Stories of Generosity

An encounter with Jesus invites us to response. Some surrender their lives to Jesus as Lord. Others ignore him or reject him. There are those who follow with devotion, worship, and service. Still others shape their lives to be filled with Christlike devotion. Some people commit with words, but don’t fully surrender with worship and thanksgiving. How will you respond? Over the next four weeks, we journey with the gospel of Luke, examining the responses of Simon, the forgiven woman, Zaccheus, and a thief on a cross. All of them reacted to the grace they found in Jesus in unique ways, just as we do. Through their stories I invite you to consider how you are responding to Jesus. How do your prayers, presence, generosity, service, and sharing of Christ reflect your response to Jesus? Is God inviting you to respond in a deeper and different way?

2025 Estimate of Giving Cards are available in the Chestnut Foyer or you may fill out an Online Estimate of Giving Card. You are invited to pray over this card to consider how God might be wanting you to respond. Please return your 2025 Estimate of Giving Card to the church office, at a worship service or online by October 27. Each Sunday, you will not only meet a new follower of Jesus, but you will hear more about how your brothers and sisters in Christ are responding through First United Methodist Church. My prayer is that we encounter God’s grace in Jesus anew through this generosity emphasis, and we are challenged to lead lives to respond with thanksgiving and devotion. “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us” 2 Corinthians 9:11 How will you respond?