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Showing posts from June, 2025

A Legacy of Character

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It’s not just about raising good kids—it’s about raising kids who know Jesus. Join us for the final message in Parenting with Purpose as we explore how to pass down faith, character, and Christlike love to the next generation. This Sunday is your invitation to build a legacy that lasts. 🕘 June 29 | 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Bring the whole family! #LegacyOfFaith #ParentingWithPurpose #DiscipleMakers #MonroeUMC  

Faith at Home, Faith for Life

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Faith doesn’t have to be complicated—and it doesn’t have to stay at church. In this week’s Parenting with Purpose message, we’ll explore how everyday moments at home can become powerful, faith-shaping experiences for your kids and grandkids. Whether you're raising kids or cheering from the sidelines, you can make a lasting difference. 🕘 Sunday at 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. #FaithAtHome #ParentingWithPurpose #MonroeUMC #FamilyFaith

"Shaping Lives: Every Mans Call to Influence" - Message for 06/15/2025

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Shaping Lives: Every Man's Call to Influence Parenting with Purpose (Week 1) Deuteronomy 6:4–9; 1 Corinthians 4:15–17 Let’s be honest—one of the universal experiences of Father’s Day is the dad joke. You know the ones: ·       You came in the house and said, “I’m hungry,” and your Dad said, “Hi, Hungry! I’m Dad.” ·       Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field. ·       What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta. ·       Did you hear the rumor about butter? Well, I'm not going to spread it. ·       Why can't a nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot. ·       What did the zero say to the eight? Nice belt. They make us groan. They make us laugh. And like it or not, they stick with us. But Father’s Day is more than just a celebration of puns and grilling skills. It can st...

Parenting with Purpose - New Series starting June 15, 2025

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This Sunday is about more than just Father’s Day. It’s about honoring every man who has helped shape a life. Whether you're a dad, uncle, mentor, coach, or friend—your influence matters more than you think. Join us as we kick off Parenting with Purpose with a message for every man who wants to make a difference. 🕘 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. | Kids' ministry available #FathersDay #ParentingWithPurpose #EveryManMatters #MonroeUMC

"A Flame that Welcomes All": Devotion for June 11, 2025

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A Flame That Welcomes All 📖 Scripture: Galatians 3:28 (CEB) "There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." 🕊️ Reflection At Pentecost, people of every background heard the good news in their own language. The fire of the Spirit didn’t divide—it united. It erased barriers and built bridges. It welcomed outsiders in. That’s the kind of church the Spirit still creates today. One that says everyone has a place. One that sees past status, background, politics, and preferences. What would it look like for you to carry that kind of fire? To invite, to welcome, to include? 🙏 Prayer God of all people, help me burn with a Spirit of welcome. Open my heart to see others as you see them, and make my life a reflection of your love. Amen. ✅ 3 Action Steps Greet someone at church you’ve never talked to before. Invite a neighbor or coworker to join you at worship next week. Take time t...

"Wind that Moves Us Forward" - Devotion for June 10, 2025

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Wind That Moves Us Forward 📖 Scripture: John 3:8 (NRSV) "The wind blows where it chooses... So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 🌬️ Reflection Have you ever tried to control the wind? Of course not. You can’t bottle it or hold it in your hand. But you can feel it. You can be moved by it. The Holy Spirit is like that—wild, free, and always pushing us out of our comfort zones into places where God wants us to grow. The Spirit doesn’t just settle where we are; it propels us toward what we can become. What would change if you stopped resisting the Spirit’s direction—and let the wind of God move you forward? 🙏 Prayer Spirit of the Living God, blow through my life again. Move me out of comfort and into courage. Open my heart to your leading today. Amen. ✅ 3 Action Steps Try something new today that stretches your faith. Ask God to show you one area where you’re resisting growth—and take one step toward it. Go for a walk and pray with each step, ...

Fire that Ignites Purpose: Devotion for 6/9/2025

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Fire That Ignites Purpose 📖 Scripture: Acts 2:3–4 (NIV) "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit..." 🔥 Reflection The fire of Pentecost wasn’t just a dramatic sign—it was a divine spark of purpose. God didn’t pour out the Spirit just so we could feel inspired on Sunday. The Spirit was given so we could carry God’s mission into everyday life—at school, at work, at the ballpark, in our neighborhoods. The same Spirit that filled Peter and the apostles fills us. That means you are God’s answer to someone’s need today. You carry light into dark places. Power into weary places. Hope into broken places. So… where do you need to catch that fire again? 🙏 Prayer Holy Spirit, ignite my heart with your purpose. Burn away fear and doubt, and fill me with your courage to love, serve, and speak with power. Amen. ✅ 3 Action Steps Send a note of encouragement to someone who needs i...

