Thursday, August 21, 2014

Fall 2014 Kickoff Sunday - Choose Life!

This coming Sunday, August 24th, is kickoff Sunday for us at Ft. Collins First United Methodist Church, and we would love to have you join us!  

Many of our students started back to school this week, and our college students are returning and moving in.  Our Choir is back after a summer hiatus, and the program year begins with Children's Sunday School, Children's Choir, Club 56, Youth Group - even the launch of our new Youth Choir with a workshop led by the Youth Choir from First UMC Colorado Springs.  Many other things begin this fall, not the least of which is a new Children's Worship time at the 10:45 AM worship hour for families with children who attend either the traditional or CrossWalk services at that hour.

The fall sermon series for the traditional services begins today, as well.  We often hear the warning that
"   <you fill in the blank>   " is a leading cause of death.  But we seldom hear the opposite: "   <you fill in the blank>   " is a leading cause of life.  The series we're beginning this Sunday asks us to consider just that - What are "leading causes of life"?  And not just on an individual level but on the community level, as well.  That is, what are the kinds of attitudes or qualities that make for health and wholeness, spiritual vitality, and WARM Christian community that we might look to cultivate here at FC FUMC?

We begin with the simple admonition that comes from the Deuteronomist, "Choose life!"  As odd as it may sound, to a large extent, life is a choice we make, not something thrust upon us.  Sure, there are plenty of circumstances beyond our control or even influence, but we can choose how we will respond to the things that we face in life, both good and bad - "blessings and curses", on Moses' lips - and we can choose what we want to cultivate.  This worship focus, which will carry us out through the end of September, will invite us to cultivate those things that lead to life.

I hope you'll join us!

Steve
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