Chardon United Methodist Church

Circle now the weekend on your calendar : October 4-5.  This marks the beginning of a forty week journey together as a church family that has the power and potential to transform us - - individually and as a congregation.  On this weekend we begin an adventure in spiritual formation centered in small group discussion of Maxie Dunnham’s book Irresistible Invitation: Responding to the Extravagant Heart of God.  We will explore together as a congregation what it means to be loved unconditionally by a God of grace, why this matters to us, and what we might do about it.  This will be the thrust of our stewardship emphasis this year : responding to the extravagant heart of God with a whole person response, all in the power of God’s Spirit.

It is no secret to any of that such transformation is needed in our church.  We have been - and are - struggling through some tough and challenging times : a clear, unifying vision of where God is leading us is not ours; worship attendance has not been all it could be; our financial condition borders on crisis.  God’s living Spirit can turn it around, turn us around!  I am convinced this program, rooted in spiritual formation as it is, can be the major tool that can allow God to turn it around.  Here is what everyone of us can do together:

• Commit to reading the forty daily readings in the book.
• Commit to being in one of the small groups, most of which will be on Sunday mornings (scheduled around worship) with some Sunday evening and mid-week.  Participation in the groups is essential to the program!
• Be in worship each week, as worship will be centered in the themes of the readings.
• Prepare heart and mind to respond on ”Commitment Weekend”, November 15-16.
• Pray for God’s transforming power to be unleashed among us.  This isn’t last, it is first!

God has great things ahead for us.  Don’t miss out by ignoring the invitation!

Grace and Peace,
Henry