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Laity Day

The United Methodist Church continues to celebrate and welcome the witness of the laity.

When John Wesley was hesitant to affirm preaching by the laity, his mother Suzanna suggested that he hear a lay sermon. The sermon was so powerful that John Wesley changed his mind. Lay speaking became a prominent feature of the Methodist movement as Methodists made an effort to prevent “silent pulpits.”

We continue in that tradition. Sunday, October 18, is Laity Sunday – a day to celebrate the work of the laity and to receive a sermon from a lay person.

It is the joyful privilege of pastors to work with lay leaders toward an annual celebration of lay ministry.

The new Basic Lay Speaking course is titled “Learning and Leading.” The course will help laity become servant leaders and grow in the image of Christ. Contact Cheryl Denley, Convener for the Mississippi Conference Lay Speaking Ministries, senatobiadistric@bellsouth.net < mailto:senatobiadistric@bellsouth.net> , for more information on Lay Speaking or to request the witness of a lay speaker in your church.

May our congregations be richly blessed as we celebrate the ministry of the laity this fall.

With gratitude for your ministry,

Hope