This week we continue our sermon series called Seeking Shalom: Striving for Wholeness in a Fragmented World. In this series, we are exploring the biblical foundations of God’s design for human wholeness. This week, Pastor Josh will be sharing biblical perspectives of relational wholeness.

In this video, Pastor Clayton is joined by Rabbi Elana Zelony from Congregation Beth Torah for a special interview about the true meaning of Shalom. In this informative and inspirational interview, Rabbi Zelony shares the Jewish perspective on Shalom. 

What could this world look like if we all chose to pursue peace in all our relationships throughout our lives? Would our world be if instead of fragmentation, peace was the goal? Where are the peacemakers and how do I become a peacemaker in my own life?

This week we continue our sermon series called Seeking Shalom: Striving for Wholeness in a Fragmented World. In this series, we are exploring the biblical foundations of God’s design for human wholeness.

This week, Pastor Clayton will be sharing biblical perspectives of mental wholeness. We recognize that the topic of mental wholeness is a tough one. The content of this message is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your mental health.

You can also visit https://fumcr.com/MentalHealth for more ways we can help support you.

This week we continue our sermon series called Seeking Shalom: Striving for Wholeness in a Fragmented World. In this series, we are exploring the biblical foundations of God’s design for human wholeness.

This week, Shandon will be sharing biblical perspectives of mental wholeness. We recognize that the topic of mental wholeness is a tough one. The content of this message is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your mental health.

You can also visit https://fumcr.com/MentalHealth for more ways we can help support you.

How can we find peace right now? Instead of the pandemic bringing us all together, it has led to even more fragmentation in our world. Instead of seeking common ground, we seem to demonize those we disagree with. We need to find “shalom”. Shalom is often translated as “peace” but it means so much more. It is a greeting and farewell. To unpack this word in this series, we find that it means “wholeness”.

In Jeremiah chapter 29, we are reminded to seek the welfare or “shalom”. We’re reminded that the welfare of others directly impacts our welfare. God wants to bless us with God’s presence. God has plans for our welfare or shalom, our peace. This is God’s desire for us.

In the New Testament, Jesus leaves us with his peace. When we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Peace is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The holistic sense of God’s presence and grace guides our life and brings us a peace that passes all understanding. It allows us to stand in the midst of a fragmented world and find wholeness. Though the world may be fragmented, through Christ, we find a peace and wholeness and a shalom that guides our life.

This week, we continue the sermon series Here’s Why, where we dive deeper into the mission statement of First United Methodist Church Richardson. We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ, and SERVE people with Christ. Today we focus on why we SERVE.

In this sermon, Pastor Clayton shares “why” we as Christians serve others. We know that Christ is already serving in the world and we are called to serve in the same ways. We serve because we have been blessed. Just like God called Abraham and told him he was blessed to be a blessing. We serve as a response to God’s grace.

We can see the human need and brokenness in the world and serving is our answer to that need. As we go out in the places we’ve been uniquely placed to serve, we remember the thought from Mahatma Gandhi, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” Our response to the brokenness and pain in this world to serve those most in need as we model and show the world what Christian love looks like.

This week, we continue the sermon series Here’s Why, where we dive deeper into the mission statement of First United Methodist Church Richardson. We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ, and SERVE people with Christ. Today we focus on why we SERVE.

In this sermon, Pastor Josh shares “why” we as Christians serve others. We know that Christ is already serving in the world and we are called to serve in the same ways. We serve because we have been blessed. Just like God called Abraham and told him he was blessed to be a blessing. We serve as a response to God’s grace.

We can see the human need and brokenness in the world and serving is our answer to that need. As we go out in the places we’ve been uniquely placed to serve, we remember the thought from Mahatma Gandhi, “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” Our response to the brokenness and pain in this world to serve those most in need as we model and show the world what Christian love looks like.

This week, we continue the sermon series Here’s Why, where we dive deeper into the mission statement of First United Methodist Church Richardson. We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ, and SERVE people with Christ. Today we focus on ways to GROW.

Pastor Clayton shares practical ways for us to grow in our relationships with Christ and our neighbors. Just like we could go to a gym to grow in our health journey, church is a place where we can engage in ways that will help us grow in our spiritual journey.

Though there are 613 commandments or rules in the Old Testament, the story of our faith is actually about God’s grace. In this sermon, Pastor Clayton reminds us of the three kinds of grace: prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. Grace always points us to God’s love for us.

This week, we continue the sermon series Here’s Why, where we dive deeper into the mission statement of First United Methodist Church Richardson. We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ, and SERVE people with Christ. Today we focus on ways to GROW.

Pastor Josh shares practical ways for us to grow in our relationships with Christ and our neighbors. Just like we could go to a gym to grow in our health journey, church is a place where we can engage in ways that will help us grow in our spiritual journey.

Though there are 613 commandments or rules in the Old Testament, the story of our faith is actually about God’s grace. In this sermon, Pastor Josh reminds us of the three kinds of grace: prevenient, justifying and sanctifying. Grace always points us to God’s love for us.

Did you know that First United Methodist Church Richardson has existed since 1886? The founding members of this community wanted to be a welcoming place for people to meet Christ. As the church has moved physical campuses and now expanded to the online space, the mission of being welcoming hasn’t changed.

Our mission statement is We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ and SERVE people with Christ. Today, Pastor Clayton is going to dive a little deeper into the first phrase of that statement, “we WELCOME people for Christ.” As we think about this first part of our mission statement, we’re reminded of the words from Romans which say, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

How can you be a welcoming presence for someone this week? Is there a neighbor or someone you see or interact with regularly whose name you don’t know? Introduce yourself and learn their name and see if you feel a difference in your relationship with them. We’re reminded of our call to hospitality and welcoming in Hebrews, chapter 13. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Did you know that First United Methodist Church Richardson has existed since 1886? The founding members of this community wanted to be a welcoming place for people to meet Christ. As the church has moved physical campuses and now expanded to the online space, the mission of being welcoming hasn’t changed.

Our mission statement is We WELCOME people for Christ, GROW people in Christ and SERVE people with Christ. Today, Pastor Clayton is going to dive a little deeper into the first phrase of that statement, “we WELCOME people for Christ.” As we think about this first part of our mission statement, we’re reminded of the words from Romans which say, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

How can you be a welcoming presence for someone this week? Is there a neighbor or someone you see or interact with regularly whose name you don’t know? Introduce yourself and learn their name and see if you feel a difference in your relationship with them. We’re reminded of our call to hospitality and welcoming in Hebrews, chapter 13. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”