10/09/2026
๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐
๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ - "๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐"
(based on ๐ท๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฆ by Tom Berlin)
If you know anything about the hit musical, ๐๐๐๐๐๐, you know that there is a ground-breaking anthem of sorts at the end of the first act sung by the shows main character, Elphaba...better known as the Wicked Witch of the West from ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ง. In this song, Elphaba, who has spent her whole life being ridiculed because she is green, being almost forced into being wicked, sings about the chance to fly because of her newfound magical powers. But at the same time, the song is an analogy for her desire to break free from that which has been holding her back - the shame and scorn of others which has kept her down.
We too are held down by things which hold ๐ข๐ back...just like gravity. That is, we limit ourselves to the possibilities which God has for us - in ministry...in our personal lives...in our faith journey. Maybe we don't even realize we are doing it, but we are scared to take that risk and "defy gravity," opting instead to limit ourselves and in turn, limit God.
As we enter stewardship season, we need to be reminded that with God there are no limits. Nothing should hold us back from being who we are called to be. Even more, we can't be strapped to the culture of "more," which in turn inhibits us from using our time, talents, resources, and energy for ministry. Instead, we need to break free from that culture and "defy gravity." We need to be willing to let go of what is holding us back and turn our attention to the possibilities God has in front of us...with no limits. And that means breaking through from the culture of more! For if we do this, we can be set free to journey to new places...to love God, love others, and serve the world!
For the next several weeks, this is going to be our focus as we enter into stewardship season and begin to pray about what time, talents, energy, and resources we are going to give to God and the Church in the next year. Based on United Methodist Bishop Tom Berlin's ๐ท๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ฆ: ๐ต๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ถ๐ข๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, we will explore what it means to let go of what is holding us back and instead be unleashed for the journey to new places. Throughout these weeks, we will also hear from people in our church and their journey, as well as how the church has impacted that journey, where our journey is currently, and hopes for the journey ahead as Jefferson UMC. And at the end of our series, we will have the chance to commit to God what it is we are going to give in the coming year as we journey forward. Join us for these exciting weeks as we defy gravity!!!
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
Proverbs 3:13-18, Matthew 19:16-26
"Discovering Gravity"
Stewardship Moment: "My Journey"
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
Philippians 2:3-8, Luke 15:11-32
"Breaking Free"
Stewardship Moment: "Our Journey Thus Far"
๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
PASTOR JEREMY IS OFF
Guest Preacher: Michelle Hockran
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐, ๐๐๐๐ - ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Joshua 3:7-17
"The Covenantal Journey"
Remembrance of the Saints
Celebration of Holy Communion
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐, ๐๐๐๐
Matthew 6:24, 1 Timothy 6:17-19
"Tethered to God"
Stewardship Moment: Our Current Journey
๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 9:23-27; Genesis 41:46-49, 53-57
"When We Get It Right"
Stewardship Moment: The Journey Unleashed
Dedication of Commitments for the Coming Year
