Mission Moment
Begin today's reflection by reading the Scripture passage at the link below, Romans 13: 8–14 (CEB)
When Paul writes to the church in Rome, he reminds believers that one debt never disappears: "Love each other." Love is more than a feeling. It is learned, practiced, and lived each day as we follow Christ together.
That is the heart of Christian education. Learning to follow Jesus does not happen all at once. It begins with a child hearing a Bible story for the first time, a youth discovering God's call, an adult joining a Bible study, or a church leader finding encouragement through training. Throughout our lives, God continues to shape us into disciples who reflect Christ's love in our homes, our churches, and our communities.
Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday reminds us that disciple-making is a shared calling. While each local congregation nurtures faith within its own community, no church carries that responsibility alone. Through our annual conference, congregations work together to provide leadership development, educational resources, camps, retreats, and opportunities that strengthen churches across the conference. Together, these ministries equip people of every age to grow in faith and to serve others with Christ's love.
Many people are surprised to learn how The United Methodist Church works. Our connectional system is built on a covenant to walk together. Rather than each congregation creating every ministry on its own, churches join their gifts so ministries can flourish throughout the annual conference. Through Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday, our offerings help support programs that encourage faithful discipleship in churches and communities we may never visit, but where God is already at work.
Paul encourages believers to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." We do that as we worship, study Scripture, pray, serve our neighbors, and continue growing in faith. Christian education helps us live that calling every day.
Every gift tells a story. Sometimes that story begins with a child learning that Jesus loves them. Sometimes it begins with a young person discovering a call to ministry, a lay leader gaining confidence to teach, or a congregation receiving resources that help people grow as disciples. Through connectional giving, our gifts become part of God's ongoing story of love, formation, and hope.
As we observe Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday, may we celebrate the ministries that teach us to love as Christ loves us and joyfully support the work of forming disciples for generations to come.
Reflection Question:
How is God inviting you to continue growing as a disciple while helping others grow in faith?
Children’s Message
Title: The First Time You Heard the Story
Materials: An alphabet book or alphabet flashcards and a children’s bible
Good morning, friends! I’m so glad to see you today! I have a question for you. Can anyone sing part of the ABC song? (Invite the children to sing.) That was wonderful!
Do you remember the very first time you learned your ABCs? Maybe you don't. Most of us were very little. Someone taught us—maybe a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, or someone at church. What if no one had ever taught you the alphabet? You wouldn't be able to read your favorite stories.
Now I have another question. What is your favorite story? (Pause for answers.)
Stories are wonderful because they teach us new things. (Hold up the children's Bible.) This book is full of stories, too. It tells us about God's love and about Jesus. Someone probably read one of these stories to you for the very first time. Maybe you heard about Noah and the ark, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions, or Jesus feeding a huge crowd.
Every time someone shares one of those stories, we learn something new about God.
In today's Scripture, Paul tells us that the most important thing we can learn is to love one another. Jesus teaches us how to love by the stories He told, the people He helped, and the way He cared for everyone.
But here's something really special. The people who taught you about Jesus probably learned from someone else.
Your Sunday school teacher learned from another teacher.
Your pastor learned from someone who helped them.
Your parents or grandparents learned from people who shared God's story with them.
God's story has been passed from person to person for a very long time.
Today we celebrate Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday. That's a big name, but it reminds us of something simple: churches work together so people of every age can keep learning about Jesus.
When churches share their gifts, they help provide Bible studies, camps, teacher training, and resources that help more people hear God's story for the very first time.
Maybe somewhere this week, a little child will hear, "Jesus loves you," for the very first time because churches worked together to make that possible. Let's keep sharing God's story so more people can know His love.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank You for the people who taught us about You. Thank You for parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, and friends who shared Your story with us. Help us keep learning about You every day, and help us share Your love with others. Bless the churches that work together so more children and families can hear Your story for the first time. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Gracious God, You have taught us that our greatest calling is to love one another as Christ loves us. As we celebrate Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday, receive these gifts as signs of our shared commitment to nurture disciples of every age. Bless the ministries, leaders, churches, and communities they will serve. Through our connectional giving, unite our offerings with those of others across our annual conference so that together we may strengthen faith, equip disciples, and share Your love with generations to come. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Offertory Prayer from Discipleship Ministries
Reconciling God, you mark our lives not with fear, but with mercy, and you gather us into a people shaped by grace. As you delivered your children at Passover and taught your church to seek peace with one another, teach us to live in our “church clothes” every day—clothed in patience, truth, and love. Receive these gifts as signs of our trust in your saving power and our commitment to your work of healing and restoration. Use what we offer to mend what is broken, welcome those who feel outside, and build a community where forgiveness and hope have the final word. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Newsletter Nugget
Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday reminds us that growing as disciples is a lifelong journey. Inspired by Romans 13:8–14, we celebrate the ministries that help children, youth, and adults learn to love as Christ loves us. Through our annual conference, congregations work together to support leadership development, educational resources, camps, and ministries that strengthen churches throughout the conference. Our connectional giving reflects our covenant to walk together, joining our gifts to nurture disciples and share Christ's love in communities across our conference.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we celebrate Christian Education Annual Conference Sunday and discover how, together, we are helping form disciples for generations to come.