United Christian Ministries is in need of cereal, spaghetti noodles and sauce.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Mission Moment 2.4.26
Tina Boyles Bailey
Field Personnel in Graz, Austria
“There are only two major paths by which the human soul comes to God: the path of great love, and the one of great suffering.”
Richard Rohr, Life Coming to a Focus
1. Mercy Flows
Mercy flows through our heart
and out of our heart,
ever changing
how we interact
with our inner self and others.
As a human heart
carries the energy of life,
the blood flows in and out of the heart.
When the flow is blocked
the entire body and life is at risk.
Our spiritual health
is connected
to the flow of mercy
into our spiritual heart,
Stay open dear heart.
Allow mercy to be received,
embrace it
and know how much you are loved
and can love,
flowing freely, receiving and giving mercy
from the well spring of the divine heart.
When I think of all the ways we close our hearts in an effort to self-protect, I was moved by the connection to a soft open heart that is needed to stay healthy. I wrote this poem as I was reflecting on the connection between the flow of mercy and openness. When life gets hard, it is counterintuitive to lean into mercy and softness, but I believe it is what is needed. When we block and close off our hearts, we begin to die inside. My prayer and blessing is that we lean into mercy and allow love to flow through our hearts.
2. Light and shadow
Lights and shadows
dance in harmony,
giving balance and shape
to all of who I am.
Both in the secret spaces where hurt lives,
n the high places where joy shines.
The harmony and acceptance
of the invitation,
to dance in the in-between spaces,
brings healing and growth.
As lights hold hands
ever so gently with shadows,
we can safely explore
the hidden spaces
Dance
Dance
Dance!
May God’s blessings lead you on to wholeness.
As an artist, I often reflect on the importance of shadows and light. Without both, there is no depth. The shadows build form and definition, and the light makes the image come to life. In our lives we are not only formed by the highs, but also by the hard times, the valleys. In fact, it is when we walk through the harder times in life that we find out who we are or who we hope to become. Father Richard Rohr says, “We move on to the second stage of life, either through great love or great suffering... but usually both.” This I can say has been true for me.
Pray. . .Give. . .Go.
1st Explorers After-School Program Recap
The First Explorers After-School program needs 20 quart jars and lids for a craft project ASAP. You may leave them on the cart at the back door or in the Loving Kindness Room. Thank you!
Midweek Meal Cancelled This Week
Due to the extreme cold anticipated throughout much of this week,
we will not be gathering Wednesday evening.
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of cereal, spaghetti noodles and sauce.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
1st Explorers After-School Program Recap
On Tuesday, Kaitlyn came and read a story and played a game with the kids. On Wednesday we had RAs, GAs and Mission Friends. Thursday Generation Kids came and did a fun program with us. And Friday was a chill day.
Mission Moment 1.28.26
Ryan Wilson
Senior Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Seneca, South Carolina
When I think about blessings, the story of Jacob stealing his father’s blessing from his brother Esau comes to mind. And what has always grabbed me about this story is when Esau comes to his father Isaac and cries out, “Bless me—me too, my father!” It’s excruciating and painful! Esau feels shunned, insulted and outcast! To be honest, I’ve never quite understood why Isaac couldn’t offer another blessing to another child.
What I do know is that children crave the blessing of their parents. I see it over and over in the preschool and children’s ministry at our church. I’ve also seen it in coaching children and youth sports. Children and youth look over and crave encouragement and compliments from their parents, no matter their abilities. Children want and need to be blessed by their parents. When parents bless their children, kids sense the love of their parents and know that they belong and matter to their parents. Self-esteem and confidence grow in the child who is blessed. The emotional support that a child receives from the blessing cannot be understated.
We often think of Jesus blessing children and even scolding his disciples when they were hindering the children from coming to Him. What this tells us is that Jesus knows the importance of blessings. Parents often look to scripture for help in knowing the words to share in blessing their children.
My wife, Kay, and I are empty nesters this year. We hope we have blessed our three children (young adults) so that they can thrive in their new settings. We want them to be able to be faithful, contributing members of whatever community in which they find themselves.
As I think of Scriptural blessings I want my children to hear, I think of these:
When they are down in life, I hope they hear Rom. 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When they are struggling with demons within them, I pray they hear these words of God’s protection in Phil. 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When they are anxious or doubting, may they hear Josh. 1:9: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
And finally, when they are striving to be loving toward others as Christ has loved them, I hope they hear Phil. 1:9-11: And this is my prayer: That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
Pray...Give...Go.
Midweek Meal Cancelled This Week
Due to the extreme cold anticipated throughout much of this week,
we will not be gathering Wednesday evening.
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of cereal.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Midweek Meals
Our winter mid-week meals will resume tonight, January 21
at 5:30 p.m. in the MFC. Dinner that evening will be fried chicken,
fried okra, salad, roll & dessert. We look forward to seeing you there!