News

Sunday, Oct. 30^th is a fifth Sunday. That means you are invited to join us for brunch in the FUMC Navasota, Fellowship Hall beginning at 10:30 and our worship service will start at 11:00. If you are able, please bring a favorite brunch item to share. This is a very special time of worship that we share together in a different setting but with the same Spirit!

The Kairos prison ministry began the Luther Unit Weekend #9 on Thursday night and will conclude the weekend on Sunday afternoon. Please pray for the team working inside the prison and those working outside who prepare the food for everyone. This is a powerful weekend to see the Holy Spirit move in the lives of the residents of the Luther Unit! 

This Thursday, Sep. 29^th, at 10:00 AM we will be setting up space for our outreach ministry with the Salvation Army. If you are available to help please join us. Also, we will begin receiving donations of clothing of all sizes and non-perishable foods to be distributed including: Canned fish, meat-based canned soups/stews, nut butters, dried beans, whole-grain cereals, rice and pasta, canned fruits and vegetables.

We begin our prayer…

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Enlighten, O God of compassion,
the hearts of your children, sanctified by 

penance, and in your kindness grant those you stir to a sense of devotion a gracious hearing when they cry out to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity 

of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. 

Reading (Lectio)
Read the following Scripture two or three times. Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Meditation (Meditatio)
After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on one or more of the following questions: 

• What word or words in this passage caught your attention? 
• What in this passage comforted you? 
• What in this passage challenged you? 

Contemplation (Contemplatio) 

Read the scripture passage again, followed by this reflection: 

How does this passage connect with the experience of your daily life? 

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” 

How have I conformed to the ways of the world? I have seen my spiritual life grow over the years, but what is hindering me from deeper growth, a deeper inner life? 

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The more I surrender control of my life to God, the more I become attuned to God’s voice and how he wants my will to freely choose his will. What areas of my life need to be surrendered today? 

Prayer (Oratio) 

Read the scripture passage one more time. Bring to the Lord the praise, petition, or thanksgiving that the Word inspires in you. 

Complete this time by reciting the Lord’s Prayer and the following: 

Closing Prayer: 

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn” Psalm 37:4-6

Our annual Church conference has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at Navasota First United Methodist Church at 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

At this meeting our usual business will be conducted followed by a vote on whether or not to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination. This vote is for members of the church and can only be done in person.

For more information on disaffiliation visit the Texas Annual Conference website HERE

The church office will be closed September 5th in observance of Labor Day. Have a blessed holiday.

A major part of discernment for the church is to gather together to pray. During this season of discerning God’s will for our future of ministry in our community and beyond, we will be praying together each Wednesday at Noon in the sanctuary. Please join us to seek God’s guidance through prayer.

The first meeting in our discernment of the future denominational alignment of the church will be Aug. 25^th at 6:30 PM. This meeting is open to all church members to attend and we will be presenting material from the Texas Annual Conference Discernment Task Force and have a time for our own Q&A to answer as many questions about discerning what is right for our church as we can. There will be a box supper from Jason’s Deli provided. 

The West District will host an informational meeting August 13^th from 2:30 to 4:00 PM, with a panel of representatives who will explain the options for local churches going forward in the UM denomination or elsewhere through disaffiliation from the denomination. The district meetings, “will include three speakers – one who will discuss the future of the UMC, another who will discuss the Global Methodist Church (GMC) and a third who can discuss other options. Currently, five-minute videos are being prepared to outline the different options. Each district meeting will be split equally between presentations and a Q&A session.” This information will be important for us as we consider the future of our church and the decision we will make about our affiliation to a denomination. For more information you can go to the Conference website at txcumc.org. The August 13^th meeting will be held at Christ Methodist Church in College Station, 4201 Texas 6 frontage Rd.

This Sunday (August 14) we are inviting all our kids to bring their backpacks to church as we bless them and pray over our students as they begin their new school year! If you have students in your family or neighbors or friends you would like to invite to join us we would love to see them as we lift them up before they set off into this new school year.