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The Missouri Methodists February 2022

The Missouri Methodists February 2022

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News and Updates

Dispelling the Darkness in an Empire Strikes Back World

January 25, 2022

Dispelling the Darkness in an Empire Strikes Back World

Several years ago in my last pastoral appointment, I offered a sermon series called “Summer at the Movies.” One summer, I decided to preach through the Book of Romans, using illustrations from the six original Star Wars movies. I found it fascinating to discover examples that related to ...

Preparing to Plant

January 25, 2022

Being bombarded with unexpected unknowns about the future can result in anxiety that leads to paralysis. It can also provide a time of pause for some intensive planning around how to move forward.  The Missouri Conference Planting Academy started in 2018, with all participants sharing a ...

Talking About Faith and Race

January 25, 2022

Talking About Faith and Race

From the earliest days of Methodism, groups have provided the context for faith formation. For much of our history, those groups have met in person. North Cross Director of Adult Ministry, Stephanie Mutert, expected to continue in that vein when she joined the staff in late 2019. The ...

Welcome to The Well

January 25, 2022

Welcome to The Well

Rev. Danny Lybarger is still at the bar, but this time it’s more than a ministry – it’s a church.  Lybarger came to Missouri to be pastor of The Gathering’s Bar Church in St. Louis. His next step in ministry was an appointment as associate pastor at Church of the Shepherd in St. Charles,...

Laity Voices

Tough Conversations

January 25, 2022

Tough Conversations

In life, each of us are faced with tough conversations or conflict. Whether real or perceived, these conversations have the power to transform, hurt or heal. I’m going to assume that your hope is to always achieve the latter, but since outcomes don’t always go the way we intend, let’s ...

Music Matters

Singing Through Adversity

January 25, 2022

Singing Through Adversity

As a musician and retired choral music instructor, I thought I knew what it meant to “sing from the heart.” When you are unable to sing, for whatever reason, you have a new perspective. In the past years with COVID-19 protocols and several deaths within our choir, it has been difficult to ...

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