connecting to grow in faith
The Bible knows nothing of a solitary religion.
-John Wesley
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We grow in faith together. That's why we think it's important to create community and build relationships. Whether it's through Wednesday night dinners, Sunday School, a Small Group, or Youth Group, there's a way for you to connect and grow in love for God and others.
Children's Ministry
Back Pack Sunday Blessing!
Get your kids ready for starting school! Blessings for the students and their backpacks will be August 25th at the 9am and the 10:30am services.
Youth Ministry
*youth Ministry is on!*
Pizza. Dodgeball. Mission Trips. Jesus. That's a recipe for connecting students to one another and God! Contact Annie Schoonen for more info on connecting your family or serving in Youth Ministry!
Jr. & Sr. High Sunday Schools, Sundays at 10:30 am
We encourage teens and families to worship at the 9:00 am Contemporary service, and then stay for games, food, and discussion.
Youth Group, Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
After dinner on Wednesdays, we gather together for some fun, friends, and growing in faith! It's a perfect time to invite friends who are curious about church. For grades 6th- 12th.
Throughout the year:
Mission Trips
Camps
Bowling, Sledding, Bonfires
Service Projects
Concerts
Weekend Activities
and more fun!
Adult discipleship
Growth in discipleship is growth in love for God and one another. It's a lifetime process! We offer several ways for you to connect with others to grow in faith. Contact us for more info on joining or starting a discipleship group!
Adult Sunday School, Sundays at 9:00 am
Study Group, Monday Evenings at the Brown's home
Pastor's Study Group, Wednesday at 6:30 pm
Prayer Group, Thursdays at 1:30 pm
Throughout the year, we offer short term studies as well. Subscribe to our email list below to catch all our discipleship information!
Grow † Pray † Study
Each week, we offer daily Scripture readings and thoughts in our Grow • Pray • Study (GPS) Guide.
Come back on Mondays for the weekly GPS, and spend time in study and prayer daily!
You matter to God.
St.
Paul’s UMC GPS:
GROW † PRAY † STUDY
for the week
October 14-20, 2019
Holy Currencies: Currency of Relationships
Destination: To gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a deeply committed follower of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. To be able to recognize your experiences of God and to discover God in new and different ways.
Memory verse: I encourage you to read this Scripture every day and by the end of the week have it memorized or to the point of where you can paraphrase the verse(s). Try writing it down on post-it notes and place them in areas where you will see it daily, for example the bathroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. 42 One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.”
Luke 10: 41b-42 CEB
Daily Prayer:
Jesus, friend and brother, you taught us to abide in your generous love, for it completes our lives and gives us joy; you ask us to love others as you have loved us, for it brings your creation to fruition. We sometimes struggle to love the people in our lives as you have loved us. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us your love again. In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our Redeemer and the Holy Spirit our Advisor and Counselor Amen
Monday, Oct 14, 2019 read John 15:5-14.
Jesus called his followers “friends” and invited them to abide in him and in his love. Abiding in Jesus means having a life-giving connection to him. A branch is connected to the vine, and a vine to the branch. This is what theologians frequently describe as “union with Christ.” Notice that this connection, this union, is mutual. We abide in him and he abides in us (v. 4). What is your connection to Jesus like?
Tuesday, Oct 15, 2019 read John 15:5-14.
Abiding also implies dependence. This aspect of abiding, unlike connection, is not reciprocal. The branch is dependent on the vine, but the vine is not dependent on the branch. The branch derives its life and power from the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. And believers receive the “sap” of Christ’s grace through our life-giving connection to him. We are completely dependent upon Jesus for everything that counts as spiritual fruit (v. 4). Apart from him, we can do nothing (v. 5). What do you depend on Jesus for?
Wednesday, Oct 16 2019 read John 15:5-14; 1:38-39; 8:31-32.
Abiding also involves continuance. In fact, “abide” (Greek, meno) means to remain, or stay, or continue. Another aspect of abiding in Jesus is remaining in Jesus. This simply means that we keep trusting, depending, and believing. To abide in Jesus is to persevere in Jesus and his teaching. To abide in the vine means to be united to Jesus (connection), to rely on Jesus (dependence), and to remain in Jesus (continuance). How are you connecting, depending and remaining in relationship with Jesus?
Thursday, Oct 17, 2019 read Matthew 17:1-6.
God refers to Jesus as son. The radical nature of Christianity through Jesus emphasizes the parent-child relationship between human and Divine. Because we are all children of God, we are all then siblings to one another. Jesus wants us to connect with one another like brothers and sisters. What would St. Paul’s be like if we connected more like brothers and sisters? What would Idaho Falls look like if we treated each other as siblings?
Friday, Oct 18, 2019 read Luke 10:38-42.
Like Martha we can get so busy, allowing our lives to be task-driven to the point where relationships suffer. How do you envision your relationships would change if you were driven more by personal connection?
Saturday, Oct 19, 2019 read Luke 10:38-42.
Mary was focused on being with Christ. She sat near him, she tended to him…she just wanted to be close to Jesus. Mary knew the value of relationship-driven ministry. What would St. Paul’s be like if we focused as much on relationship building as we do on accomplishing ministry? Jesus loved Martha and Mary because they each exemplified doing the work of ministry and connecting in relationships.
Resources: Bible by God; Holy Currencies by Eric Law