"Purchase with a Purpose": Rummage Sale, Bake Sale, Lunch - June 6 & 7, 2025

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  Purchase with a Purpose This weekend, Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7, your purchases at the Monroe United Methodist Church will make a meaningful difference in the lives of your neighbors. The event runs 8:30 am to 4:00 pm each day. We have gently-used furniture, household items, toys, home decor, Christmas and other decorations, books, bicycles, and many other items, all reasonably priced. Visit us as we join the Monroe Community Garage Sales this weekend! Money raised from the Rummage Sale will help the congregation offer ministries to serve our community. Funds from the Bake Sale will provide food for local families through our ministry partnership with Monroe Church of the Nazarene's Food Pantry. Lunch sales benefit the local mission projects of the Monroe UMC.

Devotion - "Fixing our Focus" - 06/04/2025

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Fixing Our Focus Scripture: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...” – Hebrews 12:1b–2a (NIV) Our world is full of distractions—breaking news, personal pressures, and constant comparison. It’s easy to lose sight of where we’re going. But the author of Hebrews gives us a simple direction for finding focus: fix your eyes on Jesus. This doesn’t mean we ignore everything else. But it does mean Jesus becomes our center. Like a runner tuning out the crowd to focus on the finish line, we live with purpose when we let Jesus set the pace and direction. In a noisy, chaotic world, our faith becomes the lens that brings life into sharp, sacred focus. Action Steps: Start today by reading a short Gospel passage and reflecting on one thing Jesus said or did. Turn off your phone or media for 30 minutes and sit in quiet reflection or prayer. Choose one specific area of life (family, work, health) and ask: “What would it mean to fix my eyes on ...

Devotion: "Eyes of the Heart" - 06/03/2025

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Eyes of the Heart Scripture: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which God has called you...” – Ephesians 1:18 (NIV) Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus is powerful—he doesn’t just ask for blessings or strength. He asks that the “eyes of your heart” be enlightened. That’s a unique phrase, but it makes sense. Sometimes our minds are open, but our hearts are shut tight—wounded, distracted, anxious, or numb. God wants more for us than to just survive the days. God wants us to see—really see—the hope we’re called to, the richness of grace, and the power of the Spirit alive within us. When our heart's eyes are open, we begin to live with confidence, even when the path ahead isn’t fully visible. Action Steps: Write down three hopes you believe God might be calling you toward. Spend a few minutes today thanking God not for things, but for insight and spiritual growth. Ask a trusted friend, “Where do you think God is a...

Devotion: "When Life Gets Blurry" - 06/02/2025

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When Life Gets Blurry Scripture: “Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders.” – Psalm 119:18 (MSG) There are seasons when life feels out of focus—when we’re overwhelmed, uncertain, or simply exhausted. Like smudged glasses, our spiritual vision gets cloudy, and it’s hard to see what God is doing or where we’re going. That’s when we need a vision check—not just for our eyes, but for our heart and spirit. The psalmist’s prayer is simple and honest: “Open my eyes.” It’s an invitation for God to restore clarity, to help us see not just with physical sight, but with spiritual insight. When we pause to ask for God’s help, we’re reminded that we’re not alone. God is already at work. We just need eyes to see it. Action Steps: Take 5 minutes today to sit quietly and pray, “God, open my eyes.” Notice what comes to mind. Look back over your week. Where did you see glimpses of beauty, kindness, or purpose? Send a note or message to someone who helped you “see” Go...

Message - "Vision Check: Finding Focus for the Future" - 06/01/2025

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“Vision Check: Finding Focus for the Future” Luke 24:44–53; Ephesians 1:15–23 In the series “Rise Up: How to Start Living Again”   About 20 years ago, after having glasses since second grade to correct my nearsightedness, I noticed it was getting harder to read some things that I once could read easily. I had to move the book closer, or move closer to the computer screen, if I wanted to see things more clearly. But I also noticed I couldn’t clearly read street signs until I was almost upon them – too late to make a course correction if I needed to turn there. So, when I went to the eye doctor and told him what was happening, he said, “Let’s give you a vision check.” Turns out, I needed to take the plunge and get bifocals. That phrase stuck with me. Because it turns out, I needed more than one kind of vision check. I wasn’t just losing clarity in my eyes—I was feeling a little foggy in my spirit too. You know the feeling? When life gets blurry, and you’re not sure what’s ne...