SPIRITUAL RETROSPECTIVES 

            Discipleship!  

             We began the year with a renewal of our Baptismal vows.  And then we set off on a spiritual journey in 2004 which we appointed “The Year of Revival” at Simpson.  This meant that one day of each month was set aside for Revival, and the following church families worshipped with us:  Arlington-Lewin UMC, Mt. Gregory & St. Luke UMC, West Falls Christian Community, Full Gospel Baptist Church, Mt. Olivet Baptist UMC, St. Luke UMC (Boyds, MD), Jackson UMC, Daisy UMC, and Mt. Zion UMC of Magothy Beach.  The spiritual formation for our Revival was Acts 17:22-31 since we felt God’s call urging us to reflect, once again, on the reality that we are His offspring; and that our discipleship power is rooted in that reality.  We believe that our discipleship dynamic resides in the triumphant death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

            Our “Year of Revival” bore fruit in the lives of youth and adults as we welcomed new members by baptism as well as reaffirmation. 

            The Simpson United Methodist women supported our call to Revival by purchasing a set of pew Bibles for the church.  The United Methodist men, on the other hand, were critical to Simpson’s drive to collect school supplies for children in the Mt. Airy community, and our desire to lend helping hands--in the form of buckets--to areas devastated by tornadoes.  Last year, as in previous years, Simpson celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas by giving baskets of food to those who were less fortunate. 

            Our “Year of Revival” bore fruit in the lives of those who were challenged by serious health issues.  These men and women held on to God’s unchanging hand, and believed on Him for whom nothing is impossible. 

             Rev. Gregory J. McNeil, Pastor