gift of bishops and especially pray for Bishop NAME as s/he leads and guides us in our faith journey.
Prayer for Church Leaders
Eternal God, by your grace you have set us together in your Church,
whose foundation is your Son Jesus Christ.
Grant your continuing grace, we pray,
to all who exercise leadership in your Church,
that they may with diligence and faithfulness
fulfill their various ministries;
and grant that we your people may follow them where you lead
and minister faithfully in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Copyright: A Service Celebrating the Assignment of a Bishop to an Area. Copyright © 1992 UMPH.
Offertory Prayer (Discipleship Ministries)
Generous and giving God, you have offered us a deep and soul-satisfying relationship with you, one that extends far beyond our earthly journey; and too many of us have opted for a “faith-lite” experience. One day a week or a couple of times a month has been a better fit. We have rejected what you so generously offer us, even as we dwell in and are sustained by your vineyard. As we offer our gifts this day, may we better receive the relationship you offer us and may we walk more closely. In Christ’s holy name, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 21:33-46)
Newsletter Nugget
“The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.” —Psalm 19:7-8a, NRSVUE
Bishop David Wilson is the first Native American bishop of The United Methodist Church. A member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, he was elected in November 2022. Wilson leads the large Great Plains Conference, which encompasses the states of Kansas and Nebraska. He shares what he values about The United Methodist Church:
“I appreciate The United Methodist Church’s work around inclusion, in terms of understanding that this gospel is for everybody. It’s like we say when we serve communion, ‘This table is open for everybody. Come and partake.’ Also, its emphasis on social justice and how we help the world through the United Methodist Committee on Relief, feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, and the programs we do around the world. We’re doing this because we’re part of the church. We’re doing this because you’re a human being and we’re called to care for you and help you out.”
One of seven apportioned giving opportunities of The United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Fund pays for bishops’ salaries, office and travel expenses and pension and health-benefit coverage.
Adapted from an excerpt of a story by Jim Patterson, UMNS reporter, Nashville, Tennessee.