What's your favorite adventure story? From fledgling Jedi Luke Skywalker to the small but mighty hobbits of Middle-earth, there's no shortage of tales about unlikely heroes who are called to perform impossible tasks against all odds. We're awestruck by their bravery, grit, and optimism. And we admire the relationships they build along the way - bonds that help them realize their potential, overcome obstacles and feel a little less alone. Enduring relationships aren't only found in books and movies. They're also part of God's master plan for our lives. In fact, God intentionally created us to rely on each other, so that together we could achieve more than anything we could imagine on our own. Link to Spiritual Gifts Inventory: www.umcdiscipleship.org/spiritual-gifts-inventory/en Scripture: I Corinthians 12:12-18 | The Message "Your body has many parts — limbs, organs, cells — but no matter how many parts you can name, you’re still one body. It’s exactly the same with Christ. By means of his one Spirit, we all said goodbye to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used to independently call our own shots, but then we entered into a large and integrated life in which he has the final say in everything. (This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain — his Spirit — where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves — labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free — are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive. I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, transparent and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it." Worship link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMb9jV1BTks

Pastor Elizabeth Gilbert interviews Sharon Moore as they learn more about the gardens and gardening at Union Chapel Indy. They discuss how gardening is closely related to our spiritual disciplines in life, and we discover more about how a grateful heart produces fruit in our lives that honor God. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnlQ40ddovk

At Union Chapel Indy, for the rest of the month of August, we are all about Gratitude. We are meeting in small groups and other formats to study “The Gratitude Path” by Kent Millard. (Email Jacob@unionchapelindy.org to learn more or connect with a group.) We are in as many ways as possible, examining the biblical concept of gratitude and seeking to grow in our own practice of the discipline of gratitude. To start this series, we have a story to share with you today that highlights the power and impact that a life of gratitude can have. You may know Victoria Arlen from the hit show Dancing with the Stars. But her story starts well before that appearance as a celebrity dancer, and is a powerful example of what being grateful can accomplish. Thank you for joining us in Chapel Connect today to hear her story. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW6l0-9Y0so

God is all about making a way when it doesn't seem that there is one; doing such great things that we can't even imagine how great they are; and surprising us with new things all along the way. God is doing all of that right now at Union Chapel Indy - and The Garden UMC. Today in Chapel Connect, Union Chapel Indy Pastor Elizabeth Gilbert and The Garden Pastor Carolyn Scanlan talk about an exciting opportunity that God has brought to these two congregations. God says, "See, I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:19) And we are excited to join God in this new, exciting thing and see where it leads! website - https://www.unionchapelindy.org/ online giving - https://www.unionchapelindy.org/resou... email - hello@unionchapelindy.org phone - (317) 846-3429 Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JTwQo7J6EI&t=3s

Maybe we enjoy superhero stories and movies so much because we get to live, through the superheroes, lives and experiences that we could not otherwise dream of. For the few moments we with spend with a superhero on the big screen, we are stronger, braver, smarter, bolder, and more powerful than as our everyday, ordinary selves. But it's not just comic and movie superheroes who live lives of courage and adventure. Followers of Jesus are called every day to step out boldly and live extraordinary lives of purpose and adventure. It doesn't take a genetic mutation or a run-in with some gamma rays to be a Superhero of the Faith. It only takes a close walk with God, faithfulness in each moment, and willingness to say, "I'm in!" to be made into the bravest superhero and make a difference for God and others. Join the Superheroes of Faith Team! There's a cape waiting just for you! Sunday Message Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1eBhdk9-m0&t=2s

Maybe we enjoy superhero stories and movies so much because we get to live, through the superheroes, lives, and experiences that we could not otherwise dream of. For the few moments we spend with a superhero on the big screen, we are stronger, braver, smarter, bolder, and more powerful than as our everyday, ordinary selves. But it's not just comic and movie superheroes who live lives of courage and adventure. Followers of Jesus are called every day to step out boldly and live extraordinary lives of purpose and adventure. It doesn't take a genetic mutation or a run-in with some gamma rays to be a Superhero of the Faith. It only takes a close walk with God, faithfulness in each moment, and willingness to say, "I'm in!" to be made into the bravest superhero and make a difference for God and others. Join the Superheroes of Faith Team! There's a cape waiting just for you! Chapel Connect Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egOuLcTnacc

Superheroes come in all sizes and shapes. In the Marvel Universe of Superheroes Ant-man can shrink himself to the size of an ant - less than 1cm tall, and Giant-Man towers over all the others at 60 feet tall! When it comes to being Superheroes of the Faith, we tend to think that most of us don't have what it takes to make a difference, that we are too small, too weak, not smart enough or talented enough. But Superheroes of the Faith come in all sizes, too. And from God's perspective, sometimes smaller is better - all the more opportunity for God to do big things through us. Whatever your size or ability, God has super-sized plans for you and your life! Message Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RL3PplXnBw&t=1s

Superheroes are always landing in the middle of the mess, the chaos, the problem, or the crime to save the day! We wish we had such power to so easily clean up our own lives. Maybe we do... Here in Chapel Connect during July, we are taking a deep dive into the stories of several biblical superheroes. Today we meet Esther who finds herself in her own dilemma. But rather than despairing, she works with God to not only save herself but all the Jewish people living in the land at that time. Superheroes of the Faith don't very often (ever?) save the day by their own power, but with God, there is always a way forward. After you listen to Esther's story, consider keeping a journal of all the ways you are seeing God show up, right in the middle of your mess. God is faithful to God's promise to always be with you and bless you. Just keep your eye out for God! Like, share, and subscribe to stay connected to Union Chapel Indy's Chapel Connect! Chapel Connect Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVXtrEgcpz8

We know superheroes by the amazing feats they accomplish with their superpowers... Superman can "leap tall buildings in a single bound!" Captain America is super strong. Black Panther is super fast and can see in the dark. Elastigirl can stretch any part of her body and mold herself into different shapes and sizes. Their superpowers tend to be the best known things about these superheroes, even after the details of their lives and stories have faded from memory. What will people remember about us? What stories will people tell about us after the details of our lives have faded from memory? Will they remember how poorly we treated our spouse in the grocery store when we became angry, or will they remember our grace, kindness, encouragement and generosity? Will they remember our drive to succeed or the ways we showed them Jesus' lovingkindness? What stories will people tell about you some day? What superpower will you choose to show the world? Sunday Message Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcMVowVK968&t=3s

Here in Chapel Connect during July we are taking a deep dive into the stories of several biblical superheroes. Today we meet Rahab and discover that Superheroes of the Faith don't always make a grand entrance and save the day. Sometimes they are simply faithful to the small task given them on any particular day. Today we also learn a strategy for getting more out of our Bible reading. Use the following three questions to find more meaning and gain insight in the Bible stories you read: What does this story say about humans, about humanity? What does this story say about God? What does this story say about God's relationship with humanity? Chapel Connect Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwS3MHThlwA