Gratitude Devotionals 2026
Welcome & Introduction
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Throughout September and into October, our church family will be reflecting upon the many blessings God provides for us every moment and be invited to respond to those blessings with gratitude. This time prepares each of us to examine our lives and at the end, on October 4, respond by handing in an Estimate of Giving card which will be used to develop the 2027 budget, but even more importantly be a witness of our response to support the Kingdom of God as revealed through FUMC.
This publication is filled with daily devotions based around the theme of Gratitude, all written by members of our own congregation. We hope that we will each read, reflect, and pray over these devotions, then give thanks for the persons who wrote them and for God’s work in us as well.
We also invite everyone to KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL (from September 1 - October 4). It’s a simple practice that can be done on paper, on a computer, even on your phone or tablet. At the end of each day, write down three things for which you are thankful. Even better, encourage your children and each other also to write down three things for which they are thankful each day. In doing so, God has a way of changing our perspectives, because we begin to see where God is at work and where life is good. In a world where there is so much negativity, this simple practice can literally change our lives.
Our challenge is to do this, then as you feel so led, feel free to share with Pastor Tim, Pastor Emilee, fellow parishioners, friends, or even strangers what this experience was like for you and/or for your children. This in and of itself can become an expression of gratitude that invites others to live and think in the same way, thus making way for the Spirit to touch the lives of those around us
When we are intentional to write down our many blessings from God, we will find that it has a positive effect on our daily life and our attitudes. And we might just see Jesus at work in us or through us in ways we might never have seen before.
We pray that this stewardship effort will be filled with many blessings, the greatest of which is that God would unite us as a congregation to become truly “cheerful givers,” who give our time, talent, and treasure out of the gratitude of our hearts.
We look forward to hearing what God lays on our hearts and how God is calling us to respond to do the work Christ sets before us!
Pastor Tim -Lead Pastor Pastor Emilee -Associate Pastor Janet Hedrick -Team Lead, Generosity
PDF DOWNLOAD
WEEK 1
September 1, 2026 – Janet Hedrick
Scripture: Psalm 118: 29 – Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever.
Devotion: At a District Lay Ministry Workshop, each person was asked to name something for which they were grateful to God. Many spoke from the heart, but one participant said he was not grateful for where he was in life because he had worked hard to get there. His words reminded me how easy it can be to overlook God’s hand in our lives.
I am grateful because every ability, opportunity, and blessing comes from God. Stewardship is one way I return a portion of what God has entrusted to me, offering it not out of obligation, but with a thankful heart.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for every gift you have placed in our lives. Open our hearts to give with gratitude, remembering that all we have comes from your love and care. Amen.
September 2, 2026 – Chris Silkensen
Scripture: Colossians 2:7
Let your roots grown down into him, let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Devotion
We were married in June of 1971, and the roots of our marriage started! We built our lives around our three boys. As we grew older our faith grew and even when we didn’t plan it God lead us in the right direction. As we look back God’s plan is very evident in every detail. We have been very blessed by his love, and we are so grateful for all that he has given us by his mercy. With much gratitude we share our finances, time and love with our church and our community!
Prayer: May God continue to bless our marriage and our family as we continue to grow in our faith!
September 3, 2026 by Liz Lane
Scripture: Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
Devotion
For much of my life, I have felt a deep desire to "pay back" or "pay it forward" for my many God-given gifts. Of course, I know that God's grace cannot be earned or repaid. The blessings of life, faith, family, opportunities, and abilities are gifts freely given. Yet gratitude creates within me a longing to respond.
When I reflect on God's goodness, I realize that stewardship is about much more than financial contributions. It is about how I use everything God has entrusted to me. The talents I've been given, the experiences that have shaped me, the time available to me, the encouragement I can offer others, and the resources I possess are all opportunities to express gratitude.
Paul writes that we are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and to be thankful. Thankfulness is not simply a feeling; it becomes a way of living. For me, that has often meant sharing my gifts as broadly and as often as possible. Whether mentoring someone, volunteering, offering leadership, listening to a friend, or using my skills to serve the church and community, I find joy in giving away what God has first given to me.
Financial giving remains an important expression of stewardship, but I have come to see it as one part of a much larger response. True stewardship grows out of a grateful heart. When we recognize God's abundant generosity toward us, we naturally seek ways to bless others with the gifts we have received.
Christ's peace frees us from keeping score and from focusing on what we might owe God. Instead, it invites us into a life of gratitude, generosity, and service. The more aware I become of God's goodness, the more eager I am to share whatever I have been given for the benefit of others and the glory of God.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for the countless blessings You have poured into my life. Help me live with a grateful heart and to faithfully share the gifts You have entrusted to me. May my time, talents, resources, and service reflect my gratitude for Your goodness and may my gratitude pour over those around me so that they may see all their blessings, too. Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart as I seek to bless others and honor You in all that I do. Amen.
September 4, 2026 - Pastor Emilee Ogden
Scripture: Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
Devotion: Picture this: The Israelites have experienced liberation from slavery in Egypt, sustenance in the wilderness from God’s own hand, Moses and the stone tablets, all the while with the promise of a land of safety and abundance in their future.
