Means of Grace

In this episode, Kim and Jesse speak with three United Methodist seminary students who are in the candidacy process in the Western North Carolina Conference. They discuss the United Methodists who have impacted their faith journey, the incredible power of seminary education and community, and their hopes for the future of the United Methodist Church. Ways that non-seminary students can access seminary education: The Candler Foundry (emory.edu)

Neighborhood Seminary | Collaborative Education | United States

Some Advanced Course of Study courses are also offered as continuing education.

United Methodist Theological Schools, including the 3 that the students attend

To learn more about a call to ministry:

The Candidacy Process (wnccumc.org)

Annalee Allen

(English translation below.) En el episodio de hoy, Luke habla con cuatro miembros de nuestra conferencia, Rev. Sonia Baca-Zuniga, Rev. David Ortigoza, Jaidymar Smith, y Rev. Chris Smith sobre las congregaciones Hispanas / Latinas de la Conferencia Oeste de Carolina del Norte. Juntos, exploramos cómo Dios se está moviendo en las congregaciones hispanas /lastinas en nuestra conferencia, los retos que enfrentan, y cómo las comunidades, iglesias, y la conferencia pueden buscar y/o perseguir la igualdad para nuestras hermanas y hermanos hispano /latino. El episodio de hoy es en Ingles y en Español. In today's episode, Luke talks with four members of our conference, Rev. Sonia Baca-Zuniga, Rev. David Ortigoza, Jaidymar Smith, and Rev. Chris Smith about Hispanic/Latino congregations in the Western North Carolina Conference. We explore how God is moving in Hispanic/Latino congregations in WNC, the challenges they are facing, and how our communities, churches, and Conference can pursue equity for our Hispanic/Latino siblings. Today's episode is in English and Spanish.

Over the past two years, the world has changed dramatically and our ways of doing church have been disrupted. In this episode, Bishop Carter explores four interrelated pathways to the Post-Covid Church. This is a journey we are called to walk together. This conversation was originally part of our 2022 Winter Leadership Webinar Series. You can watch them all in full our website here: https://www.wnccumc.org/dwlt22

Links:

Brian Stevenson The Power of Proximity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RyAwZIHo4Y

In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Bill White, Jr. has an important conversation about justice with the Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, immediate past president of the NC NAACP and an ordained minister in the AME Zion Church.

As we begin 2022, Bishop Ken Carter offers a spiritual practice for the new year. This Examen in the Wesleyan Tradition walks listeners through a prayerful review of their day, rooted in our tradition as followers of Jesus in the Wesleyan Tradition. We hope this prayer meditation helps you center yourself in grace, repentance, confession, faith and love in this new year.

Bishop Carter began work on this practice in 2019 and has shared it in a number of contexts, including the Florida Conference Table, the Pre-Conference Briefing and in his book God Will Make A Way: Spiritual Life and Leadership in a Contested Season. You can find a written version on our website. Bishop Carter encourages us to use this practice and adapt it to make it our own in this season of ministry.

An Examen in the Wesleyan Tradition

Grace

I begin today by claiming my identity as one who is created in the image of God. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am of sacred worth and am uniquely gifted. When I come to myself—the truth of who I am—I experience blessing.

I reflect on those persons who have been a part of my life today, who have seen this in me, who have encouraged me. Have I really been attentive to them? Have I fully accepted their gifts?

I stay with these encounters for a moment. I see the faces of these persons and listen to their voices again.

Repentance

Next, I see the moments of my day that I regret. I rely upon the fruit of the Holy Spirit, especially love, peace and patience, for help in returning to these moments. This is uncomfortable. And yet repentance that is of God is a return to the love God wants for me. It is the journey home.

For a moment, I consider the ways I am stuck, or lost. Why do I resist change?

I ask for the courage to return to God.

Confession

As I reflect on the day, I ask God to reveal the harm that I have done to others and the harm I have done to myself. I make an honest assessment of my failures and mistakes. Where I have not loved my neighbor as myself, I confess that I have sinned.

What is the sin that separates me from those closest to me? How does arrogance, judgmentalism, ego or privilege distort the way I see others? How have I buried my birthright gifts and refused to enjoy and share them?

Faith

I ask for the gift of God's healing and renewing grace. I set aside my own claims of righteousness or merit. In faith I say yes to Jesus Christ, who loves me and gave himself for me. I place my trust in Jesus Christ alone for the gift of salvation.

And for a moment, I consider how I am actually living by faith. Do I find it difficult to trust?

I return to the good news that I embraced when I first began to walk with Jesus. I ask that God would empower me to live this day in faith.

Love

God has created me. God knows me. God's sacrificial love in the crucified Jesus is for my salvation. When I have received the gift of faith, I become a more loving person. And when I have placed my faith and trust in Jesus Christ, I become a part of his body, which is the church.

I boldly ask that I will be made perfect in love in this life— that I will love God, and love the people I encounter each day in God.

I ask that my love for God would grow as I read the scriptures, spend time in prayer and receive communion as often as possible.

I ask God to give me a greater love for others, especially those to whom I have made promises and covenants, and those with whom I have differences.

I ask God for the happiness is taking the daily risk of living in grace, practicing repentance and confession, and growing in a faith that expresses itself through love.

Amen.

In the midst of the busiest time of the year, listen in on a conversation with Rob Hutchinson and Ashley Thomas about what it's like "Being Still and knowing God" is present – even when you can hardly sit still.

In this episode, Melissa, Luke and Aimee share a reflection for Thanksgiving from John Wesley's commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. As we enter this season of gratitude, we prayerfully reflect upon the words of our tradition's founder, seeking to root our spiritual lives in gratitude to the one who has given us every good and perfect gift. You can find the full text of Wesley's commentary here: http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/john-wesleys-notes-on-the-bible/notes-on-st-pauls-first-epistle-to-the-thessalonians/#Chapter+V

In this is episode of Means of Grace, we share a special guest episode from Afresh, a Fresh Expressions podcast from the Uwharrie District. Rev. Katie Lineberger has an important conversation with Rev. Caitlin McAlhany & Laina Davis-Harvey about recovery ministry and Fresh Expressions. You can find Afresh on Apple Podcasts or the Uwharrie District website.

To continue the conversation, join Luke and Caitlin for a recovery ministry community gathering. Learn more and register here: https://wnc-reg.brtapp.com/wnccrecovery.

In this episode, Director of Church Development Rev. Rob Hutchinson talks all things digital church, worship and discipleship with Jason Moore, Both/And Hybrid Worship consultant; Anne Bosarge, pastor of Chapel Online Church; and Rev. Nathan Webb, pastor of Checkpoint Church.