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Adult Discipleship

ADULT   DISCIPLESHIP 
           … the faith-forming journey

“Follow me and be my disciple,”  Jesus said … Matthew 9:9

What is Adult Discipleship?

As Christians we commit to live as disciples, following Jesus Christ on what I call the Way of Discipleship.  I teach and believe the most effective way of living as a disciple is by following The Great Commandments:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength … You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mk 12:30-31
 
As I read and study and meditate on this passage of Scripture, I find that Jesus has clearly told us the most important aspect of the spiritual life is LOVE!

The Way of Discipleship:
Loving God  We worship
Love Self  We study the Bible & Pray
Love Others  We serve in the Church & the World

Worship + 2 = Discipleship

A disciple is a learner.  As we learn and grow our faith is formed.  Faith Formation is the process of being shaped according to the image of Christ by the gracious working of the Holy Spirit for the sake of the world.  The Way of Discipleship is what we do (worship, study, and service) but faith formation is what God does within us as a result of our efforts. 
 
See you on “The Way!”

Cindy Serio 
Adult Discipleship Ministries

Scholarships are available for ALL learning opportunities.
PSALMS FOR SUMMER! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Cindy Serio   

Psalm 149:1-5, 9b
A New Song of Praise ...
Shout praises to the LORD!
Sing God a new song of praise when the loyal people meet.
People of Israel, rejoice because of your Creator.
People of Zion, celebrate because of your King.
Praise God by dancing!!!
play music on harps and tambourines.
The LORD is pleased with his people,
and he gives victory to those who are humble.
All of you faithful people, praise our glorious Lord!
Celebrate and worship.  Shout praises to the LORD!

Join us on Sunday Morning (SS hour)

    Fellowship Hall            10:00-10:45      Leaders Rotate each week
    Room 203 (Choir +)      9:45-10:30      Sharon Elliott & Marcia Wiseman

No, we aren’t giving dance lessons but we are learning a few new steps as we study “PSALMS FOR SUMMER!”   Won’t you join as we “dance” our way from June 13 through August 29 with new partners and old friends …

The Book of Psalms represents a rich tapestry of prayer and praise. Some psalms reflect a texture of deep despair, other glow with a deep peace in the Lord’s strength, still others bubble with an exuberant exaltation of the Most High God. They cover the range of human emotion and experience. What they all have in common is prayer, a reaching out to God from every imaginable experience.

In this study we’ll attempt to enter into the experience of the psalms. Yes, we’ll explore the meanings of words and learn to appreciate the high art of these poetic masterpieces. We will study thoughtfully, carefully. More than that, we will find out how to pray. We will know how to find peace in the midst of turmoil. We will learn to be thankful. We will begin to follow the pattern of the psalmists as we begin to praise. In short, with the psalms that we study as our guide, we will grow deeper in our walk with the Lord and more able to offer worthy praise to the King. We will experience the Psalms.
 
Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 May 2010 14:53 )
 
MOSAIC SPIRITUAL FORMATION MINISTRY PDF Print E-mail
Written by Web Team   

MOSAIC SPIRITUAL FORMATION MINISTRY is the new primary full-time appointment of Pastor Cindy Serio where she serves as Spiritual Director and Retreat Leader.  She will continue to serve Ashford UMC as Pastor of Spiritual Formation part-time.

Beginning January 26, 2010 her regular office hours will be on Tuesdays.  She is available for Spiritual Direction appointments outside of office hours for anyone in the community who is seeking a deeper relationship with God.  Call 832-330-3973.  

Visit the MOSAIC Spiritual Formation Ministry website and check out her blogs if you are interested. 

Visit imamosaic.blogspot.com for Pastor Cindy's personal reflections, mosaicbiblestudy.blogspot.com for a weekly bible study that follows the revised common lectionary.

Mosaic Bible Study follows the Gospel reading from the weekly Revised Common Lectionary.

What is the Lectionary?    The Lectionary is a series of scripture passages that are read throughout the year in a church service. I use a 3-year cycle Lectionary called The Revised Common Lectionary. Although there are passages that are not used in the Lectionary, it does take us on a comprehensive journey through Scripture. Although many people find the Lectionary restrictive, I find it keeps me focused on the entire scope of the Biblical message and challenges me to address passages I may not understand or agree with. This struggle helps us to grow!

Visit mosaicbiblestudy.blogspot.com
Last Updated ( Monday, 29 March 2010 23:44 )
 
Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Gift Assessment PDF Print E-mail
Written by Cindy Serio   

Are you looking for some direction in your spiritual life?  Do you have a feeling there just must be "something more" than what you are currently experiencing?  Would you like to explore what God is calling you to be and to do?

...two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus,
seven miles from Jerusalem.  As they walked along
they were talking about everything that had happened. 
s they talked and discussed these things,
Jesus himself suddenly can and
began walking with them ... Luke 24:13-15 (NLT)

A Spiritual Director is one who listens to, engages and accompanies a companion on her (or his) spiritual journey.  Spiritual Direction helps a person tell their sacred story and connect it to the larger story of God who creates and sustains life.

Spiritual direction exists in a context that emphasizes growing closer to God and invites a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Spiritual direction helps us learn how to live in peace, with compassion, promoting justice, as humble servants in the presence of God who exists beyond all we know and extends into the unknown.

Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy or counseling.

Cindy Serio studied spiritual direction at the Louisiana Academy for Spiritual Leadership and has been offering spiritual direction, retreats, and spiritual formation classes since 2002.  She will complete requirements for an MA in Spiritual Formation from Garrett-Evangelical Theological seminary in July 2008. 

If you would like more information about spiritual direction or would like to take a spiritual gifts assessment and discuss where you might serve God in the world through the use of the spiritual gifts God has given you, contact Cindy for an appointment via email at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call the church office.

An online Spiritual Gift Assessment can be found at http://www.umc.org/ under the “Our People” Heading

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 11:55 )
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