The Bigger Picture

Sometimes it’s easy to get so focused on our own lives, our own stuff, and even our own drama that we miss the bigger picture.  We are part of something larger than ourselves.  The same kind of self-focus is true for the church.  It’s easy to get so wrapped up in what God is doing in a single location and forget God’s work throughout our community, city, nation, and world.  You may not realize it, but as a United Methodist Church we are part of a larger network of churches (over 8 million people) throughout the world!  United Methodism is our brand, it’s the branch of the movement of Jesus Christ that we are a part of, and although there is a lot of diversity throughout the world when it comes to Methodism, it’s part of our bigger picture.  

Since Methodism shapes who we are, it’s important to know a few things about this network of churches.  For example, Did you know we are part of The West Ohio Conference of The United Methodist Church?  Geographically The West Ohio Conference makes up 58 of the 88 counties in Ohio; it includes Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, and Marietta, and incorporates nearly 1100 churches!  Within the West Ohio Conference there are 8 districts and we are a part of the Ohio River Valley District.   United Methodist churches in Hamilton, Warren, Clinton, Clermont, and Butler Counties come together to form the Ohio River Valley District.  We certainly are not alone in claiming our community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ!  

Since we are connected, it’s important to name and see this part of our bigger picture.  How do we see it?  Next weekend we will have the honor of meeting our new Assistant District Superintendent, Reverend Doug Johns. Rev. Johns will be preaching on Saturday Night, August 24th at 5:30pm and Sunday, August 25th at 9:30am & 11:00am.  It’s a great opportunity for us to welcome Rev. Johns and to catch a glimpse of our bigger picture! 

We are United Methodists.  It’s our brand, our movement, and our part of the larger body of Christ.  Church, that’s the whole picture- all of us together no matter what church we come from- we are all part of the body of Jesus Christ!  

Blessings, 

Pastor Rachel