The prophet Joshua, who took over leadership after the death of Moses, spoke these words to the Israelites the night before they were to cross the Jordan River and claim the Promised Land.
This is what they have been waiting for, what they have been promised!
They are waiting with great expectancy to see the fulfillment of the promise from God.
“Sanctify yourselves” — set yourselves apart for something special, something from God, trusting that God will act in miraculous and tremendous ways.
When we give our gifts — our money, our time, our energy, our prayers — to God’s church are we doing so with the faith that God will work wonders among us?
I invite you during this stewardship season to believe — truly believe — that God will work wonders among us.
Prayer: God who gives all, including your only Son, we give thanks for your generosity, provision, and abundance. Help us live our lives in such a way that we are expecting you to do something wonderful among us and with us. Ease our fear of scarcity and lead us to trust in your abundance. You are good and good to us. Amen.
September 5, 2026 - Mochel Morris
Scripture: Luke 17: 15-17 -- 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’s[f] feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? So where are the other nine?
Devotion: Amazed and filled with gratitude that he was no longer ailing, he stopped in his tracks and turned back to give thanks to God. Life can be so full that we don’t even notice when we have been gifted. Noticing what God is offering us in our lives takes attention. It takes stopping in our tracks to bear witness, to open our eyes, our hearts, and our hands.
Notice in the rest of this encounter that while Jesus remarks that only one—and a foreigner at that—takes the moment to give thanks, he does not take the gift away from the others. Hopefully, they too will notice sooner or later. Even if they don’t, God’s love is an intentional act in relational response to the need of others, working for overall wellbeing
May I notice the gifts surrounding me. May my response be to stop, turn back, and offer my own intentional act that seeks overall wellbeing for others and all of Creation.
Prayer: Thank you for the gifts I notice and all the other ones I have failed to notice. May my eyes be opened to see you at work. May my hand be opened to be a part of your work. So be it.
September 6, 2026 - Pastor Tim Tate
Scripture: Malachi 3: 10 -- 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
Devotion: The prophet Malachi shares the words above to God’s people, and there are 2 implications that I believe we often miss. 1) Malachi tells them to bring the full tithe (10%) of their “income,”, and 2) that in doing so, it tests God but even more, it makes a way for blessings to flow.
Many folks can’t imagine giving 10% or more, and those that do, tend to take the tithe out as soon as the funds go into the checking account. Out of sight, out of mind if you will. For my family, the 10+% that we give regularly helps us to prioritize our lives toward sharing faith. We are more attuned to the needs around us, and when a need arises, we are more willing to help. The coolest part of this all is that God has always made a way. Now in order to give what we give, we have had to be intentional and disciplined in our household budgets, but for us it has been a blessing. When we didn’t know how the bill was going to get paid or our family could do this or that, but when we have been faithful, God continues to provide, often in unexpected and unexplained ways.
I invite you to take some time today to just think about all that God has given you and your family. How might God be calling you to respond? Is God inviting you to reprioritize some spending? If you feel like this might be so, I challenge you to take the leap and just do it. Then see what God will do to bless your family and you.
Prayer: Gracious and generous God, You have given us more than enough, and the needs around us are more than we can meet. But You simply invite us to give in response to Your blessings. Give us courage to boldly respond, then overwhelm us as we watch You take what we give, and multiply it for Your work. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
September 7, 2026- Nana Noi
Scripture: “Always give thanks to God the Father for everything.” — Ephesians 5:20
Devotion:
Gratitude changes the way we see what we have. When we recognize that our lives, our abilities, our relationships, our opportunities, and even the strength to face difficult seasons are gifts from God, generosity becomes more than an obligation. It becomes a response. Stewardship is sometimes understood simply as giving money to the church, but it is much broader than that. It is the way we respond to God’s goodness with everything God has entrusted to us—our time, our talents, our resources, and our willingness to serve. I have found that some of the most meaningful opportunities to give begin by simply noticing a need. Sometimes we give our time. Sometimes we share what we know. Sometimes we offer encouragement, hospitality, or practical help. And sometimes we give financially so that ministries can continue to reach people we may never personally meet. Ephesians reminds us to “always give thanks.” Gratitude is therefore not reserved only for moments when everything is going well. It becomes a way of living. When we give from gratitude, the question changes from “How much do I have to give?” to “How can I respond to all that God has given me?” Our generosity becomes an expression of thanksgiving—a way of saying, “Thank you, God. What you have placed in my hands, I am willing to use for your purposes.”
