September 8, 2021
Practicing Gratitude and Finding Joy
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As the saying goes, "Have an attitude of gratitude." But gratitude is more than a temporary feeling: It's a practice we can cultivate, just as we practice studying the Word or prayer.
Conference Lay Leader Amy Thompson writes about her discovery that joy and gratitude are connected. She shares how she has added the practice of gratitude to her daily routine and the ways it has transformed her thought life and perspective.
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Upcoming Events
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Walk Justly Conference
Building on our rich Wesleyan heritage of social holiness, this new, two-day conference is all about missions and is for those who are dedicated to creating change in their local communities. Speakers include Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker, Dr. Joshua Bartholomew, Rev. Dr. Emanuel Cleaver III, Rev. Dr. F Willis Johnson and more. Both in-person and virtual attendance options are available.
Learn more and sign up →
Other Upcoming Events
See the full events calendars at www.moumethodist.org/events
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
Lay Servant Ministry Report Charge Conference Form
Have you have completed at least one Lay Servant Ministry basic or advanced class in the past three years? If so, please fill out an annual lay servant ministry report. This report is turned in with your church’s charge conference paperwork in the fall and then will go on for signatures from your pastor, your district superintendent and your district lay servant ministry coordinator. This is a way we help track who is staying engaged by learning new and different ways to use their gifts. Please fill it out and turn it in to your pastor or church secretary. Download the form → |
Featured Resource
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A Biblical Reflection of Emotional Health Discussion Guides
The Pixar movie Inside Out (2015) follows the emotions and experiences of 11-year-old Riley as her family goes through the transition of moving from Minnesota to San Francisco. The film provides a framework to have important discussions with families or other social connections about faith and emotions. This discussion guide can be used as you see fit in your context. You do not have to follow the questions exactly or engage in every section. Rather, it is a tool available for you to encourage natural conversations about emotional health and faith. See the guides →
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More Resources
How Does a Church Become a Supportive Community
To help others through the re-opening of in-person congregational life, it is important to have a basic understanding of what is potentially going to happen when we start gathering face-to-face. Rev. David Howlett and Elaine Howlett, creators of The Mourning Center at Christ UMC in Independence, Missouri, offer thought about how to minister with those who are grieving in the attached document.
4 Types of Mental Health Support
There are several different types of trained mental health professionals. Each kind of provider has a different title and level of expertise. These providers offer psychotherapy aka talk therapy, a method for helping you explore your feelings and behaviors and learning to cope.
Boundary Training for PPRCs
This series is designed as three 45-60 minute training sessions or they can be combined for a 3-hour training session for church leaders. Based on the book, Saying No to Say Yes: Everyday Boundaries and Pastoral Excellence by David Olsen and Nancy G. Devor, it is great for use with lay leadership and paid and unpaid church staff.
