Nurturing Ministries

People need a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community. "Nurture" identifies the need for Christians to be nurtured in the Christian faith if they are to cultivate the spiritual resources necessary to provide effective outreach and witness ministries. Nurture and fellowship focus largely on the internal needs of our congregation and prepare us for ministry outside the congregation within the context of our community and world. SPUMC Nurture Ministries include:

• Alpha Bible Study
• Disciple Bible Study
• Companions in Christ
• Helping Hands
• Methodist Arc
• The Walk to Emmaus

Alpha Bible Study

Alpha is an internationally acclaimed Bible Study that explores the core questions of our lives and faith. We will meet for 10 weeks beginning February 17 (we'll break for Easter) on Sunday evenings from 5:00-7:30. Each week Alpha includes a fellowship dinner, worship music, an engaging video presentation, and small group discussion. Alpha is perfect for anyone who is open to considering Christianity, anyone new to the faith, anyone who wants to solidify the foundations of their faith, or anyone who just wants to get back to the basics. This will be an awesome time of growing in friendship and in faith. Don't miss it! We will provide childcare for kids nursery age through high school. For more information contact Ginny Sutton: gsutton@ncseniorcitizens.org or Cleve May: cleve_may@yahoo.com.

Disciple Bible Studies

Disciple I is a 34-week study which provides an overview of the entire Bible. What a great way to strengthen your faith as you study scripture in a small group setting. Participants complete daily assignments, and then meet weekly for 2-1/2 hours to view a video and discuss the material. Contact the church office for more information. Or visit the website: http://www.cokesbury.com/curriculum.aspx and click on Disciple on the menu.

Companions in Christ

Beginning Companions is a 28-week faith experience that explores the following themes: Christian journey, scripture, prayer, call, and spiritual guidance. Members carry out daily exercises which illumine the theme and prepare them for the weekly two-hour meeting where they will share their experiences and continue to explore the week's theme The Way of Forgiveness is an eight-week exploration of the forgiven and forgiving life. This study keeps God's grace and our blessedness before us, as we examine shame, guilt and anger, and then turn to forgiveness and reconciliation. You do not have to complete the beginning companions study to participate in this study. The Way of Blessing is a nine-week opportunity to discover and live in the kingdom of God. Each week is an exploration of one of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5. Participants are guided along a path that offers clarity to our way of life and encouragement to live our life in God's reign. You do not have to complete the beginning companions study to participate in this study. For more information on any of the Companions studies, contact the church office, or visit the Companions website at http://www.upperroom.org/companions.

Helping Hands

Helping Hands members volunteer to be called on to take meals to member families who are going through sickness or where there has been a death. This ministry also regularly sends greeting cards to members who are going through times of special need. Contact the church office for more information on this vital ministry.

Methodist ARC

The purpose of the Methodist ARC is to teach the love of Jesus through song, story, and fellowship to mentally challenged adults. Recognizing that each of us has been given unique talents and abilities, the program emphasizes respect for these differences and offers opportunities to participate to the extent each feels comfortable. This is a joyful and enthusiastic group that reflects God's love in its purest form. Please contact the church office for more information and the schedule.

The Walk to Emmaus

The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The program's approach seriously considers the model of Christ's servanthood and encourages Christ's disciples to act in ways appropriate to being "a servant of all." The Walk to Emmaus experience begins with a 72-hour short course in Christianity, comprised of fifteen talks by lay and clergy on the themes of God's grace, disciplines of Christian discipleship, and what it means to be the church. The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation, special times of worship and daily celebration of Holy Communion. The "Emmaus community," made up of those who have attended an Emmaus weekend, support the 72-hour experience with a prayer vigil, by preparing and serving meals, and other acts of love and self-giving. The Emmaus Walk typically begins Thursday evening and concludes Sunday evening. Men and women attend separate weekends. During and after the three days, Emmaus leaders encourage participants to meet regularly in small groups. The members of the small groups challenge and support one another in faithful living. Participants seek to Christianize their environments of family, job, and community through the ministry of their congregations. The three-day Emmaus experience and follow-up groups strengthen and renew Christian people as disciples of Jesus Christ and as active members of the body of Christ in mission to the world. The Upper Room, a ministry unit of the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, sponsors the Walk to Emmaus and offers it through local Emmaus groups around the world. Although connected through The Upper Room to The United Methodist Church, The Walk to Emmaus is ecumenical. For more information about Emmaus visit their website at: http://www.upperroom.org/emmaus. For information about the local Emmaus Community, contact the church office.