Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Dr. Paul Chilcote, Visiting Professor of the Practice of Evangelism at Duke Divinity School, has suggested that John Wesley actually had two conversion experiences. The first is the more notable one, commonly labeled Wesley’s “Aldersgate Experience.” Plagued by doubt and a need for an assurance of his own salvation, Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed” by a reading of Luther’s commentary on the book of Romans. He understood for the first time, at a deep, intellectual level, how his salvation came by God’s grace alone. Chilcote names this first conversion of Wesley as one that led to Wesley’s “passion for the truth.”
Years later, Wesley’s second conversion took place as he was walking through the inner city streets of London. Here he witnessed the shadowy underbelly of poverty and disease. He saw the poor, the imprisoned, the hungry, and the oppressed with a clarity that he had not seen before. He came to understand the call of the gospel not only to minister to the souls of people, but to their physical needs as well. From that point on, Wesley emphasized service and social justice in his public ministry. Chilcote names this second, lesser known conversion as one that led to Wesley’s “compassion for people.”
Wesley’s ability to hold in creative balance a “passion for the truth” and a “compassion for people” and forge a via media for public life and ministry is now a hallmark of the Wesleyan way of living. We look at the world with stereoscopic glasses, seeing needs that affect both the soul and the body. We care about how people will spend eternity with God, and we care just as much about God’s life is revealed in them here and now on earth.
And what a way the United Methodist church embodies that commitment to mission today!
- Partnering with other relief agencies around the world, your United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has been able to serve the 1.3 million people affected by the devastating cyclones in Myanmar.
- Within five hours of the terrible earthquake in the Sichuan Province of China on May 12, UMCOR, in partnership with the Amity Foundation, was on the scene doing an initial assessment of damage and beginning immediate relief efforts.
- Over $200,000 has been given by Iowa United Methodists to Nothing But Nets, a denomination wide project to alleviate malaria in African countries.
- St. Paul’s UMC was awarded a second-mile giving designation for its part in the Iowa Annual Conference Rainbow Covenant Missions Program, the highest level of giving ever at St. Paul’s.
- And, perhaps most exciting of all, the children of St. Paul’s are raising money all this week during Vacation Bible School to help the children devastated by the tornadoes in Parkersburg, IA. We can’t wait to share with you this Sunday the results of their spirited, generous efforts!
ONE WHO IMPACTS THE WORLD
This Sunday, we conclude our five-part series on “What is a Methodist?” with a celebration of the impact United Methodists are making all around the world. As we learned in last week’s sermon on the connectional system, you are part of a global movement that is building the kingdom of God around the world, providing hope and opportunity to people, one life at a time. This is a great time to be the church, and an important time to be United Methodist.
Together, let us impact the world with a passion for truth and a compassion for people. That’s the United Methodist way!
See you this Sunday!
Magrey
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.
15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.
17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
A MONTH OF LIVING WESLEYAN
We are thrilled at the response to the invitation to spend the next thirty days living the Wesleyan way. Guidebooks are still available at the church, and it is not too late to start. Components of the project including daily devotion, small group meetings, a service project to the community, and weekly communion. Please note: this week’s communion service in the chapel will start at 7:45am, not 8:00am, in order to work around the Vacation Bible School schedule.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
What an amazing time we are having in this year’s “Power Lab!” Vacation Bible School. Thank you for the prayers and support you continue to give the many volunteers who are leading many children on this thrilling, faith-filled adventure. Many of you have commented that this is the biggest and best Vacation Bible School St. Paul’s has seen in many years. Thank you for being a part of it!
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