Hopes & Dreams

One thing that keeps us moving forward, trying new things, and being excited about life is the hopes and dreams we have for the future. Whether those be for ourselves, the ones we love, our community, or the world, the vision of a better future keeps us energized and focused. Especially when we are young we are encouraged to have high hopes and bold dreams. We are told that, "The sky is the limit!" "You can be anything you want to be!" "Just dream it, and it can happen!" Until it isn't, and you can't, and it doesn't. Were our hopes misguided? Our dreams unrealistic? Or were we just limited in our vision and ability? God calls us to a future that is greater, more, and bigger than our today. But how will we get there? Maybe it has to do with Whose dream we are dreaming and Whose power is fueling the journey. With God, dreams do come true. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQdo550ObGE

You Are... Brave

The world is a scary place these days! The news gives us steady images of violence and unrest. The economy, the job market, the supply chain - it's all so very uncertain and precarious. And to even leave your home or be with others is a risk to your health as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. What is one to do? It would be easy to turn inward, to retreat, to hide away until the danger passes. But will the danger ever pass? Is there another way? Scripture encourages us often (some say 365 times) to "not fear." And that admonition is often accompanied by the promise that "God goes with you." Even during fearful and uncertain times, we can live boldly and with confidence... because we live with God. With God, You Are... Brave. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AxOe-zDC1Q

You Are... Enough

How much is enough? When is your income enough for your needs, your wants? When is your house big enough to be comfortable, to impress your friends? When do you have enough closet space? When are you enough for your significant other, your children, your employer? We spend tremendous energy, time, and resources trying to get enough and do enough to be comfortable, well thought of, safe and secure. But what if you are already enough? In a world that never seems satisfied with itself, us, or others, God is already immensely pleased with who you are - in fact, God is the one that made you this way! Before you seek to do enough to impress others, trust that you are enough, just the way you are. Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JutWttB8B2o

Overcoming

You are not truly on an adventure if you don’t encounter unexpected obstacles and challenges that you didn’t anticipate. Some of us try to compensate for the uncertainty by packing carefully - and generously. Some of us try to train our way to being ready. God has a much easier - lighter - plan. Just stay close to God. God has everything we need to overcome whatever gets in our way as we journey and adventure with God! Worship Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4GXcBfNjW4

Football Sunday 2021

It's Football Sundaaaaaaaay! Don your favorite jersey, grab your tailgate snacks and get ready for a special worship experience! We might be tempted to think that football is the only thing on the minds and hearts of championship players -- that they are driven solely by the hope of football success and celebrity. But these players have a different story to tell - a much more important story... Hold on tight and get ready to be ENERGIZED! Worship link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVZe967j1XE&feature=youtu.be

Detours may delay one's arrival, but arrival is assured - and we see and experience some amazing things when we wander off the beaten path; especially when we wander with God! Worship link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv33YYgoXjo&feature=youtu.be

Today's Worship Experience: Have you ever found yourself lost? Or winding your way through unfamiliar territory... feeling very alone. Life - and faith - can feel that way at times. Trust, however, that you are never alone and never without a Guide and Helper. Discovering the Art of the Journey means discovering joy, adventure, and meaning in the journey of life and faith. Worship Link: https://youtu.be/c_7pcf3INvM

Our New Year Hopes

January always brings New Year Resolutions in some form or fashion. It's a season that lends itself to new starts, new goals and objectives, new - or renewed - hopes and dreams for yourself, your family, and your future. Maybe for you this year the objective is to lose weight, or exercise more, or get healthy. Your hope might be to find the perfect mate, the perfect job, or the perfect house. You might be planning to start back to school this year, or start a new hobby, or start being on-time more often. Our New Year hopes, dreams, and ambitions generally grow out of a desire for more... more health, wealth, satisfaction, or happiness; more time for relaxing, working, being with family, or travel; more energy, more peace, more patience, or more motivation. But in organizing our futures around our own hopes and dreams for more, we might be missing out on the 'more' that God has for us. God hopes even greater things for us than we can hope for ourselves. With God, there is more to us, for us, and in us, than we can imagine! Worship Link: https://youtu.be/tOKuU6BjoxY

Plus Jesus

When you add Jesus, there's always enough. Worship link: https://youtu.be/3z4VvyHE9Uo

Keep On Keeping On

So much of our lives are marked by beginnings and endings, by starts and finishes. We memorialize the first day of school each year for our children with photos, and then we close the year with parties and celebrations. Graduations from preschool, grade school, high school and college mark both the ending of an era, and the beginning of a new chapter in a student's life. A race or a ball game begins with both civic and sports-related ceremonies and then ends crowning a victor. Even a parade is book-ended with lights and sirens and flags and waving! Over the last month Union Chapel UMC has marked the closing of Pastor Andy Charnstrom's active career in ministry as they've thanked Pastor Andy for his service and leadership and wished him well in his retirement. This ending opens to a new beginning, as well. Today marks the first Sunday of Pastor Elizabeth Gilbert's service at Union Chapel. Beginnings and endings bring questions and sometimes concerns. We both grieve what is past and give thanks for all the good it held. We look to the future with questions, concerns, anticipation, or excitement. We know that change is inevitable - and usually a good thing - and it's hard - and we don't always like it. But we also know that Jesus is in all of it, and the great work that God has started at Union Chapel, God will continue and complete. Today we give God thanks for God's faithfulness in all things, including all that God is doing - and will continue to do - in and through the people, ministry and mission of Union Chapel United Methodist Church! Worship link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEiirfHr5G0&t=13s