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the many gifts you have placed in our lives. Give us grateful hearts and help us to use our time, talents, and resources generously. May our giving be a joyful response to your goodness and a blessing to others. Amen
WEEK 2
September 8, 2026 – Katherine Counsell
Scripture: Psalm 100:4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
Devotion: When you spend most of your days surrounded by both books and children, they often guide your narrative. Last fall I was excited to discover a new book by one of my favorite authors. In The Gift of Words the reader is reunited with Jerome from The Word Collector. Jerome loves to collect words, but as he searches for words to share with family and friends during the holidays he is uninspired. As he walks through the city he sees and hears words like, “buy now,” “sale, cheap stuff,” “storm,” “conflict,” “no loitering,” “ I hate this weather,” or “I want it now!” Initially Jerome feels hopeless, but then he sparks an idea. He takes some of his most loved words from his collection to a bare tree in the park. Together, people create a joyful tree filled with hopes, dreams, and wishes as they choose words and phrases to hang. When I purchased this book, I did not realize the impact it would have on my students or myself. From lessons where we explored and shared gratitude to students making beautiful gratitude trees from simple supplies, the discussions and the enthusiasm with students and colleagues was priceless. Over the course of a few weeks, a theme throughout our school community was “Gratitude Is Universal!” Gratitude IS universal. This joyful scripture like the story is filled with words and a message of gratitude that we can apply to our own lives, our prayers, and our giving. In our church life giving comes in many forms from our time to our talents to our gifts. Our stewardship is one way to show gratitude to God’s goodness.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for hearing our prayers and for your love. We come to you with grateful hearts. Help us to look past our worries and see your faithful care. Amen
September 9, 2026 – April Wynn Reif
Scripture: Psalm 9: 1 – I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Devotion: Are you a person that always has a plan and knows how things should be in your “mind’s eye”? I am – which inevitably leads me to lean into that inner perfectionist. However, life doesn’t work on human perfection, thankfully it runs on the perfection of God. As much as I want to control every detail, and make everything perfect, I give thanks every day that life doesn’t operate on my sense of perfection because it would be so very inadequate. Rather, God has infinite generosity, infinite wonder, and infinite love. This can be seen in the very fabric of our lives, from the trees and critters around us, to the smile of a friend or child, to the amazing things our hands can build when used in service of God. It also means that what we do in service of God is good, it is enough. There is never too small a gift, there is never an unwelcome offering when given from a generous heart! I encourage you to remember you are always enough as are your gifts of the spirit.
Prayer: God, thank you for all your wonder and for revealing your grace to us every day. Help us to embrace our inner servant and remember that what we have to offer is enough. We are enough in your eyes. God is good!
September 10, 2026 – Chelsea Allen
Scripture: Scripture Colossians 4:2 — Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
Devotion: Paul’s instruction is to be committed to prayer and to keep alert—not with fear or worry or anxiety, but to keep alert with thanksgiving. I find comfort in believing I am exactly where I’m meant to be; actively reminding myself that God has a plan and a purpose for me even when I’m facing a difficulty, uncertainty, or a season of suffering. Would Paul’s instruction to keep alert with thanksgiving be as meaningful if he were having the best day ever? Would we be able to be intentional with prayer and thanksgiving if we were imprisoned? A practice of gratitude helps us focus on God’s goodness, God’s provision, and God’s plan and purposes for us. We can show our thankfulness to God not only through prayer, but through the unique gifts and opportunities given to each of us to serve, give, and worship.
Prayer God, help me to develop a practice of gratitude even when my circumstances feel uncertain or difficult. Draw near to me when I feel I have little to be grateful for, and help me to remember that your plans are always to give me hope and a future. Show me opportunities to serve, give, and worship—using the gifts you’ve blessed me with to fulfill your purpose for me.
September 11, 2026 – Mike Cotter
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9 – for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing, it is a gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
Devotion: We are all called to give from our hearts, not always our pocketbooks, but with our time, talents, offerings and service. There are many times my heart guides me to help a worthy cause, a needy friend, or a church project. Always filtering things through my wife, we make decisions together. When we give, it is often anonymously, not looking for human gratification, because Jesus guides our giving hearts and rewards us with His grace-filled love and comfort. Knowing all that Jesus did for us makes it much easier for us to offer small financial or time sacrifices. We have been so blessed and find comfort in His embrace during good times and bad.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for helping us focus on the needs of others. Genuine giving from our hearts is easy, knowing you planted the seeds of generosity for us to share our love.
September 12, 2026 – Jillian Murray
Scripture: Psalm 107:1 --O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Devotion: I strive to be a person who sees goodness in all aspects of life. I grew up hearing the Word every Sunday, my pastors preaching the importance of giving thanks to God for all things, in all times. I said nightly prayers and told God how grateful I was for all the blessings He had given me. I was taught by my parents that every day on this earth is a gift, and that an “attitude of gratitude” keeps us humble. And I know why these values were impressed upon me - to live in gratitude means that we choose to recognize and appreciate the power and faithfulness of God. Gratitude helps us remain hopeful in every season, good or bad. Gratitude also develops contentment, reducing feelings of envy and dissatisfaction. It creates a positive atmosphere, improving our relationships with others and our overall well-being. Why then is it so easy to falter and let our daily distractions dull our awareness of God’s presence?
