Would you like to take advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about serving God and/or enhancing your spiritual life? The North Central District Lay Speaking Ministries is offering training on March 24 and 31 from 9:00 to 3:30 at Vista Ridge UMC, Lewisville, TX.

Many people don’t realize that lay speaking does not equate with preaching but with serving. Some lay speakers do bring the Word of God to people, but that is only a small part of what we do. You may also not realize that lay speaker training is open to anyone, even those not desiring to be lay speakers. In a nutshell, lay speaker training develops leaders for the church and enhances spiritual life.

The following courses are offered in March:

Lay Speaking Ministries (required as a first course for those desiring to become a lay speaker as well as to anyone), text is Basic Course. This course is the foundation for all the other learning and leading courses. You are encouraged to discover and employ personal spiritual gifts as God intended. The course offers guidelines for best practices as a church leader and in mission and ministry in the community and in daily life.

Lay Pastoral Care Giving (a new advanced course for lay speakers, open to everyone), text is Lay Pastoral Care Giving. This course offers insights into the life span and the dynamics of contemporary life to help church leaders reach out with God’s love and care to others.

Teach Adults (an advanced course for lay speakers, open to everyone), text is Start Here. This course is designed to help provide church leaders with a basic understanding of the ways in which adults learn and grow.

For more information about Lay Speaking Ministries or leadership training, contact either Susan Anderson at 940-497-2707, cda.sra@gmail.com. or Virgil Aldag at 940-321-5852, virg.aldag12@centurytel.net.

A Day with the Bishop

Susan Anderson, our Lay Member to Annual Conference, and I attended “A day with Bishop Bledsoe”, this past Saturday. It was an inspiring day and a day of reflection on what the United Methodist Church has done. It was also a wake up call for what we need to be doing. As a church we are asked to take the lead in spreading the kingdom of God in a changing world. Ignorance of adapting and embracing that change can only lead to a decrease in our nation’s Christian values and church participation.

Bishop Bledsoe made it very clear, “Growth in the church is not going to happen through its clergy. Laity is the path to success. Loving one another, caring for each other and the community, friendship, and active participation in each others lives and the life of the church will define who we are, today and tomorrow.” He believes we must continue to focus on four areas: Leadership Development; Development of new churches; Ministry with the Poor; and Global Ministries. Will we answer that call?

Susan and I believe Lake Cities UMC is ‘up’ to the challenge. 2012 is going to be a banner year for our church. Not by someone else’s doing, but by active participation by each and every member. We have new faces, new members, and children and youth on which to focus our attention and show what Lake Cities UMC is all about; “Spreading the kingdom of God throughout the community and the world”. Let’s do it Lake Cities. This is our year to radiate God’s love.

In His Service,
Virgil

Learning Opportunities

Would you like to take advantage of a unique opportunity to learn more about serving God and/or enhancing your spiritual life?  The North Central District Lay Speaking Ministries is offering training on October 8 and 15 from 9:00 to 3:30 at Stonebridge UMC in McKinney, TX.

Many people don’t realize that lay speaking does not equate with preaching but with serving.  Some lay speakers do bring the Word of God to people, but that is only a small part of what we do.  You may also not realize that lay speaker training is open to anyone, even those not desiring to be lay speakers.  In a nutshell, lay speaker training develops leaders for the church and enhances spiritual life.

Courses offered in October are:

Lay Speaking Ministries (required as a first course for those desiring to become a lay speaker as well as to anyone), text is Basic Course;

Grow Spiritually through Daily Discipline (an advanced course for lay speakers, open to everyone), text is Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition;

Prayer (an advanced course for lay speakers, open to everyone), text is

Let the Whole Church Say Amen.

            Susan Anderson will be co-teaching the Prayer course with David Taylor from Denton, so anyone wanting to attend can carpool to McKinney with her.

            For more information contact Susan Anderson at 940-497-2707 or cda.sra@gmail.com.  Or you can download the informational flyer about the classes and the registration form.