ABOUT US

OUR MISSION
Greenwood United Methodist Church celebrates being a people called by God. We affirm our United Methodist heritage, proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and help all live according to His teaching. We are led by the Holy Spirit to be a caring, loving family in mission to our community, nation and world.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PASTOR

Comfort Zone vs. Faith in Action
For many years my comfort zone was being with my parents, siblings, nephews and nieces and a few close friends. I could forget about all my responsibilities. I liked the feeling of going back to the good old days when we roamed around the countryside carefree and having fun. No heavy topics outside of family welfare, no heavy responsibility; just playing and enjoying each other's company. It didn't require much courage, imagination, nor discipline on my part but just be there as a decent member of the family. That way everyone feels safe and secure.

However, I have become restless while in the comfort zone where there is no active imagination, courage or character building opportunities. It is like being around a sunny swimming pool 24/7. While it is an ideal place to rest and recharge, especially after a challenging year, it just is a plain bore after a few days. 

A faith journey is similar. While we seek to be around the familiar faces and environments of a sunny poolside, we can't stay there too long. The sunny poolside can become a dangerous place after awhile as it requires no faith, no active participation outside of family circle. 

What happens when we live in a place where faith means nothing? Resignation: We become resigned to the world as it is, to injustice, to pain and despair. We cannot even begin to imagine the world as it could be, the world as God intends because the comfort zone eliminates the need for conviction, courage or imagination—some of the most wonderful gifts of the Spirit. I can't imagine a life without those gifts. As much as I love being with family, I can't imagine living the rest of my life as I lived it as a child—carefree and without conviction, courage, or imagination. Where are you in your faith journey? Are you in your own comfort zone devoid of the rich spiritual gifts God has showered you with? 

Faith in Action: Stepping into a congregational journey for worship, study, fellowship is an act of faith. Studying together the Word of God is an act of faith.  Coming together to learn to witness Christ  to encourage and inspire others is an act of faith. By definition, that makes it an act of conviction, of courage and of imagination. We cannot try to be a part of faith without those traits; we cannot get into a comfortable groove and witness the faith because a comfort zone is a place where faith is not needed. Our responsibility as faithful members of this community is not to resign ourselves to the world as it is and blend into it. The task given to us by our Lord is to imagine life as it could be, as it will be in the kingdom of God. We then attempt boldly to lay out that vision according to the Word and inspire others to act upon that vision as we ourselves are moved to act. That is faith in action. One of the things that happen from time to time is that we have to revise how our entire congregation sees the reality of the community in which we belong and serve. And that requires studying the less glamorous details such as numbers while deeply engaged in faith practice and spiritual discipline such as regular worship, daily devotionals and intentional faith development. 

As we enter Phase II of the Fruitful Congregation Journey (FCJ) we welcome an FCJ consultant who will join us the first weekend of March. He will lead us in taking a good look at ourselves as we are and as we want to be. I hope you will participate March 2-4, give your input, participate in the workshop and attend the Town Hall meeting to hear the FCJ consultant’s report at the end of the weekend.

Tucked into the nondescript section of our congregation, there's courage, imagination and trust in the make up of GUMC. Having recognized the danger of staying in our own comfort zone, we have begun this Fruitful Congregation Journey in order to return to the vibrant congregation overflowing with the conviction, courage, and imagination that active faith requires. 

Pastor In Suk Pastor In Suk Peebles

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Greenwood United Methodist Church
525 North Madison Avenue | Greenwood, Indiana
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Last updated: 6 February 2012