When gratitude is hard to come by, and we lose our focus on God, we risk losing opportunities to witness God’s quiet kindness. Recently, my daughter wanted me to take her and three friends to the pool to celebrate one of the last days of their summer break. Selfishly, my instinct was to decline. I was feeling stretched thin and at the end of my rope. I finally irritably agreed, but my position on that day was the opposite of grateful (anyone who has ever spent time in a car full of preteen girls can probably relate). The minutiae of the vestiges of summer break were gnawing at me, and because of this, I stopped seeing God and was solely focused on my own discontent. How silly and careless I was to ignore the abundance of blessings surrounding me. I had a healthy, lively daughter with safe and lovely friends to laugh and grow with. I had a husband who, for 15 years, has been my best friend and partner, and is raising said daughter with me. I had a working car with the ability to transport myself and others from place to place. I had the luxury of having a membership to a neighborhood pool, located only a couple of streets away from both my sister and my mother, with whom I am both close. I had a front row seat to watch delightful children splash, jump and play to their hearts’ content. I had food and drinks to pack in our cooler. Perhaps most importantly, I had the ability to enjoy the breeze, hear the birds, and feel the sun on my face, God’s creation literally ALL around me. Do you see how I could have approached this outing differently? Gratitude could have made all the difference.
Prayer: Lord, help me to always see you. Help me to be aware of your constant, faithful presence. Mold me into your humble and grateful servant. I give you all of my thanks for my health, my life, the love that I am given, and the love that I can share. Thank you, God. Amen.
September 13, 2026 – Rebekah Catalano
Scripture: Luke 6:38. Jesus told his followers, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap.”
Devotion: I’ve been baking a lot lately- banana breads, blueberry muffins, and cookies. As I read this verse in Luke, I picture myself packing down a cup of brown sugar- pressed firmly, leveled exactly. Not an ounce over what the recipe demands. Is that the image of generosity Jesus is portraying? No. He doesn’t say, “Give 1 leveled cup, measured exactly and packed firmly within your expectations.” Jesus says, “packed down, firmly shaken- and overflowing.” Pack the sweet goodness of your gratitude into your gifts to God and the work of God’s people-- and keep piling it on till overflowing. God’s generosity to us cannot be scooped, packed, and leveled. It is overflowing and never-ending. Our generosity should be, too.
Prayer: Dear Good and Gracious God, help us to give abundantly in response to the gifts you have given to us.
September 14, 2026 – Liz Huggins – Bridges
Scripture: Psalm 69:30 “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving”
Devotion: This verse speaks deeply to me of the nature of our relationship with God. So much of the Bible, in my opinion, is a love letter from a loving Father. It speaks of His deep love, commitment, and movement in our lives.
This verse really makes me think about ways I can love Him back. We are made as relational beings, purposed to love, and be loved. That being said, I believe one of the best ways we can give love back to the Triune God is through song and praise.
Music has a special power to it when it is used to give back to God- to give back the only thing any of us has to offer God-our love. The thing He wants from us!
I have attended many Christian music concerts and worship services and in special moments, when thousands of believers raise their voices together in praise, unified, hearts on fire for God, I truly believe I have seen a preview of Heaven. I believe this verse hints at what eternity perhaps could be: one enormous worship service. How blessed would we be to join the never-ending chorus at the throne: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord, God Almighty!"
Prayer: Thank you, God, for blessing us and giving us a voice with which to praise you in song, words, deeds and magnify your name with joy.
September 15, 2026 – David Carryer
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Devotion: Working with youth is like herding cats. Getting everyone moving together takes effort, and success is never guaranteed. Navigating my goals, moody teenagers' willingness, and God’s will is a delicate balancing act. Yet, amid the "Holy Chaos," the Spirit reminds me these kids could be anywhere, but they chose to be here at church to learn about their faith, have fun, and just be. Recognizing that fills me with deep gratitude, making the chaos feel lighter and the joy far more profound.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the Holy Chaos and every blessing within it. I cannot control the world, but I can control my response. I am overwhelmingly thankful for the opportunity to serve. In your name I pray, Amen.
September 16, 2026 - Nancy Tomlinson
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:15 -- Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Devotion: Generosity received births generosity in return. || When I rang bells for the Salvation Army I was always impressed by the generosity of givers. The largest gifts came from those whom had been helped by the salvation Army when they needed assistance. They wanted to help others in return and did so with sincere gratitude. Those who cheerfully gave often shared their stories with me. Their children delighted in putting money in the kettle and listening to the stories; one generation teaching the next.
In 2 Corinthians 9 we are reminded of God’s incredible generosity in Jesus Christ. In response, we are invited to be enthusiastically generous ourselves. As we are are generous as a church, what kind of reputation will we build in our community? What stories will be told about us?
Prayer: God, as you in Christ gave to us with grace and generosity, may we follow your example and give enthusiastically with abundance.
September 17, 2026 – Joelle Gotwals
Scripture: Colossians 3:17 -- And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Devotion: Gratitude is more than simply saying “Thank you, Jesus,” or “Thank you, Lord.” True gratitude changes the way we live, the way we love, the way we hold ourselves out to the world. When we recognize how good God has been to us, that recognition translates to our faith in action—and our giving.
