August 30th, 2024 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

There isn’t a time in my life when I’ve not been part of the Methodist tradition.

I was born into a family that had worshiped in Methodist Churches for several generations. I was baptized and catechized in the Methodist Church of Ireland, and when I came to faith in Christ, I attended and worshiped in that same Methodist Church. My first ministry job was in a Methodist Church, as was my second, third, and…wait a minute…all my ministry jobs have been in Methodist Churches. I have been steeped in this tradition for my entire life. You would think that because of that exposure I’d have known all along exactly what the Methodist label meant. But you would be wrong.

It wasn’t until I went to seminary and started to study Methodism in more depth that I became more aware of how this tradition has shaped me through all those years. Since then, I have continued to reflect on what it is to be a Christ follower in the Irish Methodist and then United Methodist traditions. My understanding of God’s grace has expanded, as has my understanding of discipleship in the Methodist way, and what it means to have an open table at the sacrament of Holy Communion, and what it is to join in on God’s mission through giving and through caring for the poor and struggling in our community and world.

The only thing I regret in all of this is that it took me so long to work out what this tradition I am a part of is, and how it has shaped and continues to shape my faith journey and my ministry in the world.

And this is why I am so excited for the upcoming series of sermons I will be preaching with Pastors Rachel and Alyce.  Along with all the churches in the Florida Conference, we will be preaching a series called Wesleyan Rooted, in which we will explore and reflect on what it is to be a United Methodist Christian today.  This series will help your discipleship journey, I just know it. Plan to be a part of it starting this Sunday, September 1st.

See you then!

Pastor Charlie

August 23rd, 2024 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Hi, Friends,  

This Sunday marks the final week of our Ephesians sermon series. If you have followed along with us by reading weekly and listening to the sermons you know that this is the work for which we are called to build up Christ’s church. We cannot go out and make disciples if we ourselves are not living into our Christlikeness, and to do that we must be committed to following the path of Christ ourselves and with each other.  

I have spent the past few months working on paperwork for my ordination.

The final question of the leadership portion states:  

"For the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness to the Christian gospel and in consideration of your influence as an ordained minister, are you willing to make a complete dedication of yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life?"

Now, this is expected to be answered in the affirmative, as each ordained clergyperson is expected to live as an example of Christian living. But omit the section on ordained ministry and ask that question of yourself as well.

I think this is what we have been trying to speak to in these past five weeks. We work to live a life of Christ not simply for ourselves but because it impacts the mission of Jesus Christ in the world. How we speak to each other, what we do daily (in-person and behind keyboards), and the ways in which we respond to what is going on in our world are seen by the world. Our actions and our words are a part of the Christian witness. If we spend our days tearing each other down, going against Christ’s teachings, and building dividing walls to cloister ourselves off from people who are different than us or who scare us, that mars our witness as Christ’s church.  

Remember, as we enter into a season when dividing walls will surely be built that we are members of Christ’s body, and just as we feed and care for our own bodies, we are to feed and care for the church. What we do for ourselves has an impact on others. May we take this knowledge and be emboldened to live faithfully into the path Christ has set before us.  

With peace and love,  

Pastor Rachel  

August 16th, 2024 | Rev. Dr. Mark Charles

Preaching through Ephesians these last few weeks has been a real privilege for both Pastor Rachel and me, as well as for our friend, Derrick Scott III, who joined us last weekend.  In each of our sermons, we have invited you to read through this letter with us, inviting God’s Spirit to speak and coming before these ancient, living words with hearts and minds that are open.

How has that been going for you? 

Have you taken some time each day to read Ephesians? 

What parts have encouraged you, challenged you, or assured you in your faith?

What have you found to be the message at the heart of this letter?

For me, the passage I preached on a couple of weeks back has been really powerful.  The calling to “live a life worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called” and to come “to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” has struck a chord in my mind and heart. I am reminded that this growth is a work of God’s grace that takes place in me over a lifetime. But I am also reminded that there are ways I can open myself more to this grace – regular reading of Scripture for personal devotion, regular connection to other Christians in fellowship and accountability, participating in opportunities to give generously and serve my community and world. These are all “means of grace” by which I am transformed as my heart and mind are opened more to God’s grace.

I am incredibly grateful for the encouragement and lessons I am gleaning from Ephesians. I hope you are too.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Charlie