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Teams. We operate our ministries as teams of people functioning together. We observe that Jesus gathered a "team" of followers and prepared them to carry out his ministry; they were as we are part of something bigger than themselves individually. We see the whole faith community as a team acting in their various work places, homes, and schools on behalf of the whole community. In smaller more specialized settings we create (more empower than create) focused action teams; some examples of these include our worship team, our shelter ministry team, and our sandwich-making team. Small Groups. We invite people to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus and with others. We believe this is best done in a small group setting where we can encourage one another and grow together. We all need to be challenged by other people's thoughts and by the Bible. NextSteps. NextSteps are the opportunities life presents us and we choose to take in order to move closer to Jesus. Everyone's NextSteps look different. For some, it may be as simple as coming to worship regularly if they don't already. For others it may be becoming part of a small group, singing with our worship team, reaching out to a neighbor, mentoring in a school. For some a NextStep is being baptised and becoming a more committed part of a faith community. For others it is as simple as opening up communication with God by praying. There are no end to NextSteps for us as long as we are alive; we can always go further, we can always find another way to express our faith. At Saint James we do not believe in "cookie cutter" NextSteps for everyone. Each individual seeks the appropriate NextStep for them. We try to help each other discover what that NextStep may be and empower one another to make those steps. We believe that every journey begins with one step... what's your NextStep? (see our going deeper section for some suggestions) Worship. Worship is connecting with God and celebrating God's presence with us every day of our lives. Worship is not a once-a-week event but a way of living. We believe in worshiping God with our whole heart every day wherever we find ourselves as well as gathering to worship God in Jesus together. We believe that connecting with Jesus means not being able to pinpoint when worship begins and ends because it is life, it is work, it is play, it is school, it is part of everything we are and seek to be. Prayer. We believe prayer is more than words said to God at various times of the day. We believe the life of prayer is one where nothing is envisioned or imagined outside of the relationship between us and God. Prayer is the foundation piece of our lives, the center out of which we act and think and are. Even more than prayer opens the door to talk with God, prayer opens the door to transform us who pray. Prayer is the fabric of living. |
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Saint James United Methodist Church
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