Colossians 3:17 reminds us that everything we do should be done in Jesus’s holy name, and with thanksgiving to God. This includes how we treat our blessings He has brought us, the gifts He has entrusted us with, as followers of Christ. Every blessing is a reminder of His love for us: our families, our health, our opportunities, our strength, and even our LIFE is a gift from God, and we are commanded to respond accordingly. When we give out of gratitude, we are not giving because we feel pressured or obligated, or to appear like we are “good Christians.” We give because we have already experienced His goodness. We give because we acknowledge, through word AND deed, that everything we have ultimately comes from Him. Sometimes we may focus on what we don’t have, and forget to thank God for what we do have. Gratitude shifts our perspective, and calls to look at our resources and say, “Thank you, Lord, for trusting me with what I have.” We give because God first gave to us.
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, we seek to be reminded of what your love has given us. Help us to remember that the gifts we cherish, the opportunities we relish, and the safety and security we rely upon, are all from YOU. Remind us that the greatest gift we have ever received was your son, Jesus Christ, so that we could have forgiveness, salvation, and hope. We pray for true understanding of the magnitude of your gifts to us, so that our generosity becomes a natural response, borne from our gratitude and faithfulness. In your precious and holy name, we pray. Amen.
September 18, 2026 – Julia Rizzo
Scripture: Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Devotion: It’s easy to get bogged down by all that there is to manage in our lives today. Our lives have become very busy with work, caring for others, social obligations, and constant demands for our attention. It can also be difficult to keep a good attitude as we navigate the ups and downs that life throws at us while doing our best to maintain it all.
But luckily we serve a God who gives us exactly what we need. He is our shield from the pain, weariness, and overthinking that can so quickly plague our bodies and minds. And His strength gives us the ability to persist when we forget to use His word to block out the noise around us. Through it all, God is a steady anchor for us to stabilize ourselves as we watch the storms around us come and go. No matter what we are asked to weather, we can sing our praise to Him because we trust that He is good and walking with us each step of the way.
Prayer: Lord, we are overwhelmed by the weight that the world puts on our backs. Sometimes we become so focused on all that there is to deal with that we lose sight of You. We pray that You would nudge our hearts when we start to fall into the trap of taking on the world on our own. Please remind us that You are patiently waiting for us to lean and rely on You. Through all things, You are faithfully by our side, ready to carry our burdens and the source of goodness in our lives. For that, we come with grateful hearts full of praise.
September 19, 2026 – Susan Bixby
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:8 -- O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Devotion: We serve a generous God. You’ve heard the phrase Beyond your wildest dreams. He knows our dreams. He hears our prayers. And oftentimes He goes beyond. More than we deserve. And what is our response to that generosity? How do you feel about someone who is kind, loving and generous to you? There is a contemporary worship song called I Surrender All. “All to Jesus, I surrender, All to Him, I freely give.”
We should return His generosity with ours. Whether that is with our tithes, our time , or whatever gifts we have to share.
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, make me aware of your gifts that are often more than I ask for. Give me that spirit of generosity that I can freely give of myself in return. In your Holy name I pray. Amen.
WEEK 3
September 20, 2026 – Larry Tubbs
Scripture: Colossians 3.16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with wisdom through Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit singing to God with gratitude in your heart."
Devotion:
Stewardship is our response of gratitude to God. My name is Larry Tubbs and I worship at the 8:45 service and have been a member of FUMC for 54 years. FUMC has offered us the opportunity to worship and serve in the church and the community where God was leading us the past 54 years. This year the church is in the planning process of our Stewardship theme: leading our church to our response to gratitude and generosity that God has given you and your family at FUMC.
2 Corinthians 9.7 says: you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Prayer: Lord I desire to be characterized by gratitude. I admit that I am more prone to dwell on the negative than the positive and to pine after the what-ifs rather than bask in the "already". Give me the grace to truly rejoice in the many good gifts you have given me. In your holy name I pray, Amen.
September 21, 2026 – Susan Lewandowski, Deaconess
Scripture: Philippians 4:6 NRSV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Devotion: When Jody was about seven, Bob and I began hoping, praying for another baby. When we didn’t get pregnant, we considered adoption and learned that few babies were available. So we prayed: could we let go of the idea of raising another baby? We realized two things: we wanted Jody to be the big sister and we would love any child who joined our family. When our social worker asked if we wanted to be considered for a baby entering foster care, we said “yes!” Our anxiety shifted from “How will we complete our family?” to “Will they place this baby with us?” We prayed for him, and God answered: Matthew came home at 10 weeks!
Prayer: Dear God, remind us when we’re anxious to seek You in prayer.
September 22, 2025 - Vicky Butler
Scripture: Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
Devotion: I was fortunate to grow up in a large, loving, working-class family. My daddy worked two jobs, and mama provided day care for children. Our home was always open to all. We always had food to eat, clothes to wear, and most importantly, love. Watching my parents give freely of their time and money in church and in their community inspired me to do the same in my work as a social worker and in my own church and community—singing in the choir and participating in justice work just feels natural to me. Most recently, I experienced the overwhelming blessings of family, friends, and church family who cared for and loved me during my recent illness and hospitalization.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of life you gave so freely and lovingly, asking only that I care for my neighbor. Help me to give back for the good of all. Amen.
