FROM THE PASTOR:
Independence is great! We all want independence. We want to see our children grow to become independent of us. We celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4th.
Yet there is another side we must learn if we are to be truly free. The signers of the Declaration of Independence discovered their strength by depending on one another. We gain freedom when we learn to depend on others for the help we need.
We discover true freedom when we learn to be interdependent. The words “one another” are found in over a hundred verses in the New Testament. Every Sunday in church in Interdependence Day!
A group of pastors were discussing on the Christian Broadcasting Network how wonderful it is to have freedom of religion in America. Evangelist Jerry Falwell said that freedom of religion meant tha tin America the Pentecostals, if they wanted to, could jump over the pews, and tha the Baptists, if they wanted to, could sleep in the pews.
FELLOWSHIP DINNER
The fellowship dinner for June will be held Wednesday July 6th at 6:30 pm in the fellowship hall. Everyone is welcome, even if you don’t have time to make something to bring.
FELLOWSHIP BIBLE STUDY GATHERING
Those interested in a time of sharing, praying, and fellowshipping together are welcome to gather at the home of Henry Procopio on Wednesday July 20th at 6:30 pm. This is a monthly gathering but anyone is welcome to come whenever they can come. The group is studying the Gospel of Mark. You can start at any time. Desserts are provided.
UPCOMING DATES
July 4th Independence Day
July 27-31 Aldersgate 2011 at
Dayton, Ohio
CHURCH CLEANING SCHEDULE
For July 3rd Martha Neeley
For July 10th Open
For July 17th Brenda & Tony
For July 24th Tim & Bev Garrett
For July 31st Martha & Henry
COMMUNION
We will celebrate Communion on Sunday, July 3rd.
MEMBER ADDRESSES NEEDED
The church is responsible for keeping up with its members’ addresses even if they move. We are missing addresses for the following members: Charlie Brown, Johnetta Brown, Mitch and Vickie Skelton. If you can get an address and phone number for any of these people please write it down and give it to the pastor.
WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY
A gift to your church in your will is a testimony to your faith and the confidence you have in the ministry of your church.
ARE YOU HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING DURING WORSHIP?
Our damaged hearing assistance system has been replaced. This system allows you to sit anywhere you want to in the sanctuary and hear anything that is being broadcast over the microphones through the use of special receivers and earphones. If you would like to try one, ask the pastor.
WHO SHOULD YOU TALK TO?
There are times when you might have an idea for improving the ministry of our church, you might see something that needs to be fixed, or you might have an idea for a new program for our church or a new outreach project idea. Who should you talk to?
If it has to do with the physical property of the church—the building, the contents, the grounds around the church, or the cemetery across the street, you should talk to a Trustee. The Trustees are: Doug Baxter, Steve Lain, Henry Procopio, Tim Garrett, Sandra Robinson, Patsy Clark, Martha Neeley, Charles Powell, and Grady Garton.
If you have an idea for a program for our children, youth or adults you want to get your idea to the Nurture Committee. Brenda Alcorn is the head of that committee.
If you have an idea for reaching our community in a new way, a way to reach more people for Christ, an new outreach or mission project, you want to get your idea to the Outreach Committee. Martha Neeley is the head of that committee.
If you have an idea to support and encourage our pastor, or an idea for the general ministry of all of our members you want to get your idea to the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Henry Procopio is the head of that Committee.
If you have an idea to raise more funds for the church you want to get your idea to the Finance Committee. Teresa Shepherd is head of the that committee.
JOELTON HOPE CENTER –Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The Hope Center is located 212 Gifford Place, between Curves and the Laundromat. There are now over 115 client families being helped by our center. In January 36 families [138 individuals] received food boxes.
A barrel is in the entryway of the church to receive donations for the Joelton Hope Center. [You can also take them directly to the Hope Center.] There is always a need for cooking oil, sugar, corn meal and flour. These are items that the center has to buy most often. There is also a need for diapers size 4 and 5.
The Hope Center is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10-4 and 10-2 Saturday. The Hope Center Board set a goal of being open 6 days a week in 2011 so additional volunteers are needed any day Monday-Saturday. Call the Hope Center at 876-1778 if you can help.
The Joelton Hope Center was highlighted at the Tennessee Annual Conference session last month as a good example of risk taking mission and it was granted Advance Special Status.
CHURCH BLOG SITE
If you haven’t visited the church blog site, go to www.forestgroveumctn.blogspot.com. Each sermon is posted there as they are delivered and most times there will be a link to an audio of that sermon. You can post comments, questions and even things you have for sale.
If you want to post something other than a comment on that particular sermon, just email Peg and she’ll post it for you (pegbillman@yahoo.com). If you want to be notified when something new is posted, become a follower of the blog. Soon I hope to have a Facebook page for Forest Grove, too so keep checking for that on the blog or in this newsletter.
SHORES OF GRACE
On July 16th the Shores of Grace worship team (Nic and Rachael Billman along with 4 or 5 others) will lead a night of worship at the Gateway Christian Center (120 East Avenue, Goodlettsillve) at 7 PM.
Shores of Grace is a worship and missionary ministry headquartered in Curitiba Brazil, led by Nic and Rachael Billman. They will be on a summer tour raising awareness of their ministry there. The focus of their ministry is setting prostitutes free and walking them through restoration; taking the love of the Father into the favela's and helping them see their true value, and equipping and serving the church in Brazil.
“The goal of our staff is to reveal Father God in all that we do. Whether we're leading worship in a church, walking the streets of Brazil or shopping at the local grocery store, we want to reveal the Father. This is the calling that God has placed on our lives and we believe it's a calling for the whole church, for all of the sons and daughters of the living God. To live a life of compassion and power where miracles and healing follow us everywhere we go, just as they did with Jesus”. For more info go to www.shoresofgrace.com.
DEVOTIONAL CORNER
"Who has brought this disaster on Tyre,
that great creator of kingdoms?
Her traders were all princes,
her merchants were nobles.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies has done it
to destroy your pride
and bring low all earth's nobility."
that great creator of kingdoms?
Her traders were all princes,
her merchants were nobles.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies has done it
to destroy your pride
and bring low all earth's nobility."
What God hates is human pride—the kind of pride that says, "I don't need God." The kind of pride that seeks to be great apart from God. Again and again in Scripture, God says he opposes the proud. He wants us to be like trusting children, looking to him for every need, every breath we take. That kind of attitude goes against the world … but reaches God's heart every time.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
Prayer: Father, show me where I have a prideful heart. Convict me when I think I don’t need You or can do it all myself. Show me your heart of compassion and replace my pride with that! Help me see others more than myself and to reach out to them with the Love you’ve so lavishly poured into my life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment