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January 19, 2025 – A Year with Jesus: Jesus’ Early Years: The Beloved Son Revealed

“Jesus’ Early Years: The Beloved Son Revealed” (Luke 3: 1-6, 21-22) focuses on the moment when God reveals Jesus as His Beloved Son. As the Holy Spirit descends, we are reminded that we, too, are loved and chosen by God. Explore how this divine revelation shapes our understanding of God’s love and our identity in Christ.
Good News Statement: God reveals Jesus as His Beloved Son so that we may know we are also loved and chosen by God.

January 12, 2025 – A Year with Jesus: Jesus’ Early Years: Lost and Found

“Jesus’ Early Years: Lost and Found” (Luke 2:41-52) reminds us that Jesus is never lost, even when we can’t find Him. God ensures Jesus is always within reach so that we may discover we are never lost but on journey of learning and growth in grace.
Good News Statement: God ensures Jesus is always within reach so that we may discover we are never lost but on journey of learning and growth in grace.

January 5, 2025 – A Year with Jesus: Jesus’ Early Years: Crowned King of Kings

“Jesus’ Early Years: Crowned King” (Matthew 2:1-12) celebrates the revelation of Jesus as King of Kings. God reveals Jesus as King so that people of all nations may be drawn into God’s redeeming love. Reflect on the visit of the Magi and the universal call to recognize and worship Christ the King.

Click here to find the December 29 Shared Worship Service on Batavia UMC’s YouTube page.

December 24, 2024 4pm Cheerful Candlelight Christmas

December 22, 2024 – Preparing our Hearts for Jesus: Mary’s Song: A Response of Love and Faith

“Mary’s Song: A Response of Love and Faith” (Luke 1:26-38, 46-56) explores how God chooses us as an act of love to bring about His redemptive purposes in the world. Reflect on the Annunciation and how Mary’s story invites us to embrace our role in God’s ongoing work of salvation.
Good News Statement: God chooses us as an act of love to bring about God’s redemptive purposes in the world.

December 15, 2024 – Preparing our Hearts for Jesus: Cantata: Myrrh From The Forest

December 8, 2024 – Preparing our Hearts for Jesus: Preparing the Way: John the Baptist’s Call to Peace

“Preparing the Way: John the Baptist’s Call to Peace” (Luke 1:57-80) highlights how God prepares the way through John’s message of peace so that we may be ready for the coming of Christ. Discover how John’s prophetic role calls us to embrace the peace that Christ brings into our lives today.
Good News Statement: God prepares the way through John’s message of peace so that we may be ready for coming of Christ.

December 1, 2024 – Preparing our Hearts for Jesus: Hope Through the Ages: Jesus’ Genealogy Unveiled

“Hope Through the Ages: Jesus’ Genealogy Unveiled” (Matthew 1:1-17) explores how Jesus connects us to the promises of the past so that we can live with hope for the future. Discover the significance of Christ’s lineage and how it empowers us to trust in God’s ongoing work in our lives today.
Good News Statement: Jesus connects us to the promises of the past so that we can live with hope for the future.

November 24, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: When Friends Blow It

Even a good friend will make a mistake. Jesus’ friend Peter had a propensity to blow it -a lot- and with much heartache. Jesus shows us how friendships can be restored. Join us this Sunday as we conclude this series on what the Bible shows us about friendship.

November 17, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: When Friends Betray Us

Sometimes, without even knowing why, a good friend will betray us. Jesus was betrayed with kiss by his friend Judas and unfortunately, we don’t see them ever having the chance to reconcile. Join us this Sunday as we find hope to give ourselves to others when we experience betrayal.

November 10, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Can We Still Be Friends?

No matter the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election, there is a good chance good friendships could be broken. Of course, politics aren’t the only things that divide friends. Paul and Barnabas were once good friends, partners even, and eventually they had to go their sperate ways. Join us this Sunday as we see how God redeems broken friendships.

November 3, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: What Happens When Friends Die?

Earlier in this series we explored the friendship between Jonathan and David, one of the closest friendships in the Bible. Now David loses his best friend in battle and it nearly wrecks him. Join us for this All-Saints Sunday where we will see how God sustains us in our grief.

October 27, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

For as much as we want to be independent and self-sufficient, sometimes we need help. In fact, there are times we wouldn’t make it without people to carry us. The Beatles sing the truth of this in their famous hit, but Jesus shows us the power of the faith of our friends in this sermon.