September 23, 2026 – David Kirven
Scripture: Psalms 95:2 “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Devotion: Having grown up from humble beginnings, I feel that God has guided my path throughout my life. From college to graduate school eventually to the career I aspired to have, I have felt God’s presence. I am grateful for the path I have traveled and the things I have learned. I am grateful for my family and the time we have together. I am also grateful to have a way to express this appreciation as a member of the church. Each week I have the privilege of connecting with the choir, the handbells and contemporary worship team in praise to the Father for all God has provided. We devote ourselves to excellence in music and share this gift of praise and thanksgiving with our congregation each week so that we all can express our gratitude and praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the many blessings You have provided. Help us to begin each day full of gratitude and to share our joy with everyone we meet. May we always remember to come before You with a heart of thanksgiving and praise.
September 24, 2026 – Anne Blosser
Scripture: Philippians 4:19—And me God will meet all of your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Devotion: (breath prayer) How Can I Advance Your Kingdom? Many of you know that I have health issues, but not that they started early in life when I was diagnosed with kidney disease at age nine. My experiences since then have been different than others that are my own age. I will never be able to hold down a long-term job, I will not have children, I will never have large expensive material items. The thing is God provides us with exactly what we need. Our attention may be on one area while another area is growing an unimaginable blessing. Since I physically haven’t been able to work due to my unpredictable health, I have been able to get more involved with United Women in Faith and I’m able to advise Sigmas at Randolph-Macon. If I had a full-time career I would also not be able to care for those who cared for me my entire life. We can take two very different stances. We can be angry with God and question why and even pull away or we can lean into it and be joyful. We may never win a lottery, but strength, love, support and connections will always be greater than any monetary item. The other key is to trust that God will provide all that we need. We must pass this along. Overwhelmed with gratitude, our faith insists everyone can be generous with what we have.
Prayer: God, please help us always to remember you are enough, and we must trust in you and that our faith in you means me must show our gratitude by giving to others.
September 25, 2026 - Justin Allen
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:11 "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Devotion: As a child, I once sat in a restaurant and noticed a man who seemed to have so much less than the rest of us. I could barely eat, wanting instead to give him my meal and whatever money I had (I must have been 5 or 6 at the time). Years later, freshly graduated with a promising job ahead of me, another man had asked for help. I only had large bills (graduation gifts), so I asked him to wait while I broke them to share. A friend beside me offered a quiet reminder: "I could easily replace what I gave. He might not have the same chance." That truth has stayed with me through adulthood and in all circumstances of giving whether time, money or words of encouragement. One of those memories is more than thirty years old now; the other, just over twenty. Both still shape my heart today. Nothing I have belongs to me. I may think I worked for what I have, but it was God who gave me the strength, the provision, and the open doors that let me thrive. All that I have is His — and He is faithful to let me know when it's time to move in the direction of generosity.
Thought for the Day: What has God entrusted to you that someone else is waiting for?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for all You have given me. Teach me to hold it loosely, so my generosity might become someone else's provision. Amen.
September 26, 2025 - Pat McConnell
Scripture: Psalm 37:21—"The wicked borrow and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving.”
Devotion: “Borrow” and “pay back” to me imply a contract, either verbal or written, that sets up the obligation to pay back what was loaned. Maybe even with some form of interest added. Fortunately, God didn’t lend us grace and blessings. We are under no contract or obligation to repay or even try to repay. God gives to us unconditionally. So, why are we generous and “keep giving”? Are we driven by guilt, as God has given so much, yet we have given so little? No. I say that we are generous as a natural, free-flowing response to God’s love. And we keep giving because, “the gratitude path leads to generosity in our congregations when we count our many blessings and give time, talent, and treasure back to God, just to say thanks” (The Gratitude Path: Leading Your Church to Generosity by Keith Millard).
THANK YOU! Simple, yet powerful words. And even more powerful in action! One bedrock tenet of an organization I once belonged to is that service to humanity is the best work in life. Whether serving a meal to an unhoused neighbor, helping to build a house, teaching a boating safety class, or even just giving a timely hug, I am grateful that God has given me the ability, resources, and many opportunities to be grateful! I see service as expressions of gratitude. I “get to” rather than “got to”. And through these experiences, I have learned that acting out of gratitude begets gratitude. Gratitude is contagious and inspires even more actions of gratitude. That is why I keep giving!
Prayer: Generous, gracious, and loving God, we come before You with grateful hearts, giving thanks for the many blessings You have placed in our lives. We recognize that all we have—and all that we are—is a gift from You. Thank You for giving us the ability, the opportunity, and the desire to serve Your children. Help us remember that serving others is not simply something we do, but a privilege You have entrusted to us. Teach us to serve with humility, to give with joy, and to love without expectation of recognition or reward. May everything we do reflect our gratitude for Your goodness and Your grace. We offer this prayer with grateful hearts. Amen.
