“Spiritual disciplines” are things we do to stay in love with God and grow in faith. They can be things we do alone or together; they can be ways to spend time with God or to serve others. As the people of Sylva First UMC share one of their spiritual disciplines with you each week, we hope it will inspire you to new ways of loving God and growing in faith.
“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve… You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
Sometime after his murder in 1968, I read this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is one of the most powerful statements I have ever read, or wanted to live. My parents lived lives of service to their family, church, community, and nation so I had good examples to follow. But, Dr. King’s statement brought it home with an impact unlike any other.
You may know me as drummer girl, also known as, Connie Stiles. My search for a church home for me and my two boys, Conner and Tucker, ended at FUMC-Sylva quite a few years ago when I was invited to play drums for the praise band. The loving atmosphere was unequivocal to any church we’d attended before, and being a member has helped me fulfill the desire to be of service. Introducing my partner, Kellie Robinson, to our church was one of the first things that we enjoyed together.
The spiritual discipline of service is giving of one’s time, talents, and/or resources. I appreciate the opportunity to encourage everyone to be of service in every part of life. It is one way to demonstrate the impact Jesus Christ has made on our lives when we show that same love and grace to the world around us.