October 20, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Praying Friends

Daniel was between a rock and a hard place. Desperate, he turned to his friends and asked them to pray for him. God heard the prayers of his friends. From this story we learn the power of praying friends. Join us as we visit with Daniel before the lion’s den and learn how to be praying friends.

October 13, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Best Friends Forever

The friendship shared between David and Jonathan is enviable. They became very close, very fast. It is a friendship that lasted all their days. It was like God made them for each other and as a result they were bound together by a covenant. Join us this Sunday as we examine one of the most intimate friendships in the Bible.

October 6, 2024 – You’ve Got a Friend in Me: Fierce Friends

Ruth and Naomi’s relationship began as in-laws. But a shared tragedy forged them into fierce friendship who clung together through thick and thin the rest of their lives, just as God clings to us through the thick and thin in our lives. Join us as we open this series on friendship.

September 29, 2024 – Happy Anniversary: Bishop Dan Schwerin

Bishop Dan Schwerin Preaching. Our Director of Music Scott Stevenson’s new arrangement of “What Gift Can We Bring” was written especially for this occasion. It will feature our Chancel Choir, Sanctuary Ringers and Howard Clark III on organ, with Stevenson conducting. The hymn was originally written in 1980 by Jane Marshall for the 25th anniversary of her home church in Dallas.

An Evening of Homecoming & History – Friday, September 27

We will be joined by clergy and staff that have served United Methodist Church of Geneva over the years! It will be a fun homecoming and reunion!

Update: We will be joined by Bill & Kay Obalil, Jenny Weber, Steve Good, and family members of Larry Hilkemann.

At 6pm we will have a special program that will include a a history snapshot of the church, recognition of church members and clergy and a proclamation from Mayor Kevin Burns. This program will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in-person. You will find the service on our Online Worship Page.

Throughout the building we will have a history exhibit that celebrates many areas of our ministry with displays and videos for people to check out.

September 22, 2024 – Happy Anniversary: Million Dollar Foundations

Much of our history focuses on the various building projects over the years, just like we read in Ezra. But the church is not just about foundations and walls. What about the time we raised a million dollars for missions & built another church in Lithuania? Can that show us that we’re more than million-dollar foundations? Find out this Sunday.

September 15, 2024 – Happy Anniversary: For Such a Time As This

In 1874, Methodists dedicated the stone church that is now our Fellowship Hall. But by 1877 the church defaulted and was sold by the Sheriff. But God prepared a few people, like in the days of Esther, for such as time to redeem the building thanks to the hard work of the Congregation. How is God preparing us to work hard for an even brighter future?

September 9, 2024 – Happy Anniversary: Where Two or Three are Gathered

In 1837, Geneva received its first circuit rider. By 1839, the first Methodist class meeting formed with just three people. By 1850, there were 88 members. With just two or three people the Spirit brings the message of Jesus to our communities. Jesus is still calling us to illumine our communities with his grace. Join in our anniversary celebration series.

September 1, 2024 – Holy Moments: Hope in Tough Times

Holy Moments are not always happy times. We all have moments when we are lonely, sick, worried, or deeply sad. Many struggle with chronic conditions or situations. Join us Sunday as we delve into the way liturgies can help us get through our times of suffering and sorrow, and give us hope.

August 25, 2024 – Holy Moments: When We’re Not at Our Best

Despite our best efforts, sometime we mess up. Is God’s present when we are not at our best? Join us for inviting God into the moments when we are not at our best.

August 18, 2024 – Holy Moments: Returning to Routine

Summer can be a time where we take more leisure and enjoy the longer days. With the start of school, often comes the return to routine. Join us as we find ways to deepen our spiritual lives amidst our routine.

August 11, 2024 – Holy Moments: Recreation & Celebrations

God is not in the past nor in the future. God is in every moment under the sun. Join us as we explore how we can be present with God in our moments of recreation and celebration.

August 4, 2024 – Holy Moments: Daily Habits and Routines

What’s your daily routine? Have you ever thought about how habits form us? Join us Sunday as we take a look at how what we choose to do first shapes our day, and how everything from our morning coffee to tasks like washing dishes, doing yard work, and how we end our day shapes our spirituality.

July 28, 2024 – Holy Moments: Blessings and Grace

Holy Moments happen all the time. In this late summer series, we’ll learn liturgies for many of our everyday holy moments and habits. This Sunday, come explore with us our habits upon waking in the morning, and saying grace at mealtime.

July 21, 2024 – ASP Sunday

Join us as we hear from our teens and adults of how they illumined Charleston, West Virginia with acts of service with Appalachia Service Project. We’ll hear some great testimonials and sing some of the songs of the region.