WEEK 4
September 27, 2026 - Janet Davis
Scripture - James 1:17 “ But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow.”
Devotion - In reflecting on events in my life, many stand out, but one illustration I’d like to share Is when I had two children in college simultaneously. A bill was coming due and my job as a Realtor was to provide a service while at the “duty desk”. A person came in needing a rental and it was my opportunity to provide the service of finding a home for them – and also God was giving me the opportunity to help pay my bills. That day, (and years later) I look at God’s gift to my family. He cares about every aspect of our lives. What we do in response to the smallest opportunity reflects our thanks to God for his generosity. The book of James is strong in “Faith and Works” and there are opportunities all the time. Our Church Bazaar/Festival of Wreaths came from a need by our Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) for a van for service to others back in the 1980’s and continues outreach after many years. “ HE SHINES FOREVER” when we respond.
Prayer - Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for continuing to be our guiding light. May we approach each day aware of the opportunities you give us for giving generously with our time, talents, and resources.
September 28, 2026 – Tom Pinney
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 29:9 – “The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the King also rejoiced greatly
Devotion: David was nearing the end of his life and reign over Israel, and had gathered his elites to pose a quandary - he needed to prepare the palace for the reign of his son Solomon and wanted to leave behind a great palace for God's glory, but he could only forge so much from the riches that he had. He told the leaders that he had given all of his personal wealth and treasures to the fund, but that he wanted each of them to give from their stock to the temple so it would be something for everyone to enjoy and say they had a part in. 1 Chronicles 29 says there was a lot of giving going on in the temple that night; estimates around the differing set of weights used back then put the total of giving between $2.945 billion and $4.9 billion in current US dollars.
To put that in perspective, a recent infographic published by Outreach 100 keeps a tally of the top megachurches in the USA. The top church, with 85,000 weekly attendees, is Life.Church in Edmond, OK, with an annual budget over $235.7 million. Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, GA holds the record for single-day giving in the US, with a $5.1 million offering given in November 2019. For those keeping up with the math, the single-day giving total to adorn the temple for King Solomon could fund the US’ biggest megachurch for around 25 years, and the US’ biggest single-day offering was around 1/100th of David’s court’s offering. Craig Groschel, Lifechurch.tv - Carpools and shares hotel rooms even though his church makes a gigantic profit, gives away his resources for free and doesn't have any access to the church checkbook, quoted as saying "Toxic religion is Christ plus anything... Christ plus church membership. Or Christ plus tithing." With no regard for who they could be or what they could have, they demonstrate how to give by giving with reckless abandon. Maybe it's time for you to give with reckless abandon as well.
I'm not just talking about giving more than 10%; quite frankly, I’m not even talking about giving 10%. I'm not talking about writing some extravagant check to a mission.Maybe for you, reckless giving is volunteering. Maybe it's buying dinner for a friend. Maybe it's paying the toll or the ticket for the person behind you.
Prayer: Dear God, help me practice some reckless giving today. I want to be open to getting much more than I give.
September 29, 2026 –Sandy Wiseman
Scripture: Matthew 6: 20-21 – 20: But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Devotion: We all want to save the things that are important to us in a safe place. That is why people have things like safe deposit boxes, bank accounts and other safe places. Those are all more reliable than putting our money and other items under the mattress.
While we all need those material things to survive in our earthly life, what do we need to plan and store up for our eternal life? These are the good things that we do for others on a regular basis that are stored up in our heavenly bank accounts and safe deposit boxes. Those things involve doing good deeds for others on an individual basis. What we can do individually is very important, but where we can use our resources to combine with others it increases the ability to make sure that those things happen. That combination of resources is what enables even greater actions to happen. Our individual treasures that are stored up in heaven for us are multiplied where they are protected against thieves, moths, and vermin as indicated. When giving to the church it combines the money from many of us to be able to do the greater good. While many of us aren’t thrilled with our money going to some of the fundamentals such as the water bill and utilities, those are all important to provide space for many of the other activities to take place. Having a welcoming building allows the men’s group to put together 78 cleaning (flood) buckets to be used in a disaster situation. It also allows the youth to meet weekly for their own worship service, fun activities and to plan for their summer service trips. The women can meet and create items for the Bazaar and all the Sunday Morning activities to take place. These are the actions that are then stored up for us in our Heavenly Safe Deposit Boxes.
Prayer: Dear lord please take note of the actions we take both by our individual actions but also in how we contribute to those things that make for the greater good for all people. Help us to create an environment where all the Heavenly Safe Deposit Boxes are filled to overflowing with good acts. Amen.
