Thrive
During my sophomore year at NC State, the Wolfpack pulled off one of the greatest Cinderella stories of all time. Led by Jim Valvano, they won the 1983 NCAA tournament on a last second shot. Describing their run through March Madness, Valvano said that their goal was to just “survive and advance.”
I don’t know about you, but there have been challenging seasons in my life when I simply made it my goal to survive and advance. In many ways I believe our congregation is now emerging from a season of challenges that forced us to hunker down and survive and advance. Fortunately, I feel like we are on the other side of this with the disruption of COVID and the pain of the splintering of our denomination behind us.
Over the last few months, I have felt a new spirit of enthusiasm and excitement at Jamestown UMC. I believe that we have made the turn from this recent season of “survive and advance” to one that is now about thriving as a church family. Think about all of our thriving ministries: Rock@5, Young@Heart, JYM, children, adult and handbell choirs, and our relationship with Jamestown Elementary School.
I have never been prouder of the members and the staff of Jamestown UMC than over the past year. Three words come to mind when I consider all the ways in which we are thriving:
Resilience
Creativity
Generosity
My hope and prayer for Jamestown UMC is that we will continue to thrive in 2024. Hence, the theme of our stewardship campaign this year is Thrive. Our calling is not simply to survive and advance, but to thrive. Your gifts and support make all the difference in ensuring that we continue to thrive going forward.
Dr. David Greene
Senior Pastor
As 2023 winds down to an end, Jamestown United Methodist Church is gearing up for 2024. One of the most critical components of our planning is anticipated giving for the new year. Please complete the estimate of giving card on the back side of this flap and bring it to church on October 22nd for Commitment Sunday. We ask that you please take a few moments to prayerfully consider your giving for 2024.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support of JUMC!
If you would like to make your 2024 Annual Pledge, click the image below to access the pledge form for 2024.
Tithes & Offerings
Acts 2:44–45 says: “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”
Lord, today we bring our gifts before you. Just like the original church did, we come together God to gather up funds for our church ministries and those in need. We believe that you will extend your mighty hand over this offering, and that it will go out in the name of the gospel, and that your people will be blessed by it.
Dear Friends,
A few years ago, a new parent asked me to offer one piece of advice about raising a child. After thinking about it for a moment, I recommended that he try to do everything possible to instill an attitude of gratitude in his child. I believe the Apostle Paul would agree. Remember what he wrote in his letter of First Thessalonians? Paul said, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” And note that Paul uses “all.” I think Paul is reminding us that life is a gift. He wants us to develop a mindset of seeing the world and our place in it as a gift.
In the church we tend to emphasize the importance of faith and hope and self-giving love. And these are core values and principles of the Christian faith. But we often downplay the importance of gratitude. Jesus, though, did not downplay it. Remember what Jesus told the one leper who returned to express thanks for being healed (Luke 17)? Jesus said to him, “Your faith has made you well.” In that moment Jesus connected the man’s salvation to his expression of gratitude. Jesus did not need to receive that man’s gratitude as much as that healed leper needed to express it. We do not express gratitude to God because He needs us to be aware of how much trouble He has gone to for us. Instead, we express gratitude as a reminder that all that gives life meaning, joy and delight comes as gift. All that we have in life is more than we could have ever imagined, created, or bargained for on our own. One of my favorite seminary professors used to ask, “Have you ever known anybody who exudes gratitude, who is at the same time, mean and miserly and greedy and takes pleasure in the pain of others?” Having the mindset of gratitude is crucial for expressing joy and contentment in life. That is why I suggested to that new parent, the importance of gratitude.
We are now entering into that season when we once again get to acknowledge our gratitude to God for the gift of Jamestown United Methodist Church. Our stewardship theme this year is God’s Gift of Generosity – Gratitude Beyond Stewardship. We will be looking at how a posture of gratitude can transform our lives. One of the primary ways we express our gratitude is by our giving to the church. You will have the opportunity to offer your 2026 Estimate of Giving during worship on October 26th. Please prayerfully consider completing the Estimate of Giving card below and bring it to worship on Sunday, October 26th. You may also return the card by mail or pledge online at https://qrco.de/pledge2025.
Thank you for giving to this church and ensuring that we remain financially strong and healthy in the days ahead. Most importantly, thank you for being part of the work of Jesus Christ in this community and beyond!
Grace and Peace,
