• Do no harm.

• Do good. Consider the needs of others more than your own.

• Stay in love of God. Do this through the means of grace - such as weekly worship and, small group meetings, prayer, study of Scripture, and growing toward or beyond tithing.

This seems pretty simple, and pretty biblical, doesn’t it? Like all things that seem simple, we find ourselves making them more complicated by asking how, when, why, how much money, and on and on. What if this Advent season we made the commitment to work toward keeping simple things simple, appreciating the many gifts that God gives us, and praying a prayer like this one each day:

Loving God, help me this day to do no harm to others, and to your creation. Inspire me to do good throughout my day. Put it upon my heart to consider the needs of others more than my own. Draw me ever closer to you as I commit to devote myself to you through prayer, worship and giving. Help me to have a truly thankful spirit, as I seek to share with others your good news of love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

At the convocation, we were blessed to be surrounded by the changing colors of trees that surround the beauty of Lake Junaluska. We were further blessed by the opportunity to be with passionate, focused leaders of our United Methodist Church. We were encouraged to learn to ask key, thought-provoking questions, as we together work to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. I am grateful for the chance to be in such surroundings. I give God great thanks for you, and pray that the seasons of Thanksgiving and Advent may find you simply drawing closer to a God who loves you dearly.

Blessings,
Sharon

P.S. Bishop Robert Schnase, author of Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, was one of the Convocation speakers. This book was lifted up at our recent Central East District Annual Meeting. The Five Practices are: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. A study guide, blog, bookshelf, stories and other resources are available at fivepractices.org