September 30, 2026 – William Boatwright
Scripture: Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Devotion: On February 4, 1987, I signed a letter of intent to play football at Virginia Tech. The intent provided an all-expenses-paid education and unlocked possibilities for a kid born to a teenage parent. Two years later, on a football field in Louisville, KY one of the best things to ever happen to me occurred with 22 seconds left in the game, my left ankle was broken. As I laid on the field waiting for trainers and doctors to get to me, I heard the Lord say, “Now we can talk.” You see the Lord had been asking me to have a conversation with Him; however, I was too busy. Taking away the one thing that I treasured most gave me the time and humbled me to open my heart to hear the Lord. The Lord led me to a life of service to others. Instead of a life in corporate America (my choice), I became an educator and helped my students discover their potential. In teaching, modeling and mentoring students, I have been blessed beyond measure. Educating our future leaders has brought me more joy than one can imagine. To see the light turn on in a struggling student's eyes is priceless.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for the opportunity to be of service. Thank you for the gift of seeing young people discover knowledge and skills once thought impossible. Continue to bless our educators as they shape the minds of students daily. Help us grow in your love and share the message that You are the light and our salvation. In Jesus name, AMEN
October 1, 2026 – Brian Carrico
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:9 – “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”
Devotion: In this passage, Paul is responding to the inspiring reports he has heard of the faith and love demonstrated by the Church in Thessalonica. Our faith journey is similarly bolstered by those who went before us and by those around us who demonstrate their faith through action. We all have pastors, teachers, family members, mentors, and others in our lives who have inspired us by their words and actions. When we give generously of our time, talents, and treasures we honor those who have inspired us and we inspire others in the same way.
Prayer: O God, you give us friends, teachers, pastors, mentors, and a church full of people who demonstrate your love and faith in so many ways. Thank you. Help us to give our gifts like they do so others will experience God’s love through us. Amen.
October 2, 2026 – Micah Bridges
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 – “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as they have decided in their heart, not reluctant or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Devotion: Paul reminds us that generosity is not measured only by the size of the gift, but by the posture of the heart. When we give out of gratitude, we recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. Our time, our abilities, our resources—none of them are because of our own strength, but are all from Him! Giving because we have to, or believe it’s expected, negates the actual giving. Another wrong way is to believe that… Oh, if I give big, then I’ll get a big reward! How wrong this is, it’s very selfish. That would be saying that we could control or manipulate God! I think not, in fact, I’d be scared to see what happens if that were my heart posture.
Gratitude has a way of opening our hands. When we look at our lives and see God’s goodness—sometimes obvious, sometimes quiet and subtle—we find ourselves wanting to respond. Stewardship about joy. In sowing generously—whether through kindness, service, or financial giving—we discover that God multiplies the impact of what we offer. And along the way, our own hearts deepen in trust and gratitude.
My wife, Liz, has always been an amazing example to me. She is always giving without any expectations, an example of what God calls us to do. On more than one occasion, no matter our financial situation, Liz would engage in conversation with a man in a wheelchair and his female companion, both were homeless, and ultimately, we paid for them to have a hotel room for 2 nights… a place where they could feel safe, a place where they could shower. To see the look on their face, look of gratitude… for something we take for granted… something as basic a shower. This filled me inside much greater than the hesitation I felt about where the money would come from. I know it was God’s love that filled me.
God loves a cheerful giver not because the gift itself is perfect, but because cheerful giving reflects a heart awakened to His grace. The more we see God’s generosity toward us, the more we desire to mirror it.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for every good gift You’ve placed in my life. Help me to give with gratitude, not out of obligation, but from a joyful heart that reflects Your generosity. Teach me to sow bountifully and trust that You will use what I offer for Your good purposes. Amen.
October 3, 2026 – Pastor Emilee Ogden
Scripture: Psalm 100.4 - Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him; bless his name.
Devotion: No matter what is happening in our personal lives, or in the world around us, there is always a reason to give thanks to God. And that can be a hard thing to do when it feels as though there is not enough to go around, or when the world is violent and mercurial. God is still good and good to us, even when things around us aren’t. That is what we give thanks for. We praise God for who God is, how God loves us, and the goodness of God that persists even when the world tells us otherwise. When we can see the gifts of God in our lives — big or small — and give thanks to God for those, then it is a natural outpouring of gratitude to give back to God.
Prayer: God we give you thanks for your love for us that never changes. We praise your holy name for your goodness that does not falter, even though our world changes constantly around us. We delight in the gifts you give us and we give back to you in joy, to be used by you and for you. You are good and good to us.
October 4, 2026 – Pastor Tim Tate
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 -- 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Message: Today is Consecration Sunday, and I always get excited when God’s people come and make their estimates of giving for the coming year. What goes on the cards is more than a number or estimate. It is more than just a financial commitment, but it is a respond to the amazing Grace of God! This is where we are privileged to give so Christ’s work might be done and transformation of lives take place!
Today, or this week if you will not be in attendance and send yours in later, I invite you to give with a cheerful heart, as one “ready to share.” Paul writes to Timothy, modeling a way of leading where followers of Christ seek to share what God has given them, in order for the world to experience the amazing love of God. This is a holy and worth investment, for it perpetuates God’s work and the Kingdom is revealed!
I look forward to seeing what God will do to make a way for God to accomplish what is before us in 2027!
God bless you all,
