Some things are worth fighting for.
“The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to
suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not
merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of
popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of
society.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Letter from Birmingham Jail
The way we live our lives as Christians does matter. If you read the
story of the Apostle Paul, you will find that suffering was his daily
bread. It was the way that he lived his life, suffering. But not suffering
because he had done something wrong, rather suffering because he
would not shut up talking about Jesus! Suffering for the Gospel. Why?
Because it was worth fighting for!
In the 1996 Olympics, there was an amazing example of fighting for a
worthy cause. Kerri Strug, a gymnast on Team USA, had the entire
weight of the team on her shoulders. She was the last US gymnast to
compete. It was the vault, her strongest apparatus. If she had a great
vault, the team would win gold. It all rested on her.
Kerri ran up for her first vault and when she landed, she fell. She got up
and visibly limped back to the line to prepare for her second and final
vault. Everyone could see that she was in pain. But Kerri had a goal in
mind, or should I say that she had gold in mind. Not for her, but she
didn’t want to let the team down. Can you imagine, being a teenager, at
the Olympics, and the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat rests with
you!
Have you ever felt that you had given your all to something, only to
fail? Maybe you started a small group, and nobody showed up. Or
maybe you had an idea for ministry, but nobody volunteered. It can be
painful. It can make you feel like packing up your toys and going home!
No doubt Kerri would like to have been done with it, too.
But Kerri had a coach who believed in her. He was on the sidelines
encouraging her. It gave her a strength that she didn’t know that she
had. She took off running, in spite of the limp, in spite of the pain, and
she did her vault. Now, all she had to do was nail the landing in order
to win gold for her team. With an ankle that was injured.
There are some things that are worth fighting for. Kerri nailed the
landing and led Team USA to victory because she wouldn’t quit! The
encouragement of her coach helped her to do what many thought was
impossible.
Friends, you too have a Coach. He’s standing on the sidelines cheering
you on, encouraging you, supporting you, strengthening you in the
midst of whatever you may be going through. Why? Because Jesus
thinks you’re worth it! In fact, He gave His life banking on that fact.
Not that we were good or holy or righteous, but simply because you are
the prize worth fighting for!
So, live your life as one who was worth saving, one who was worth
keeping because Jesus gave His life for you. That’s why Paul said,
“…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies
ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the
heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
Paul counted everything that he had gained in life as loss. Nothing, not
his education, not his family background, nothing compared to
knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. There was
something, and Someone, worth fighting for, and Paul was determined
to do it until the day he died. May we hear that call, too!
I invite you to join us this Sunday for worship as we talk about the prize
that is Worth Fighting For. This is also Blessing of the Backpacks
Sunday, when I will give a blessing to our students, parents, and faculty
as they begin a new school year, so invite all of the kiddos you know
and their parents and let’s bless them into a safe and fruitful year!
Updates from the Mission Field This Sunday, August 20, we will
also hear from our youth about their mission trip! Mission trips can be
life-changing experiences, and they want to share with their church
how they were impacted by this journey and thank the church for your
support.
Trivia Night & Silent Auction This year we will celebrate 55 years
of ministry at the UMC of Green Trails! The celebration begins with
Trivia Nite on Friday, Sept. 15. The donation is $25/person or $200 for
a table of 8. Put a team together with family and friends (including
your kiddos) and let’s have some friendly competition!
***SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS NEEDED***
The Family Trivia Night Task Team is looking for donations for the
silent auction fundraiser that will occur Friday, September 15, 2023
during Trivia Night. Donations can be brought to Amanda Hughes or
Jei Evans at the church. Here are some ideas of donations: Tickets or
gift cards to restaurants, spas, sporting events, gyms, hotels,
destination vacations, airline tickets, concerts, movies, theater events,
pet daycare, etc.
New donation items might include jewelry, original pieces of art,
congregation talents and services (babysitting, pet sitting/walking,
cleaning, baking, tutoring, photography, event planning), games,
puzzles, pop culture items, new release books, etc.
The Trivia Night Task Team will have a sign-up sheet in the Narthex
lobby for attendance and for donated items. Email Amanda Hughes:
amanda.hughes@att.net, or call: 314-920-5724 with questions.
55 for 55 Our anniversary fundraising goal is $55,000 in honor of 55
years of faithful service and generosity. I invite you to consider how
you will participate in giving. Whether it’s $5, $500, or some multiple
of 5, no gift is too small (or too large!). There is a line for Anniversary
giving on our e-giving site, or you can write “Anniversary” on the
memo line of your check. We will culminate our 55 th Church
Anniversary celebration on Sunday, November 5, with worship and
dinner. Let’s celebrate 55 for 55!
Anniversary T-shirts You can pre-order your t-shirt starting today!
In fact, there will be an Anniversary table in the Narthex lobby for all
things Anniversary. You can order a t-shirt, sign up for Trivia Night,
donate to the Silent Auction, and sign up to volunteer at the table.
Need Prayer? Our Prayer Team has you covered! Next Sunday, Aug.
28, prayer will be offered from 9:00-9:45am, in the Prayer Room
(across from the Sanctuary). In times like these, we need prayer more
than ever, and the Prayer Team is here for you! “ Are any among you
suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing
songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the
elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them
with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:13-14.
Psalms Praylist I’m dedicating the month of September to praying
the Psalms! We will use those 30 days to pray through all 150 Psalms
and it will only take 10-12 minutes of your day. It will be in audio
format, so all you will need to do is click and listen. Keep moving your
faith forward by listening to the Psalms Praylist in September!
WOW Returns! Wednesday, Sept. 6, marks the return of WOW
(Word on Wednesday) our churchwide Bible studies. We will have 2
classes from which to choose. Class offerings will come soon. Dinner
will be at 5:45p (potluck) and class will start at 6:30p.
Back to Church Sunday will be on September 24. This is a great
opportunity to gather family, friends, and neighbors and invite them to
church!
Stay in the Know! Don’t forget to pick up this month’s Memory
Verse Card and other information at the Welcome Center or the Coffee
Station. Just our way of helping you to stay in the know!
Worship With Us ~ Sundays at 10:00am
In-house:
14237 Ladue Rd.
Chesterfield, MO 63017
or
Online:
Sunday School for all ages at 9:00am!
Blessings,
Pastor Linda
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