Lafayette United Methodist Church

What happens at our church?

Walking into a new space can be intimidating, especially when each church does things a little differently. Here is a breakdown for an average Sunday at Lafayette United Methodist in London, OH.

Service begins at 10:30. See you there!

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”

- Proverbs 31:8-9

On May 30, 2026, 3-5pm, please join Butler County Immigrant Justice, the Task Force on United Methodist Immigration Ministries of Ohio, The Interfaith Center at Miami University, Ignite Peace, the Amos Project’s Black Women’s Health Initiative, the Coalition for Concerned Citizens, and the Miami Valley Immigration Coalition for a peaceful, interfaith prayer vigil on the sidewalk and public space outside the Butler County Jail (705 Hanover St., Hamilton, OH 45011).

We stand in solidarity with people held in ICE detention in the Butler County Jail and throughout the United States, and we call for:
- In-person/contact visitation for clergy seeking to care for ICE detainees in the Butler County Jail
- An end to ICE detention
- Transparency on detention facility funding
- An end to INA § 287(g) agreements

Learn more and sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepshkcVdY9G1RBl37_k6EK3Eiue7sn9jVEz8ej-3--kqHqfg/viewform.

In light of rising prices (and the amount of berries and snap peas my husband, Pastor Jackson, eats), I’ve decided to try my hand at gardening. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it takes to bear good produce.

As my snap peas began to grow, I realized the tiny, long stems were not able to support their own weight. To grow to their fullest potential, my peas need some sort of outside structure to guide and support them.

When someday I finally (hopefully 🙏) begin to see my garden bear fruit and veggies, I will see that some branches bear fruit while others do not. Some branches may even shrivel up and die. In interest of saving the rest of the plant, and helping it bear more produce, I will remove the ineffective branches and return them to the Earth (by throwing them in my backyard).

John 15 uses this same logic, but applied to ourselves. Some parts of ourselves are full of life, and bear fruit— the parts of ourselves that love and care for our neighbor and “enemy” alike; the parts of ourselves that stand up for those who are oppressed; and the parts of ourselves who seek to grow in character and faith.

Other parts of ourselves may be unable to bear the fruit of the Kingdom of God— the parts of ourselves that refuse to see our “enemy” as a beloved child of God; the parts of ourselves that remain silent when we see those with power crushing those without; and the parts of ourselves that believe we have already perfected ourselves in character and faith.

But hold on; that all sounds fine and dandy, but how am I supposed to love my enemy? How am I supposed to be kind to those who refuse to be kind to me? How do I have faith in someone and something I cannot see? How do I try to become a better person without crumbling to pieces, devastated that I am never enough— that I can never achieve such things?

Much like snap peas, we do not do this alone. We have structure to rely on. We have Scripture. We have prayer. We have Church. We have our relationship with Jesus Christ, who we can talk to any time, like a dear old friend. None of these things will come easy. They will take time. But the more we remain in connection with Jesus Christ, the more He will help us to reach our fullest potential for goodness. With our cooperation, God will prune us over a lifetime to become more and more like our compassionate Savior.

Thank you Jesus, for I could never do this alone.

- Sincerely, Liana Moody

P.S. We *are* accepting prayers for our garden.

This week’s Scripture is John 15:1-8:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”