Light in the World—Offering the Light of Jesus Christ to Our Community

A Mission for Tryon United Methodist  

   Be the Light in the World

        As a means of sharing the love of Jesus in our community, I propose the following: 

       • August thru December—share the Bridge Builders prayer with at least 1,000

       people in  our community.

      • Those people can include (but are not limited to):

       Teachers and assistants at Polk County Schools 

       The congregations of our partner churches in Tryon (Tryon First Baptist Church (100),          Congregational Church/United Church of  Christ (100), Tryon Presbyterian

      Church (100), St. Luke CME (50), Tryon Estates (100), Saluda UMC

        and With All (100)

      Town of Tryon workers (Firefighters, Police Officers, city workers, city officials) (50)

      Tryon Halloween Stroll (200—adults)

       Community Thanksgiving Service (100)

       Tryon Christmas Parade (300)

      • TUMC Congregation will be asked to gather in September, October,

        and November    to help create the candles (easy to make) to be distributed. 

      • Cards with the Bridge Builders prayer will be created to go with the candles

• TUMC Congregation who attend each week will be encouraged to take at least one candle and card each week and share it with someone they know (neighbor, co-worker, friend in the community, someone you know at a local business or organization in the community, or anyone you are building a relationship with who would be receptive to receiving a candle and this message.)

Goal:  In a world that needs to know, see, feel and experience the love of Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to share unifying, kind, compassionate, and inspiring words and a simple source of light.  Our goal is to share these words and this source of light with our neighbors.  

This is a non-threatening but meaningful way to share something good with people we know and/or people we care about in our community.  It is not a tool for proselytizing or manipulating people in any way. It is an offer. No one has to take it.  But, if they take the gift, they must know that it is a gift with no strings attached.  We expect nothing in return.  It is a small gift of love to be given.   

COST

The cost of this ministry will be paid for by a donation from one of our church members and from one of our Designated Funds accounts.

Possible Outreach

• Encouraging other churches to share the message with others in their communities. 

• Offer this to the District Superintendent to share with leaders of churches in our district as an idea for them to share with their congregations.  (Possibly at Charge Conference this year).

• Offer to Outreach and Habitat for Humanity to share with their clients and homeowners.  

(Note:  We cannot sell someone else’s words, so what we offer will be a gift.  No money will be accepted for anything we do with regard to this effort.)

Dates for Making candles: 

• Tuesday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

• Wednesday, September 11 from 10:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

• Tuesday, September 24 from 1:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m.

October and November dates to be determined. We will work in the Library on the dates we make candles.  

You do not need to sign up.  Just show up and help.  This is easy to do.  No extra special or “crafty” skills required. 

“Here’s to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world.  They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself.  They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible.  Look for them in this present darkness. Light your candle with their flame.  And then go. Build bridges. Hold hands.  Bring light to a dark and desperate world.  Be the hero you are looking for. Peace is possible.  It begins with us.” 

L. R. Knost