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Before 2013 becomes consumed by busy-ness, distractions and anxiety, Myers Park United Methodist Church is offering the community a different way to approach the year.
In January and February, the church will present “Praxis: Think Like Jesus, Live Our Faith,” a series about how to apply essential Christian beliefs to everyday life.
The series will feature discussions between local pastors, email reflections, a Sunday morning emphasis on the same themes and ideas for practicing what the series is teaching.
The goal is to help people live their faith lives differently.
“Dabblers in faith miss out on the deep meanings, sense of purpose, the comfort, the great delights and ability to cope in a crisis that can be had when the life of faith is taken seriously and is a comprehensive undergirding in all life in the real world,” the Rev. James Howell, senior pastor at Myers Park United Methodist, wrote in an email.
Howell wrote that the idea for the series came from focus groups and “feelers” church leaders put out in the congregation.
“We realized people wanted this sort of thing,” Howell wrote.
The Rev. George Ragsdale, the church’s minister of discipleship, came up with the series title. “Praxis” means translating an idea into practice.
In February, Howell will host evangelist Leighton Ford, who lives in Charlotte, as one of the guest speakers.
Howell also will carry through the theme of the series in emails he sends out and in Myers Park UMC’s Sunday services, where he’ll offer practical advice for living out faith, such as what to think during mundane events such as sitting at a stoplight, or tangible ideas like hanging a tag in the shower with a prayer printed on it.
Sunday worship at MPUMC also will emphasize the Apostles’ Creed, a statement of Christian belief some scholars believe was written almost 1,300 years ago. The Apostle’s Creed is used in many Christian denominations.
Howell’s discussions are free and open to the public, and child care is available.
Videos highlighting the importance of putting faith into practice will be posted at the church’s website: www.mpumc.org.
To join Howell’s email list, contact him at james@mpumc.org.
