MISSION MOMENT
Begin today's reflection by reading the Scripture passage using the link below Philippians 4:1-9 (CEB)
In Philippians 4, Paul encourages the church to "stand firm in the Lord" (v. 1), to rejoice, to pray, and to focus on "whatever is true, whatever is holy, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy of praise" (v. 8). He reminds believers that faith is not something we live alone. It is nurtured in community, strengthened through encouragement, and handed from one generation to the next.
That truth is at the heart of the Ministerial Education Fund.
Every congregation needs faithful leaders who can preach the gospel, teach Scripture, care for people, and help communities follow Christ. But those leaders do not simply appear. They need opportunities to learn, grow, and be formed for ministry.
The Ministerial Education Fund helps make that possible. Through scholarships, seminary support, continuing education opportunities, and clergy formation programs, this fund helps prepare and equip current and future leaders for ministry in The United Methodist Church. Through our shared giving, we invest in the people who will preach the gospel, care for congregations, visit hospital rooms, baptize children, celebrate communion, and walk with people through life's most joyful and difficult moments.
Consider a young person who senses God calling them into ministry but wonders how they will afford seminary. A scholarship made possible through connectional giving can help open that door. That student can receive an education, grow in faith and understanding, and eventually stand in a pulpit, serve a community, baptize a child, visit someone in the hospital, or sit beside a grieving family. One gift can become part of a much larger story of Christ's love.
This is one reason connection matters in The United Methodist Church. A congregation does not have to carry the work of ministry alone. Through our connectional giving system, congregations join their gifts with those of other United Methodists. Giving becomes more than a financial transaction. At its heart, it is a covenant to walk together.
Paul concludes this passage by encouraging believers to put into practice what they have learned and received. The church continues that work today by investing in leaders who will proclaim Christ's love for generations to come. Through the Ministerial Education Fund, we stand firm together, encourage one another, and strengthen the church's mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Reflection Question:
How might God use your prayers, encouragement, and giving to help someone answer a call to ministry?
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Title: Who Helped You Learn?
Materials: A Bible, a small backpack, a child’ book
Good morning, friends! I’m so glad to see you today! I brought a few things with me today. Let's see what they are! (Show the backpack, Bible and book.)
Can you tell me what these things are? (Pause for answers.) That's right! A backpack, a book, and a Bible.
What do we use these things for? (Pause.) We use them to learn!
Who helps you learn new things? (Pause and allow the children to offer all kinds of answers)
Maybe your parents help you learn. Maybe your teacher helps you learn. Maybe a grandparent, a coach, a sibling, or a friend helps you learn something new. We all need people to help us learn and grow.
In our Bible story today, Paul is writing a letter to some friends. Paul reminds them to keep following Jesus and to remember the things they have learned. Paul tells them, "Keep on doing the things you learned and received" from people who taught you about God.
Have you ever learned a song from a teacher? Or learned how to ride a bike from a parent? Once someone teaches you, you can keep doing it on your own.
That's what Paul is talking about. He wants people to remember what they have learned about Jesus and keep sharing it with others.
Now, who teaches us about Jesus at church? (Pause for answers.) That's right. Pastors do! (Hold up the Bible.)
Pastors read the Bible with us. They help us understand God's Word. They pray with us. They help us when we are sad, excited, scared, confused, or happy. They remind us that Jesus loves us.
But here's something important. Pastors have to learn, too! Just like you go to school to learn reading, writing, math, and science, pastors spend years learning about the Bible, prayer, worship, and how to help God's people.
They don't learn all by themselves. Other people help them learn. And do you know something really amazing? We help them learn, too. The United Methodist Church has something called the Ministerial Education Fund. That's a big name, isn't it?
Let's make it simple.
The Ministerial Education Fund helps people who feel called by God to become pastors learn and grow so they can share God's love with others. People from United Methodist churches all over give a little, and when we put those gifts together, we can help future pastors learn, serve, and lead.
Let me show you what I mean. Imagine if I had only one puzzle piece. (Pretend to hold one piece of a puzzle.) Could I see the whole picture? No! But what if everyone brought their puzzle piece? Then we could build something beautiful together. That's how the church works. One church helps. Another church helps. Another church helps. Together, we can do much more than we can do by ourselves.
Because people work together, future pastors can learn. Then those pastors can teach other people about Jesus. Then those people can teach others, too. That's exactly what Paul was talking about when he encouraged people to remember what they had learned and keep sharing it.
Maybe one day God will call one of you to teach others about Jesus. You might become a pastor, a missionary, a teacher, a choir director, or someone who helps people know God's love.
And when we work together as God's family, more people can learn about Jesus.
That's pretty amazing, isn't it?
Prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank You for the people who teach us. Thank You for parents, teachers, pastors, and all those who help us learn about Your love. Help us keep growing, keep learning, and keep sharing Your love with others. Bless the pastors who serve today and those who are preparing to serve in the future. Amen.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, in Philippians, Paul encourages us to stand firm in You, to rejoice, to pray, and to focus on what is true and worthy of praise. As we offer these gifts, bless them through the Ministerial Education Fund. Use our shared giving to prepare, support, and strengthen current and future clergy throughout The United Methodist Church. Deepen our covenant to walk together in ministry, so that through our connectional giving, congregations and communities may be formed in Christ's love. Multiplying these gifts and their impact, we pray. Amen.
OFFERTORY PRAYER from Discipleship Ministries
Steadfast Joy, when “always” feels larger than our capacity, you remain near. In gratitude, we bring these gifts, signs of love learned from you. Quiet our anxious hearts and turn our attention toward what is true, honorable, and worthy of praise. Shape us into a people whose generosity is gentleness made visible, whose offerings declare we are on the side of our neighbors. Receive what we place in your hands and let it become courage, welcome, and hope. Guard us with your peace as we press on in Christ. Amen.
NEWSLETTER NUGGET
Paul's words in Philippians 4:1-9 remind us to stand firm in the Lord, encourage one another, and put our faith into action. The Ministerial Education Fund reflects that calling by supporting the education, formation, and development of current and future clergy in The United Methodist Church. Through scholarships, seminary support, continuing education, and clergy formation programs, our connectional giving helps prepare faithful leaders for generations to come. Together, we live out our covenant to walk alongside one another in ministry and mission.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we celebrate the Ministerial Education Fund and the impact we can make together through connectional giving.