MISSION MOMENT
“I don’t know what I’m doing, because I don’t do what I want to do. Instead, I do the thing that I hate. But if I’m doing the thing that I don’t want to do, I’m agreeing that the Law is right. But now I’m not the one doing it anymore. Instead, it’s sin that lives in me. I know that good doesn’t live in me—that is, in my body. The desire to do good is inside of me, but I can’t do it. I don’t do the good that I want to do, but I do the evil that I don’t want to do.But if I do the very thing that I don’t want to do, then I’m not the one doing it anymore. Instead, it is sin that lives in me that is doing it. So, I find that, as a rule, when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me. I gladly agree with the Law on the inside, but I see a different law at work in my body. It wages a war against the law of my mind and takes me prisoner with the law of sin that is in my body. I’m a miserable human being. Who will deliver me from this dead corpse? Thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, then I’m a slave to God’s Law in my mind, but I’m a slave to sin’s law in my body.”—Romans 7:15-25a (CEB)
In Romans 7:15–25a (Common English Bible) Paul speaks with deep honesty: “I don’t do the good that I want to do, but I do the evil that I don’t want to do.” He names a struggle we all recognize—the space between what we hope for and what we are able to do on our own.
Around the world, July 6 marks World Rural Development Day, a time to recognize the importance of rural communities and the systems that sustain life. In The United Methodist Church, Rural Life Sunday echoes that same truth—lifting the people, places, and ministries rooted in rural life.
In many rural communities, Paul’s words feel close to home. There is a deep desire to care for the land, to provide for families, and to build a future—but there are also real challenges. Limited resources, economic pressures, and uncertainty can create that same tension Paul describes: wanting to do good yet facing barriers that make it difficult.
But Paul does not leave us in that struggle. He asks, “Who will rescue me?” and answers, “Thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (CEB). The answer is not found in striving alone, but in grace—and in the way Christ brings us together.
This is the heart of Rural Life Sunday. United Methodists observe annual conference Sundays to support and strengthen ministries within local communities. On this Sunday, we support outreach, education, and leadership development in rural areas, along with agricultural ministries and partnerships across the annual conference.
This is one of the ways our connection in The United Methodist Church comes to life. Giving is not just an individual act—it is a covenant to walk together. Through connectional giving, our gifts are joined with others across the Church. No congregation carries ministry alone. When we give through our apportionments, we support general agencies that provide missions, advocacy, and resources—strengthening ministries that serve people we may never meet, but whom God deeply loves.
Every gift tells a story. And every story can begin with the impact we make through our giving. A rural pastor is supported. A young leader is equipped. A farming community is sustained. These stories reflect the grace Paul points us toward—not perfection, but a shared life shaped by Christ.
Rural Life Sunday, alongside World Rural Development Day, reminds us of our blessings and the faith that unites us—not only in what we believe, but in how we live, give, and serve together.
Reflection Question:
Where is God inviting you to move from striving alone toward living and giving as part of Christ’s connected community?
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Title: Stronger Together
Materials: One stick or pencil and a bundle of sticks or pencils tied together
Good morning, friends! I’m so glad to see you today! Look what I brought today! (Hold up one stick.) What happens if I try to break this? (Snap it.) Pretty easy, right? Now look at this! (Hold up bundle.) What if I try to break all of these together? (Pretend to struggle.) That’s much harder! How about each of us take one of these and snap it? (Let each child break a pencil or stick). Now that works much better!
Sometimes we try to do things all by ourselves. In today’s Bible story, Paul says, “I want to do good things, but sometimes I don’t.” Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you wanted to be kind—but got upset. Or you wanted to share—but didn’t. That happens to everyone.
But here’s the good news: God didn’t make us to do everything alone. That is why he created so many people so we could work together.
This week, we remember something special called World Rural Development Day. It’s a day when we think about people who live in the places we call rural areas – or a better way most of us understand it “in the country”—in places where farmers and families have room to grow food and take care of the land.
And in our church, we celebrate Rural Life Sunday. That’s when we remember that these communities are important—and that we can help. We all love food don’t we and it is so very important for us to take care of those farmers and those who take care of our land.
When we work together, we are stronger. Remember me trying to snap those sticks in half by myself? I couldn’t do it alone, but with more help we all did it! And that is how our church works. We share what we have so we can help others—even people we don’t know. When we give, we are helping tell a story—a story about God’s love.
Our stories are important. And sometimes they can help others understand the love of God. This week let’s remember that we are never alone. God is always with us and loves us so much that He gives us each other so we can be strong together.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for loving us and helping us when things feel hard. Thank you for giving us people to help us. Help us to share, to be kind, and to work together. Show us how to care for others every day. Thank you for Jesus. We love you. Amen.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of grace, in Romans we hear the struggle between what we long to do and what we are able to do. Yet through Christ, you draw us together in hope. As we remember Rural Life Sunday, receive these gifts as part of our shared covenant. Join our offerings with others across The United Methodist Church, strengthening rural ministries, outreach, and leadership. May every gift tell a story of your love in action. In Christ’s name, Amen.
OFFERTORY PRAYER from Discipleship Ministries
Gracious Redeemer, you know us completely—our good intentions, our wavering will, our stumbling steps. Like Paul, we confess the war within us: we long to do what is right, yet too often fall short. Still, you meet us not with condemnation, but with mercy and grace. So, we bring these offerings, not to earn your favor, but to respond in gratitude for a Savior who rescues us from sin’s grip. Use these gifts, and use us, to offer hope where there is despair, light where there is shadow, and love where there is brokenness. We give because you gave first—and because your Spirit empowers us to live not by our strength, but by your grace. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen.
NEWSLETTER NUGGET
In Romans 7:15–25a (CEB), Paul names the tension between what we hope to do and what we can do alone. As we celebrate Rural Life Sunday, we are reminded that we are not called to serve alone. In The United Methodist Church, our connectional giving supports rural ministries, agricultural partnerships, and leadership development across our annual conference. Every gift tells a story—of lives strengthened through shared mission.
Join us this Sunday for worship as we celebrate Rural Life Sunday and the power of serving together.