Pastor Michelle’s Bible Study- 

Starting Sep 18, 10:30 am!

We will be studying the book, Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church. Please don’t take the title as a doom and gloom kind of title. Rather, the author insists that only by looking death square in the face, and not denying it, can we begin to prepare for the gift of resurrection, of new life, even in our churches.

As you may know, the church I served previously closed. I came across this book and as I read it, I could see again and again, where- if only the congregation had grappled with some of these things before it was too late- and I’m not sure how many years or even decades ago that really was- maybe their path would have been different.
And it’s not just a church here, a church there; a LOT of churches are in similar situations of shrinking numbers, shrinking finances, not sure how to do the outreach they know they should do. So, it is because I believe in the future of Palm UMC, the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us, and ultimately that the future truly does belong to God-that I invite you to join me for this Bible study. 

At the first Bible study, I will invite each of us to share our story of faith- the 2-3 minute version, not the 10 second “I’ve always been a Christian,” nor the month by month journal of your spiritual history- but 2-3 minutes of how you came to faith, and/or how you have grown and changed in your faith, and what you think God is up to now.

My hope is that this small group and all of our small groups will be a place for us to reflect together on our spiritual lives in the vein of John Wesley’s question: How is it with your soul? Even as the topic focuses on our life together as a church. And then we will jump in the following week after having all read the introduction to begin discussion of the book.
I look forward to seeing you there!