Pastor Tim Mitchell

 

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,  

We are moving along in this season of Lent. Journeying toward Easter 2024. Easter is the day we celebrate the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. This year, we are on a journey with author Susan Kent to be “Altar’d” by God. We are being asked to make space to surrender to our beloved Triune God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us on a journey of making more room in our hearts, minds, and souls for a deeper relationship with God. How are you doing?  

 

I am always grateful for the reminder that this journey is not something we do alone. It is not about proving we are worthy of God’s love. Because we already have God’s love, God says, I will walk with you along the way, and let us talk. Talk about your life. What have you gone through in the past? I will help you put that in its proper place, behind you, so you can be free to live fully in the present with me by your side. I want you to experience the depth and breadth of my amazing love truly. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? I have hopes and dreams for you too! Let us share those hopes and dreams together to mold them into an unstoppable vision.

 

This is why I am so grateful for the great traditions of the church. To have the season of Lent come every year is a fantastic opportunity to let go and let God guide our lives once again. It is an opportunity to do a deep cleaning of our souls, our lives, and our relationship with God with the best possible coach available! God! As we move through the remaining days of Lent, I hope that you are available for God. God will be available for you! Anytime, anywhere!  

 

In chapters 6-7 of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is teaching about what it means to be his disciple. At the end of chapter 7:24-27, Jesus tells the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. He encourages us to be wise and build our house on the rock. The rock he is referring to is his teachings on being a disciple that he had just finished teaching about. We are like the wise man if we put Jesus’s teachings into practice. If you have not taken the time to look at Dixon First’s Discipleship Pathway, here is the link to it on our website: https://www.fumcdixon.org/get-involved/. Our pathway was constructed to help you put Jesus’s teachings into practice. We Gather, Grow, and Go in our discipleship. Our Ministry Teams and our I Can Say “YES” to That flyer are encouragements for you to put your faith into practice. Encouragements to live out your discipleship by being the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus. This year, our theme for our congregation is Becoming the People of God. So, I hope that you take your discipleship seriously! Gather in worship and G2- Growth Groups. Grow through daily devotions, bible studies, and G2 –Growth Groups. Go through participating in Ministry and Mission Teams in the church, community and beyond.

  

Finally, I hope that you have your new 202 Breakthrough Prayer for 2024 card. We started handing them out during worship on February 17 and 18. Jody sent it out in an email blast, and you can find it on our website: fumcdixon.org under resources. Check out this month’s Holy Spirit Moment to read about how God directed the team as they wrote the prayer.  

I look forward to sharing life with you as you are a part of our community.  

           

Blessings