By reading through Paul’s final letter to Timothy, we’ll be celebrating the faith we’ve inherited while also being honest about the challenges it brings - both for us as individuals and for us as a community. Like any inheritance, our faith comes with blessings and burdens. There are treasures we gladly receive and hold onto, alongside parts that feel heavy, complicated, or even broken. It’s no secret that the history of Christianity includes moments of ignorance, misplaced zeal, and sin. But woven through that same story are acts of grace, courage, and love. Taken together, the story of the church reflects the ongoing work of God’s Spirit transforming human life. By engaging the whole story (not just the easy parts) we can learn to see God in new ways, deepen our understanding of God’s peace, and grow more confident in God’s love.

 

To help bring our conversations/celebrations to life - and to give us a tangible way to engage with scripture - we’re inviting everyone to take part in SPIRIT WEEKS! That’s right, Spirit Weeks! Throughout this series, each Sunday will feature a simple theme: a dress code, activity, or fun assignment that anyone can join in. Just like “spirit week” at school, we’ll show up with mismatched clothes, wild hairstyles, family photos, or quirky accessories. Every Sunday, we will share a slightly more detailed updated about what the following week’s activity or dress code will be, but the basic outline of this worship series is shared below. Please make sure that you’re receiving our weekly email updates, joining us in worship, or following our facebook page to stay up to date on this worship series.

Sept. 14th – Our Ancestors, Grandparents, & the Gift of God (Communion Sunday)

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-7
• Theme: Dress like and/or bring in a photo of your Ancestors (Parents/Grandparents/etc.) This week we celebrate the inheritance of faith passed down through generations. Paul reminds Timothy that his faith first lived in his grandmother and mother, and he calls him “my beloved son” — showing that in Christ we are connected like family, bound together by the promise of life. We’ll honor our ancestors while also remembering that the Gospel makes us kin to one another, entrusted with a living faith to carry forward.
  
  

Sept. 21st– Our Holy Calling

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-18
• Theme: Career Day – Dress for the job you have (or even the job you want) and/or bring in some workplace accessories/tools. This week we focus on Paul’s charge to Timothy — “Do not be ashamed of the gospel” — and remember that beyond our careers and titles, we share in a holy vocation. Paul speaks of guarding the “good deposit” of faith entrusted to us, and this Sunday we’ll consider how we live that faith out in our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces.

Sept. 28th – Strengthened by Grace: Remember Jesus Christ

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:1-13
• Theme: Come to church dressed as A Soldier, an Athlete, or a Farmer and/or bring in some tools or other athletic equipment. A Soldier, an Athlete, and a Farmer - Paul uses these three images to remind Timothy that discipleship takes discipline, endurance, and diligence. All of these metaphors point us toward the heart of the passage: Remember Jesus Christ. This is more than recalling a story - it is living each day with the strength of grace, letting Christ shape how we serve, how we endure, and how we work for God’s kingdom.

Oct. 5th – Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About… (World Communion Sunday)

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:14–19
• Theme: Wacky Tacky Clothes & Crazy Hair Day. On a day when Paul warns about “wrangling over words” and “profane chatter,” we lean in the opposite direction: joy, absurdity, laughter. Our wacky clothes and wild hair become a counter-witness — a reminder that God’s people aren’t defined by argument or division but by grace that welcomes everyone to the table. Around the globe, Christians will gather in countless languages and traditions; while here in Stilwell, we’ll add our own joyful witness, declaring that above all else, love has the final word.

Oct. 12th – Set Apart 

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:20-26
• Theme: Formal Day - Everyone dress to the nines… Paul uses the image of vessels in a great house - some ordinary, some set apart for special use. In Christ, we are called to be cleansed, renewed, and ready for God’s good purposes. Our “formal day” attire is a playful reminder that each of us has been set apart by grace, not to boast, but to live lives of holiness, gentleness, and service.

Oct. 19th – Sinful Sunday

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Theme: Dress for Distress… Villains, Bad Guys, and Ne’er-do-wells. Paul warns Timothy that “distressing times” will come when selfishness, cruelty, and hypocrisy take center stage. It’s a portrait of a world where people chase their own desires and exploit others — a world that can feel all too familiar. On Sinful Sunday, we lean into this truth with a wink: dressing up as villains, rogues, and ne’er-do-wells to name, even laugh at, the power of evil. But the heart of worship is not despair or mockery — it is joyful defiance. We proclaim that evil doesn’t have the last word, that God’s grace equips us to resist harm, and that the Spirit calls us to live with courage and compassion even in dark times.

Oct. 26th – Capable & Equipped for Good Work

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
• Theme: Dress up as Role Models & Superheroes. Superheroes are known for doing good — and that’s exactly what Paul says we’re meant to be equipped for. Scripture isn’t just for belief, but for action. It grounds us, trains us, and helps us show up with courage and purpose, just like our role models and heroes.

Nov. 2nd – All Saints Sunday (Communion Sunday with Candle Lighting)

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
• Theme: Wear White or Gold to Church. On this All-Saints Sunday, we wear white or gold not only to remember those who have finished their race, but to claim the promise of life that still awaits us. Paul’s words are a powerful witness — that even in the face of death, our lives can proclaim the gospel of light and life. We gather to remember, to give thanks, and to prepare for our own faithful departure.

Nov. 9th – Don’t Forget My Coat!

• Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 9-22
• Theme: Winter Accessories - Coats, scarves, gloves & Travel Wear. This final Sunday in our series invites us to reflect on the realness of Scripture - not just its theology, but its texture, its humanity. Paul’s request to “bring my coat” reminds us that holy things can also be ordinary things. Our travel clothes and winter accessories nod playfully to Paul’s final instructions, while also pointing to the deeper truth: Scripture speaks through real people with real needs – and that’s a big part of what makes it sacred.

For more information about participating or leading in worship, please click the following links:

• Sunday Morning Worship Information
• Stilwell UMC's Worship Ministries