It is very important in our lives to focus on the right thing, or else we wander in a direction that we, nor God, ever intended for us.

We will look at the story of Jesus' Ascension and find out what the disciples learned.

Come join us!

May 20     "Focusing on the Right Thing"

On Mother’s Day, we will look at what it means to be part of the Family of God.

May 13     Being Part of the Family of God

We are born so innocent, so cute, with so much potential! Created in God’s image, we have the capacity to reach the heights of human ability, while also fulfilling God’s perfect plan for our lives.

Unfortunately, we carry with us a legacy of sin, which eventually rears its ugly head in our lives. And as a result, we start picking up things that we were never meant to have – things that settle deep within our souls and box us in, holding us back from God’s original design and intent. What can we do?

For four weeks, we discovered how Jesus can take away the burdens and chains we have accumulated and help you “Become the Biggest Loser.”

April 15   Lose Your Doubt

April 22   Lose Your Guilt

April 29   Lose Your Fear

May 6      Lose Your Pain

Things happened, lives were changed on that first Easter when a name was called.

April 8      He Calls Your Name

We’ve all been there. We know others who have been there. Surrounded by a crowd of people, yelling, screaming, talking, moving, pushing – and yet, we seem all alone. The noise of the crowd, the presence of people – all silenced, and we feel totally alone.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. In the midst of the crowds crying “Hosanna”, Jesus rides through the streets of Jerusalem. What was He thinking? What were His feelings?

We will explore the thought “In a Crowd, and Yet Alone” on Palm Sunday. Come join us.

April 1    In A Crowd, and Yet Alone

Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, Extravagant Generosity

These are the Five Practices of Fruitful congregations. These ideas aren’t secret or new, but they are the practices that can lead to excellence and growth in the life of our church. 

Our series is based on a book by the United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase entitled “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.” We studied how we can be more effective and more fruitful in our congregation and community.

February 26    Radical Hospitality (Text Only)

March 4           Passionate Worship (Rev. Chris Heckaman, Miami Valley DS)

March 11         Intentional Faith Development

March 18         Risk-Taking Mission and Service

March 25         Extravagant Generosity

February 19    This is How You Should Pray

Love is in the air! Valentine’s Day has become a special holiday for celebrating love and affection by presenting flowers, offering candy, and sending greeting cards. Originally, the greeting cards were hand-written and personal, but in the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Of course, those who study the Bible know that love comes from God (1 John 4:7). It is in love that we find our salvation, our fullness, our connection.

During the first two weeks of February, we explored the priorities and actions that will produce a deeper connection to those we love with a short series called “love life.”

February 5     “Love Life Priorities”

February 13  “Love Life Actions” (Text)

The great thing about cell phones is that you can call someone from wherever you are and talk to them wherever they are – at home, work, out of state, at the grocery, etc. Your spouse is running errands and doesn’t know you need a new black ink cartridge for the printer – call them up. You need to check on your teenager – call them up.

And when you get a call, don’t you just love that caller id. You know who is calling. Then you make that all important decision: Do you answer it? If it is your spouse or child or parent, yes, you answer. If it is your dorky brother who calls just to gloat that he just bought the newest electronic device, maybe you don’t answer that one.

But what if the caller id came up saying, “God”? What would you do? Would you answer? Would you let it go to voicemail, just to see what He wants before you talk to Him? Or do you just ignore it?

The Bible is full of people God used to bless His people. They came from all kinds of different backgrounds: rich, poor, privileged, unknown, men, women, children, etc. But they all had one thing in common: they answered when God called.

During our series “Are You Gonna Answer That?”, we looked at how God places calls into the lives of people in Scripture. And we discovered that He continues to call people today.

January 15    “Do You Know the Voice?”

January 22    "Called To Do What?”

January 29    "Running Away Gets You Wet”

Kathy Kitchel, our Director of Youth Ministries, shared the message with us.

January 8           "Foundations"

January 1           "New Year - New Life"

December 25       "The Magi"

Click here to listen to the Chancel Choir's presentation of their 2011 Christmas Cantata "Night of Miracles" during the 9:00 Worship.

You know before you open the package what’s inside. Of course you know – it’s from Aunt Natalie. She always gives you the same thing: a hand-knit sweater that she has been working on through 3 months of watching Dr. Phil. For 15 years! Same design. Same colors. Same size. You don’t even like that team any more, and you outgrew that size 8 years ago! But, as your mother says, “It’s the thought that counts.” What you really wanted was that cool new gadget advertised on TV, or that Greatest Hits CD from your favorite band, even gift certificates from McDonalds would be better than the sweater.

Christmas has given us so many things: White Elephant gifts, Re-gifting, Gag Gift exchange, Black Friday, now the very easy (and very impersonal) gift cards.

What was the first Christmas gift? What was the original intent? Was it something that we would take to the next Christmas party and try to “unload”? Or was it so special, so wonderful, so remarkable, that we would never let it go.

During Christmas, we looked at a package marked “From God: His Gift to You.” And we found out what it is all about.

November 27            “It’s Always Perfect”

December 4              “It Always Fits”

December 11            “It Always Surprises”

December 18            "It's Always What I Wanted"

December 24            “It Always says, ‘I Love You’”

Our nation is experiencing what many have described as the “American Nightmare.” Increasing consumer debt, declines in savings, lower income growth, foreclosures, and a volatile stock market are all contributing to economic insecurity. We live in a society that tells us “you deserve it now,” whether or not we can afford it or really even need it.

We’ve all struggled with these issues at one time or another. There is such fear, uncertainty, and anxiety, we don’t want to open the envelope with the IRA statement. People we work with getting pink slips. And if that isn’t bad enough, it’s worse when your name is on it.

Beginning October 30, we explored what the Bible teaches us about financial management. Each week, we received some tools you can use to assess your financial situation and develop a financial plan with a biblical foundation.

October 30     When Dreams Become Nightmares

November 6   Wisdom and Finance

November 13  Cultivating Contentment

November 20  Defined by Generosity

Each and every one of us have them. We may try to cover them up with a particular cut of clothing or makeup or a hair style. Some display them boldly, but on the inside, it is not pride they feel but regret, sadness, hopelessness.

“If only it could go away.”

Jesus encountered people on His journey of spreading the Gospel – people who were hurting and dealing with never-ending pain and suffering. And He had compassion on them and changed their lives forever.

During August, we looked at some people who met this traveling Teacher and would later say, “Jesus Changes Everything.” We learned how the hurts and scars of our lives can be healed by simply saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me well again.”

August 14       The Day My Life Changed
August 21       Look Who's Coming to Dinner
August 28       From Chaos and Chains to Calm and Call- Part 1
September 4   From Chaos and Chains to Calm and Call- Part 2

At times in our lives, we go through transitions – big transitions. It might be a new school; it might be the birth of a baby; it might be a career change or retirement… or it might be a new pastor!

Certainly, Germantown UMC went through the transition of relocating to our beautiful new facility. Now with a new pastor, people wonder, “What’s going to happen next?”

When we go through transitions like this, one of the best things to do is to look back and remember what is most essential for us. What is at the core of who we are, especially in our understanding of our relationship with God and with others?

During July and the first week of August, we went through a message series entitled “First Steps.” We began together a new chapter of fulfilling God’s purpose for us as we look at our first steps together.

July 3       It Begins Here
July 10     The Stethoscope
July 17     Priority 1
July 24     Learning to Love as God Loves
July 31     An All Out Search
August 7  The Best Way of All