A Moment for Mission
“The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you… I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.’ Abram left just as the Lord told him.” — Genesis 12:1–4a, CEB
God’s call to Abram begins with a promise—and a covenant. Abram is invited to trust God, step into the unknown, and become part of a blessing much bigger than himself. God’s promise is not just personal; it is communal. “All the families of the earth will be blessed.” From the very beginning, God’s plan is rooted in relationship, trust, faith, dignity, and shared purpose.
That same covenant shapes life in The United Methodist Church today. We believe God still calls people to walk together, trusting that what we do in faith—together—can bless more than we could ever imagine alone. One way we live out that covenant is through ministries like The General Council on Religion and Race (GCORR), which helps the Church step outside its comfort zone to confront racism, build bridges of understanding, and honor the sacred worth of every person made in God’s image.
GCORR’s work is a living example of this Scripture. God’s promise to Abram reminds us that God’s blessing is never meant to stop with us. It moves outward, crossing lines that divide and healing what has been broken. When the Church works to challenge discrimination and build communities where all are treated equally, it is living into God’s original promise of blessing.
March 1 is also recognized as Zero Discrimination Day, a moment that echoes this biblical call. While Abram stepped forward in faith long ago, we are still learning what it means to walk in trust today—trusting that God can use our actions, our voices, and even our generosity to bless others.
In The United Methodist Church, connectional giving is one way we keep that covenant together. When we give through ministries like GCORR, we are not just funding programs—we are participating in God’s unfolding story. Every gift tells a story, and every story can begin with the impact we choose to make through faithful giving. What we offer, when joined with others across the connection, becomes a testimony of hope, justice, and love rooted in Christ.
Abram didn’t know where the journey would lead—but he trusted the One who called him. We are invited into that same trust today.
Reflection Question:
Where might God be calling you this week to step forward in faith so that others may experience God’s blessing through you?
Children’s Message
Title: God’s Big Promise for Everyone
Materials: A drawing pad and some crayons or markers
Good morning, friends! I’m so glad to see you today. Today we are going to use our imagination. I want you to imagine something in your mind. Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine the most beautiful place you can think of. Maybe it has trees, or animals, or your favorite colors.
Now open your eyes. What if I asked you to draw that picture? (Hold up paper and crayons.)
Sometimes when we draw what’s in our minds, it doesn’t look the same on the paper. We might think, “That’s not how it looked in my head!” But in our minds, it was perfect and beautiful.
That happens because our imagination can see things we don’t fully understand yet.
In today’s Bible story, God talked to a man named Abraham. God told Abraham to leave his home and go to a place he had never seen before. Abraham probably tried to imagine what it would be like—but he couldn’t really see it clearly. He didn’t know where he was going.
But God made Abraham a promise. God said, “I will bless you.”
When God blesses us, God’s blessings are often bigger and better than anything we can imagine—even bigger than the picture in our minds. Abraham trusted God, even when he didn’t know what the picture would look like yet.
In The United Methodist Church, we try to trust God like that too. We help people love others, be kind, and treat everyone fairly. There is a group in our Church called The General Council on Religion and Race, and they help remind us that God loves everyone and wants everyone treated with kindness.
When we trust God and help others—through our actions, our kindness, and even by sharing what we have—we are letting God finish the picture in a way that is more beautiful than we could ever draw on our own.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for loving us. Help us trust you, even when we don’t see everything clearly. Help us be kind and love everyone the way you do. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
God of purpose and promise,
You called Abram to trust you, and through him you blessed many. Shape us by that same covenant today. As we give, remind us that our offerings become stories of love, justice, and hope when shared through our connection. Bless the ministry of The General Council on Religion and Race, and use our gifts to help your Church reflect your grace and dignity for all. Unite our generosity so that, together, we may live out your promise in faith and action. Amen.
From Discipleship Ministries
Faithful God of New Beginnings, you call us—as you called Abraham—to trust in what we cannot yet see, to follow where you lead, even when the road is unclear. In the shadows of our questions and the uncertainty of our understanding, you meet us with grace, not condemnation. As Nicodemus discovered, your love is not earned but freely given. Receive now these gifts we offer—not as payment or proof, but as signs of our belief, our hope, and our gratitude. Use them to share your transforming love with a world still searching in the dark. In the name of your Son, given in love, we pray. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
God’s promise to Abram in Genesis 12 reminds us that faith is never meant to stay with one person—it is meant to bless many. The General Council on Religion and Race helps The United Methodist Church live into that promise by equipping congregations to honor the sacred worth of every person. Through connectional giving, our shared generosity strengthens this ministry and helps the Church witness to Christ’s love in tangible ways. Every gift tells a story of faith, justice, and hope.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we reflect on God’s call and our covenant to walk together.