I bring greetings from Pam and our family. It was 16 years ago this weekend that our daughter Stephanie was born and her birth celebrated by you our family of faith here at Cicero UMC.

I also bring greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus from Bishop Violet Fisher, resident bishop of the New York West Area of the UMC. We are one of over 400 UM Churches in the North Central NY Annual Conference. Over 70,000 Saint in these churches are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I want to extend special greetings to your pastor, Rev. Everett Bassett. Rev. Bassett is a gifted leader here and he shares his passion for the church through his work with the Board of Ordained Ministry, and leadership in Congregational Development. I extend appreciation also for Sharon Bassett. She is a special person who has led the annual conference during this time of transition in her position as Lay Leader of the conference and Chair of the Council. Sharon is a gifted, spiritual Child of God. Thank you, both.

Good Morning,
You are people who believe in God as the source of love and of life.
The Bible starts; “In the beginning God”

“In the beginning God…” I believe that. How is a mystery to me. But I believe that God is a creating and loving God. There are many mysteries about God and God’s power in the world.

God is not only the first principle, God is unchanging.
God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

This Church has a wonderful and long witness to Cicero and the world.
Those who have gone before have left a fine, strong ministry on which you can build.

Mark 1:29-39
Christ is clear about his mission – to proclaim the message.
His words and actions model the Mission of the UMC.
To make disciples for Christ and to transform the world.

We really are a fellowship – a group of people who dedicate our lives to God through Jesus Christ.  We worship together, study together, look at the early church in Acts 2. Unity is in Christ.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common.

It is a more excellent way -
The way of Christian Unity in the church –

The Christian Growth Center is a fine example of bringing people together.
Children, Youth and Adults build strong Christian lives through study, fellowship, and service through this building. Sure the growth and need has already outpaced the vision of just a few years ago. That’s why it is so important to make the Miracle Sunday a success; and to surpass the goal. It is vital to families and individuals. This congregation is a strong witness for Christ in this community. This Christian community knows this geography. You have studied the population, the families, and the young people. You have discerned a mission for this time and place. Each Christian church will seek the leading of God for the unique time and place. God always puts the right people with the necessary gifts in each place. God is good and will not call us to a task without providing the resources that are needed.

We are called by God to use the resources for the common work of the church. None can hide their gift, skill, talent – or checkbook. God has put each one here for a purpose.

The more excellent way that God has laid out is the way of LOVE.

Chapter 13 is so gentle and powerful – did you know it was set up by the end of I Corinthians 12? Let me show you a more excellent way - -
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

That may speak to every one of us today –
Stress at work, at home –
With a friend, spouse, or child
Depression, or illness
Unsure about life - Hang onto God, and God’s love.

This United Methodist Church stands in a long life of faith in Jesus Christ.
We trace our beginning as a denomination to our founder – John Wesley in the 1700’s in England. His witness, method for spiritual formation, passion for spreading the gospel, and heart for the transforming of the world remain vital to our vision for Christian life today.

A recent and ongoing example is the response of the UMC to the hurricane in the Gulf Coast region.

Let me share briefly:
A VIM team of our conference reports, ‘they were awed by the resilience of the people (of the Gulf Coast) and their faith. They are also overwhelmed by the amount of work to be done.’

The team reports that ‘UMCOR has been amazing with the help they have given and continue to give. Health kits have been the best gift anyone could give in the early days. They were awed by the response by so many churches who have sent truckloads of material, money, and work teams and by the mission mindset of so many churches.’

Rev. Roy Pearson of the Mississippi Annual Conference said: “I don’t believe I could do it without the connection. I know I can rely on people from all over the nation. The majority of help we’ve received in this area has been from United Methodist Churches.”


The UMC is a strong witness to Jesus Christ across the US and around the world.
Africa University is another example. You have been involved in support of Africa University.  A recent press release reports the exciting news. “An anonymous $10.5 million gift to United Methodist-related Africa University has increased the school's endowment and will fund more capital projects."

The gift to the 14-year-old institution in Mutare, Zimbabwe, is the result of proceeds from the November sale of an Illinois farm.

A couple with a love for Africa and the United Methodist Church, but wanting to remain anonymous, donated the 320-acre farm. It was their second major gift to Africa University.

"This gift reminds us of all that we receive from God, especially as we remember Christ's birth and how he has changed the world," said James Salley, the university's vice chancellor for institutional advancement. "Africa University is a jewel in a country and region that is struggling to survive. Our students, faculty and staff are moving forward in the face of serious challenges."

Nearly three-quarters of the gift will go into the university's permanent endowment fund, which supports scholarships and other needs. The donation increases the fund to $36.2 million. The remainder will be used for capital projects.

"This was an extraordinarily generous gift of real estate," Salley said. The land was valued at about $2.7 million when it was donated to the university three years ago. Following the advice of investment counselors, university officials let the value increase more than fourfold before selling it, he noted. The original gift was the largest single donation in the institution's history.

Locally we have a mission on the South Side – at Brown Memorial UMC, and a church on the Onondaga Nation and in partnership with Onondaga Co. a Senior Adult program. These are ministries that you do. The North Central New York Conference literally is you. There really is no one else – only Christians from the 420 churches working together – sharing their talents and gifts for God’s sake.

That is our call – the call of our Lord Jesus to make disciples and to transform the world. It is our mission; it gives us purpose and momentum. Yes, it keeps us going. Let us love one another – it is the more excellent way. It is God’s Way.

Let us pray.

Lord, thank you for the witness of this church and each of these Saints gathered here.

Lord, I pray that you will touch everyone here today with your love. May your power move through each person – healing the mind, body and soul.

Lord, I pray for this time of financial stewardship. May it be wildly successful and bring great glory to you.

And Lord, as we come to your holy table of communion, may we commit ourselves anew to your way of love for all our sisters and brothers. May we indeed promise to live your more excellent way.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.