January 04th, 2017

New Year's Resolutions

It is a new year, and with it comes resolutions to make our lives better. It is easy to grow cynical about new year's resolutions since we so often wind up breaking them within just a few days only to dust them off again in a year's time. Yet there is value in the process of evaluating our lives, seeing what we are not satisfied with, and attempting to do something about it. Resolutions reveal the dreams we have of who we can be.

What dreams do you have for your spiritual life? What kind of faith do you want to have? Is there someone whose faith inspires you to grow in your own? These are important questions for us - not just at the new year but everyday. If we are going to grow in faith and become better disciples of Jesus, we are going to have to work at it, so we might as well have some idea of what we are working towards and how we are going to do that work.

What goals do you have for your faith life? I hope you will ponder this question over these first few weeks of the new year. The answer may come quickly, or it may take some time thinking and praying. I would enjoy hearing how you want to grow this year and would be glad to advise and guide you along the way.

In years past, Bishop Cho challenged us to spend more time in prayer each day. This year, Bishop Lewis is giving us a new challenge - to read the Bible through in the year so that we can all grow in our scholarship of the Bible. You can find more information and a reading plan here. I know many of you have achieved this goal in year's past. If so, consider reading from a different translation or a different kind of reading plan. Again, I would be glad to offer advice or resources if you have further questions. I hope you will find a way to make Bible reading a regular part of life this year!

Blessings on the journey, Jim

Called - Paul's Journey into Ministry

Who does God call to do the work of Jesus Christ in the world? Can God really use people like me? How do I answer when God calls me to serve in a new way? Join us for worship over the next weeks as we delve into these questions and explore the Apostle Paul's journey to become the greatest missionary of all time.

This week, we kick it all off by looking at who Paul was and how God prepared him to be the one to carry the message of Jesus Christ to the whole world. ​We will also celebrate how God has prepared us for ministry through a Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant. We hope to see you there!

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Living in Community

Thank you to all of our leaders and volunteers for making 2016
a great year of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ here at Port Church!

​Thanks to Kim from New Hope UMC for his inspiring message this past Sunday!

This Week at Port Church

Tuesday, January 3
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours

Thursday, January 5
9:00 - 11:45 am - Office Hours

​Sunday, January 8
9:30 am - Worship with Reaffirmation of Faith
"Called: Who Does God Call?"
11:00 am - Sunday School

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, January 25
Wednesday at the Port resumes!