A Moment for Mission
“And do this because you know what time it is—how it is already time for you to wake up from sleep. Now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in fighting and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” —Romans 13:11-14, CEB
This passage from Romans calls us to awareness and action. Paul reminds the church that the time is now to live as people of light and hope, even in a world often filled with darkness. We are invited to put aside behaviors and attitudes that hurt ourselves and others, and instead to “put on the armor of light”—to live boldly and faithfully as followers of Christ.
One way United Methodists live out this call is through The Advance Giving Network. The Advance is a long-standing system of connectional giving, which means that congregations across the church pool their resources to support ministries and projects that no single church could accomplish on its own. Through The Advance, Global Ministries directs gifts to projects and missionaries around the world that bring hope, healing, and care—whether through disaster relief, refugee support, sustainable development, or peacebuilding.
By giving through The Advance, we are putting our faith into action. We are living as people of light—helping children go to school, families recover after natural disasters, communities gain clean water, and churches and ministries share the love of Christ in tangible ways. Without these connectional gifts, there would be no coordinated, global response from the United Methodist Church to urgent needs around the world.
Because Global Ministries is funded through UMC apportionments, 100% of gifts given to an Advance project go directly to the project or ministry it was intended to support. That means your gift is multiplied in impact, joining a global community of faithful stewards working together to bring God’s light to the world.
For those who are new to the United Methodist Church, this is what we mean by connectional giving: the church works together as one body, combining our resources so that we can meet needs that no single congregation could meet alone. When we give to The Advance, we are not just donating money—we are participating in a global mission of mercy, justice, and hope.
Romans 13 reminds us that the moment matters. The time is now to wake up, to put aside complacency, and to engage in God’s mission. We are called to live as people of light, showing love and care to those in need, and ensuring that Christ’s work continues around the world.
This week, consider how you will answer God’s call. How will you “wake up from sleep” and live as someone who brings light into the world? How will you support the Advance Giving Network, so that people in crisis may know God’s love through the church? Giving through The Advance is one concrete way to live out your faith—joining a global movement of people who are putting on the armor of light for those who need it most.
Reflection Question:
How is God calling you to put on the armor of light through your prayers, your life, and your giving to the Advance?
Children’s Message
Title: Waking Up to God’s Light
Materials: Flashlight with batteries
In the Bible, Paul tells us in Romans 13:11–12, “It is already time for you to wake up from sleep… The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” That means God wants us to wake up and shine God’s light in the world.
Do you know how a flashlight works? It needs something special to make it shine… do you know what that is? (Let the children answer.) Yes—batteries! But what do you think happens if we put the batteries in the wrong way? Will the flashlight work? Let’s try it. (Show the flashlight with batteries inserted incorrectly so it doesn’t work.)
Hmmm… the flashlight can’t help me see in the dark if the batteries aren’t in the right way, can it? I need this flashlight to work so I can see in the dark. The light doesn’t shine yet. Let’s take the batteries out and put them in correctly. (Insert the batteries correctly.) Wow! Look at that! Now the flashlight works, and the light is bright!
Our church has something that works just like these batteries—it’s called the Advance Giving Network. This is how we give together to help people who are hurting, who need help after a storm, or who don’t have a place to live.
Here’s how it works: our church collects money, and we give it to a place called Global Ministries. They know exactly what to do with the money and how to get it to the people who need it most—people who need food when they’re hungry, medicine when they’re sick, or a safe place to sleep.
The money we give through the Advance works just like the batteries we put in the flashlight. When we give in the right way, the light shines bright. When we don’t give, the light doesn’t shine, just like a flashlight without batteries.
When we give to the Advance, we are helping bring God’s light to the world. That’s what it means to put on the armor of light—to share God’s love with others. Just like a flashlight works best when the batteries are in the right way, God’s light shines brightest when we give generously and share it with everyone around us.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for calling us to be your light. Help us shine your love in the world. Teach us to give generously so we can bring hope and care to those who need it most. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
You call us to wake from sleep and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:11–12). Thank you for the work of the Advance Giving Network, carried out through Global Ministries, that brings your light, hope, and care to people in the midst of crisis. Without this work, many would be left in darkness, without help or hope.
We are grateful for the faithful giving of your people, and for the way apportionment gifts ensure that 100% of contributions to Advance projects go directly to where they are needed most. May these offerings be a sign of our trust in you, a way for your light to shine through our hands, our hearts, and our lives.
Strengthen our connection as your church, so that together we may be a beacon of your love and hope to a hurting world. In Christ’s name, Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries
Ever-Watchful God, you call us to live not in fear, but in faithful anticipation. As we offer these gifts, we do so as people preparing our hearts, our hands, and our world for your coming reign. We confess that we often cling too tightly to our comforts and schedules, forgetting that your kingdom calls us to loosen our grip and lift our eyes. Awaken us, Lord, to the “someday” you are already shaping through our love, our justice, and our generosity. Let these offerings be signs of readiness, trust, and joy as we wait—and work—for your future to break into our present. In the name of the one who comes, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
“And do this because you know what time it is—how it is already time for you to wake up from sleep" Romans 13:11, CEB
"And do this because you know what time it is—how it is already time for you to wake up from sleep" (Romans 13:11). The time is now to shine Christ’s light into the world. The Advance Giving Network, administered by Global Ministries, answers that call by bringing hope and help to people in crisis. Without this fund, there wouldn’t be support or hope for so many in need. Because Global Ministries is funded by UMC-apportionment funds, 100% of gifts to Advance projects go directly to their intended project or ministry.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we wake up to God’s call to love and serve.