Church of the Messiah UMC

This Sunday, we’ll explore a crucial aspect of our Methodist heritage: How do we, as Methodists, know what’s true, make decisions, and think through things? John Wesley provided us with a unique framework, often referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which guides us in discerning truth and making faithful decisions. Wesley emphasized four sources: Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience--...

John Wesley’s emphasis on sanctifying grace reminds us that salvation is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. Through the means of grace, such as prayer, scripture reading, fasting, and participating in the sacraments (baptism and communion), we open ourselves to God’s transformative work. Wesley believed that this journey toward perfection in love is a lifelong pursuit that draws us close...

In 1740, John Wesley wrote a sermon titled “Free Grace.” In his introduction, he paraphrases part of the eighth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans: How freely does God love the world! While we were yet sinners, "Christ died for the ungodly." While we were "dead in our sin," God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all." And how freely with him does he "give us all things!" Veri...

It doesn’t take a gardening expert to know – the strength and health of the roots determines the strength, health, and lifespan of the plant. It’s the same with political, social, and religious movements; their health, strength, and lifespan depends on the their roots. This Sunday, we begin a summer-long series called Rooted: The Character and Marks of a Methodist. We’ll (re)discover the roots of...

During this service, we will reflect on the joy and meaning of sacrificial giving. Remember, a sacrificial gift is not about the size but what it represents to the giver. For some, it means giving up something valuable; for others, it might be reorganizing financial priorities or giving out of accumulated assets. The root of "sacrifice" is "sacred," and by giving sacrificially, we set aside and de...

God, what do you want to do through me? This is our prayer as we engage in our Beloved Community worship series and in our Beloved Community Capital Campaign. God calls each of us into faithful living, into following the footsteps and teachings of Jesus, and into the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This week we’ll take a look at Samuel and Eli and their shared experience of God’s call on Sa...

Among Jesus’ many healings are ten men with leprosy. Made clean, nine men run to the priests. One runs back to Jesus, in gratitude and praise to God. Gratitude is simple – saying “thank you” and meaning it. It doesn’t make life’s tough things go away, but it does change our perspective. Still, when was the last time we said “thank you” to God? If it’s been a while, how might we start? This Sunday,...

Sometimes, it's hard to find a single word to describe a feeling or an idea. In that event, we borrow from another language. Hygge, from the Danish - a cosy quality. Deja vu, from the French - the feeling that this exact moment has occured before. My personal favorite - tsundoku, from the Japanese - to acquire books and allow them to pile up without reading them. This Sunday, as we continue our pe...

A much loved church call and response goes like this - God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good. It’s true. God is good, the ultimate source of human goodness and righteousness. Because God is good, God cares about what is good, right, and just. Because God cares about what is good, God invites and empowers Jesus-followers, through the Holy Spirit, to live justly and compassionately....

Life happens. Sometimes, life happens in incredible ways. Sometimes, life happens and the disappointment of it weighs heavy on the heart, profound and challenging to bear. Expectations go unmet, setbacks occur, hardships find us. Where do we go amid our discouragement? Do we wallow in it? Give up or give in? Or can we navigate discouragement differently, anchoring ourselves in the enduring hope of...

DIY - do it yourself, the ultimate virtue. We apply DIY to home projects, work responsibilities, decision-making. Yet there's wisdom in seeking guidance while making decisions - guidance from God, and from others. Our own wisdom has its limits. Transformation happens from DIY, sure. It also happens in trusting God and seeking the counsel of those who walk in wisdom. Let’s explore the power of DIT...

Regrets are like belly buttons. Everyone has one. It’s not possible to live without regret. It IS possible to live wisely, focusing our lives in God’s direction with God’s help (what Jesus calls the “narrow gate”). As we do so, we find meaning and purpose, even in our regrets. Let’s explore the wisdom of Proverbs, which teaches us how to trust God’s guidance to navigate life’s twists and turns, us...

Words are like seeds. Planted in the soil of hearts and minds, they grow, and eventually, bear fruit - for better or worse. So it’s wise to be careful with our words, because our words have the power of life, and death. Words have a profound impact in our own lives, and in the lives of others. Proverbs reminds us of the immense responsibility we carry with every word we write, think, and speak. Wh...

The Book of Proverbs reads like a laundry list of “dos” and “don’ts”, or a catalog of “always” and “never” statements. Yet it’s far more than that – it's a heartfelt letter from a father to his son, crafted to guide him towards a wise and fulfilling life. Like a good parent, God desires us to live wisely and well, and so gives us the wisdom of Proverbs. These words were written down centuries ago,...

He is Risen! This week in worship we continue to celebrate the reality of resurrection in our lives as we begin a sporadic series: “The Character of God.” Character of God Sundays are rooted in Exodus 34:6-7 and will occur from time to time throughout the remainder of the year. Exodus tells us of a God who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, loving, and faithful. We’ll spend time Sunday explorin...

Last night was a sacred gathering as we observed Good Friday in solemn reflection and worship. Through our service, "A Service of Shadows," we deeply contemplated Jesus Christ's profound sacrifice. Indeed, Good Friday's significance is fully realized when we anticipate the dawn of Resurrection Sunday. Isn't it remarkable that even the weather in Central Ohio today mirrors the somber mood with its...

This week we begin a series of worship experiences that help us make the journey from Palm Sunday, through the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and, ultimately, to a celebration of resurrection on Easter Sunday. We’ll remember Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, the loud Hosannas of the palm waving crowds, and a borrowed colt. We’ll remember a gathering of disciples in an “upper room” who experience the Pass...

During Lent we have explored various facets of our faithfulness: abiding in Christ, margins that guide our days, connections that enrich our lives, and joy that can fill our hearts in every season of life. Throughout this conversation, we’ve invited you to consider what matters most as we seek peace and unhurried-ness in following Jesus. This week we’ll take a look at how we take our everyday, ord...

Ever leave home without your cell phone? Did you leave it behind on purpose, or leave it behind in a moment of distraction? Now and then I jump in the car to run an errand, or even to come to the church, and leave my phone laying on my desk at home. It was next to my keys, so I’d remember it. And then,  there it lays, forgotten. While I’m without it, I find myself checking my pockets, and wonderin...

Margin. It’s the space between our load and our limits. Margin - it’s a concept virtually unknown to many of us, and certainly unknown to the world in which we live. We can do anything, be anywhere, know anything – and so we do. Living without margin means that tired, burned out, stressed is the new normal. Jesus shows us a different way – living within our limits. This Sunday, let’s explore the s...

The relentless pace of modern life severs our connections – with God, with others, and even with ourselves. Living in the manner of Jesus necessitates a radical departure from the constant hurry that defines our existence. It demands a deliberate commitment to "unhurrying" – a challenging task in a culture that prizes perpetual motion. We traverse from one task to another, leaving no room for marg...

Over the course of the past few weeks, we have explored the story of beginnings found in the early chapters of Genesis. We’ve asked questions: Why is there something and not nothing? What are we here for? Why it the world so broken? We’ve learned that God’s abundant love, God’s intentions and purposes for our lives, and our very own human choices are part of the answer to these questions. This wee...

This Sunday as we delve deeper into our ongoing sermon series on Genesis, "In The Beginning…". We will be focusing our attention on Genesis 3:1-13 and exploring the theme, "A World So Broken."

There's a point and a purpose to every life. Each of ours, all of ours. The question is, what? What are we 'supposed' to be doing with our lives? Ask any influencer, politician, employer, and they'll have a ready-made answer. This Sunday, let's ask that question - What are our lives for? - of God, and see what the scriptures have to say. There's a point and a purpose to every life. Let's discover...