July 14, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: Have Mercy

Have you ever gotten ready to leave on a road trip, all buckled in, car in gear and you must stop and go back to care for something? We’re not alone. That even happened to Jesus. Join us for this story of Jesus as he was delayed for a merciful purpose, and it changed a person’s life in more ways than one as we conclude the series, Tell Me The Stories of Jesus.

July 7, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: Help!

When in desperate situations it’s natural to call out for help even as we’re assessing the situation. We can quickly realize we need people, skills, and resources to help us out of our situation. This story of Jesus finds one panicked dad needing help and Jesus providing it as only Jesus can. Join us this Sunday for a story about asking for help.

June 30, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: Understanding the Assignment

This story of the healing of a deaf person demonstrates Jesus’ need for a PR firm. He’s terrible at marketing! He’s been going around instructing people to not tell the stories about him and yet, they do it anyway! Thank God they did otherwise we wouldn’t have these stories today. Join us for another story of Jesus that might make us terrible secret keepers too.

June 23, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: Don’t Bother

Sometimes when we’re around so called ‘important people’ our needs can seem insignificant or bothersome to them, so we debate whether to even name them. In this Sunday’s story of Jesus, we learn that nothing is insignificant to Jesus and he’s graciously waiting for us to come to him. Join us this Sunday as we see that our needs are no bother at all.

June 16, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: Storms of Life Are Raging

One doesn’t have to be on a boat to become sea-sick from everything that gets tossed our way day-in and day-out. It doesn’t take much to get scared, overwhelmed, or feel powerless. Turning to Jesus amid the storms of life can make all the difference. Join us as we hear the story of Jesus calming storms and sea.

June 9, 2024 – Tell Me Stories of Jesus: The Story Begins

Mark’s gospel wastes little time with back story. Mark launches right out of the gate with Jesus’ powerful message and miraculous deeds. Jesus goes from small-town preacher to billboard chart-topper in just the first chapter. Perhaps that’s because what Jesus has to say changes everything. Join us as we begin exploring the stories of Jesus.

June 2, 2024 – If Jesus Spoke at Graduation

Jesus teaches us to not worry about basic needs, but to prioritize seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. It challenges cultural norms of success and happiness, urging reevaluations of life’s priorities. The emphasis is on a life focused on justice, love, and peace over material pursuits.

May 26, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Laity

Until modern history, Methodist have been a lay-led movement. Laity are still the backbone of every Methodist Church. Join us as we hear from some of our laity on what makes a Methodist.

May 19, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Unity

Christians, including our own tribe of the faith, have suffered many divisions on important matters of faith. On what basis do Methodist seek Christian Unity for the sake of outreach and mission? Join us as we seek universal – or Catholic- spirit common to all who love God in Christ.

May 12, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Transformation

Methodists believe that the restoration and perfecting of all is broken by sin is already underway. So, we are empowered by The Holy Spirit to not only experience transformed lives but to live in ways that transform the world. Join us as we look at the Social Holiness movement including our newly updated Social Principles.

May 5, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Means of Grace

Participating in the means of grace – tangible ways that God’s love is conveyed to people – is an important ingredient in making a Methodist. Our sacraments of Communion and Baptism are the primary means of grace instituted by Jesus. There are others, including confirmation, as we will see in this sermon focusing on Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

April 28, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Music

The Methodist Movement swept across Britain & America because they not only met people’s physical & social needs and Methodists made the gospel accessible to the average person who did not read. The Wesley’s wrote hymns to teach the old, old, story of Jesus & his love to as many people who would receive it. Join us as we explore (and sing) a few Wesleyan hymns. 

April 21, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Stewardship

Methodists believe that all that we have – people, resources, our planet- are all gifts from God. We have a responsibility to use and share these gifts in ways that reflect God’s abundant grace. Join us as we explore how to gain, save, and give all that we can following our method of stewardship.

April 14, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Behavior

From the beginning Methodists were driven by personal & social renewal. This wasn’t just some band of activists sweeping the country, they were a group of people committed to personal & social holiness via a set of General Rules for living so that God could transform their lives & our world. Join us as we see how we gotta ‘walk the walk’ when making a Methodist.

April 7, 2024 – Making a Methodist: Methodical Thinking

We believe the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience and confirmed by reason. This method of thinking and interpreting scriptures is not prescribed in the Bible, but Jesus uses this rubric in his ministry. Join us as we explore our distinctive theological emphasis to the Christian faith.