Mid-week meals continue tonight, October 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the MFC. Costs are $12 for adults, $7 for K-12th grade, and college students as well as pre-K are guests of the church (no charge). Please remember to get your reservation turned in to the office by noon Monday so we have an accurate headcount. Sign-up sheets and pew cards will be available as well! Join us!
Mission Moment 10.22.25
Michelle Norman
Field Personnel in Barcelona, Spain
"When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” – Mark 2:1-5 (NLT)
Recently, I have been reflecting on the story of the men who carried the paralytic man to Jesus. Specifically, I’ve been considering two points I had not previously considered. First, the scripture doesn’t tell us the men who carried the paralytic were his friends. We generally assume they were, but we do not know that for sure. Second, the roofs were thick, and it would have been difficult to bust a hole in it large enough to lower a man through it. It also would have created quite a racket, and definitely would have upset those listening to Jesus teach! The more I pondered these two points, the more convinced I am that the actions of these men were far more radical than I initially believed. It involved risk, it involved hard work and it was all done for someone they may or may not have considered a friend. The radical nature of this story has inspired me to consider for whom I might need to bust through roofs in order for them to have an encounter with Jesus. Where do I need to have courage to do the hard work, and maybe even cause a disruption, so that people can go beyond the barriers that keep them from Jesus.
Maybe, given the state of our world today, you find yourself in a similar place. I offer you this blessing for when you need the courage to bust through some roofs.
A Blessing for When You Need Courage to Bust through Some Roofs
Blessings on you, dear friend.
You were just living your life and as you walked, you encountered the paralytic man, the homeless man, the hurting mother, the unemployed, the discouraged, the bullied.
Blessings on you for stopping to respond to the call for help.
Blessings on you for gathering your friends to join in the response.
You carried the man in, hoping to see Jesus and when you arrived, you were blocked from seeing him.
But you would not let the barriers hold you back. You knew that what this man needed…what the world needed, was an encounter with the Messiah.
Blessings on you for doing the hard work, for rolling up your sleeves and digging through the roof. Blessings on you for finding a way.
When the barriers seem overwhelming and the way unclear, may you have the courage to carry your neighbor to the one who loves them more than they can imagine.
Blessings on you as you find courage to bust through some roofs.
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!
1st Explorers After-School Program Recap
First Explorers talked “Facing Fears” this past week, with students sharing some of the heavy burdens they carry. It is a tough time to be a young person. We ask that you join us in lifting them and their fears up in prayer, and pray that they will turn to Jesus for comfort. Students had a blast with Mrs. Kaitlyn (as usual—she is fantastic!), loved making collages with Mrs. Gaye, worked with Mrs. Marina to choose their Christmas play, colored fall-themed pages, and blew off steam with lots of outside time.
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 Continue
Mid-week meals continue tonight, October 15 at 5:30 p.m. in the MFC. Costs are $12 for adults, $7 for K-12th grade, and college students as well as pre-K are guests of the church (no charge). Please remember to get your reservation turned in to the office by noon Monday so we have an accurate headcount. Sign-up sheets and pew cards will be available as well! Join us!
1st Explorers After-School Program Recap
First Explorers had a super fun week full of visitors. Rebekah from 4H did a lesson and experiment involving yeast, where she used a water bottle and mixed warm water and yeast together. By placing a balloon on top of the bottle, the yeast rose and made the balloons blow up! Mrs Cheryl Beck has started a series on Appalachia with the children. This past week, she talked about Appalachian life and showed toys and baskets folks would have used back in the day, as well as played old-timey games with the children including “Hide the Thimble” and “Follow the Leader.” To top it all off she baked delicious molasses cookies for the children! First Explorers also discussed their anger and ways to calm down, and finished the week with a fun pumpkin painting creation.
Mission Moment 10.15.25
Jana Lee
Field Personnel in Larnaca, Cyprus
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
– Matthew 25:35-36
The following blessing is inspired by Matthew 25:35-40. This passage speaks about caring for the hungry, the stranger, the sick, the imprisoned—and how in serving the least of these, we serve Christ Himself. I chose to rewrite this scripture because this is how I strive to live and work in the world. These verses remind me to live with an open heart, an open mind and open hands. They remind me that when I care for people in need, it is truly what God wants. These words call us to see every act of kindness, no matter how small, as meaningful. Through compassion, we become a reflection of God’s love to the world around us.
A Blessing of Compassionate Presence
Inspired by Matthew 25:35–40
May your heart be open to the hungry,
And may your hands be quick to feed.
May your door swing wide for the stranger,
And may your soul welcome those in need.
May your presence bring warmth to the cold,
And your words bring comfort to the weary.
May your eyes see Christ in every face—
In the lonely, the lost, the overlooked.
May you walk where mercy is needed,
And speak where justice longs to be heard.
May your life echo the kindness of Heaven,
And may love be your most fluent word.
For every act of compassion,
Though small in the eyes of the world,
Is a seed in the soil of eternity,
And a gift unto the King.
And as you serve the least of these,
May you know—deep in your spirit—
That you are walking beside Jesus Himself.
He sees. He remembers. He calls you blessed.
Amen.
No Midweek Meal This Evening
Due to our church hosting Hands on Jackson on October 9, there will be NO evening activities/meal—except for choir rehearsal—TONIGHT , October 8.The office will be closed all day on October 9 as well.
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!