Living our Faith: Experiencing the Story
Stewardship Emphasis
First Christian Church, Farmville
2021
For our stewardship emphasis this year we will be thinking and talking about two stories. The first and foundational story is the story of Jesus’s life, ministry, death, resurrection. The second and most urgent story is our story, and how we are responding to the story of Jesus since our baptism into the body of Christ.
Week One Theme: Hearing the Story
Spend some time this week reflecting on when you heard the story of Christ, perhaps for the first time, or maybe the time it made the greatest impact on your life. How old were you? Where were you living? What was going on in your life at the time? Who was involved in telling you the story? How did you respond?
Activities:
Tuesday at 7:00 – Book Discussion – Chapter 1 of Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores the need for silence – as well as words – in order to listen.
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. – Wednesday Night Supper and presentation
Questions to Consider This Week:
Where have you heard the gospel preached?
By whom has the gospel been preached to you?
What was the message you heard?
When, how, where do you preach the gospel?
Quotable:
“Preach the gospel always. When necessary, use words.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
Week Two Theme: Learning the Story
Sunday Sermon: Genesis 12:1-9, The Call of Abram
Activities:
Tuesday at 7:00 – Book Discussion – Chapter 2 of Let Your Life Speak: listening for the voice of vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores our vocation or calling as a gift to be received, and how we learn from our disappointments and failures, as well as our successes.
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. – Wednesday Night Supper and presentation
Questions to Consider This Week:
Who are your teachers in the faith?
What have you learned from them?
How have they shaped who you are as a person of faith?
Who is present in your life for you to teach?
What will you teach them?
How will you teach them?
Quotable:
“I touch the future. I teach.” – Christa McAuliffe
Week Three Theme: Owning the Story
Sunday Sermon: Mark 1:4-11, The Baptism of Jesus
Activities:
Tuesday at 7:00 – Book Discussion – Chapter 3 of Let Your Life Speak: listening for the voice of vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores vocation as our need to do what we must do, or to do something that we cannot not do. Vocation is our calling.
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. – Wednesday Night Supper and presentation
Questions to Consider This Week:
When, how, why, where did you decide to be baptized?
What did your baptism change about you?
When someone says, “I’m a Christian,” what does it usually mean to you?
When you say, “I’m a Christian,” what do you mean?
Have you ever asked anyone else to consider baptism?
Quotable:
“The reason Christians must get baptized is that we believe until you put your faith in Jesus you have not really entered the world.”
R. Morgan Daughety
Week Four Theme: Telling the Story
Sunday Sermon: John 4:5-42, Jesus and the Woman of Samaria
Activities:
Tuesday at 7:00 – Book Discussion – Chapter 4 of Let Your Life Speak: listening for the voice of vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores the power of friendship.
Questions to Consider This Week:
Do you consider yourself a follower of Jesus? How do you do that?
Is it important to you to share your faith?
When did you last share your faith with another person?
Are there tools or resources you need to access to help you share your faith?
Quotable:
“Walk joyfully on the earth and respond to that of God in every human being.” – George Fox
Week Five Theme: Following the Story
Sunday Sermon: Psalm 19 – The heavens are telling the glory of God
Activities:
1. Monday at 7:00 p.m. – Star Gazing! All are invited to meet at Little Creek Market from where we will caravan to an open field away from electric lights to spend some time looking at the stars and considering how they “tell the glory of God,” and “proclaim His handiwork.” Bring a blanket or lawn chair so that you can comfortably look to the heavens. And, heaven knows there will be smores!
2. Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. – Book Discussion – Chapter 5 & 6 of Let Your Life Speak: listening for the voice of vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores leadership and the connection between our inner and outer life.
Questions to Consider This Week:
When have you been inspired, or when have you encountered God as mystery? Describe.
What questions – even unanswerable questions – do you have?
How, when, where do you encounter God as mystery?
Quotable:
“There can be no religion without adventure.” – William Barclay
Week Five Theme: Following the Story
Sunday Sermon: Psalm 19 – The heavens are telling the glory of God
Activities:
1. Monday at 7:00 p.m. – Star Gazing! All are invited to meet at Little Creek Market from where we will caravan to an open field away from electric lights to spend some time looking at the stars and considering how they “tell the glory of God,” and “proclaim His handiwork.” Bring a blanket or lawn chair so that you can comfortably look to the heavens. And, heaven knows there will be smores!
2. Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. – Book Discussion – Chapter 5 & 6 of Let Your Life Speak: listening for the voice of vocation, by Parker Palmer. Palmer explores leadership and the connection between our inner and outer life.
Questions to Consider This Week:
When have you been inspired, or when have you encountered God as mystery? Describe.
What questions – even unanswerable questions – do you have?
How, when, where do you encounter God as mystery?
Quotable:
“There can be no religion without adventure.” – William Barclay