As the staff prayed this morning, (Wednesday), I found myself feeling a little overwhelmed as we prayed about this weekend. We have a lot going on. Friday night and Saturday morning is the North Jefferson Ministry Association Men’s Conference at the Church Revived. I’m teaching on Family Order from Ephesians 5 and 6. Men, there is still room.
Sunday morning we kick off our August Camp Meeting – August Reach 2010. This year’s message theme is Fearless. As I was feeling a little overwhelmed thinking of everything I have this weekend, Jesus’ question for this Sunday’s message came back to my mind, “Why are you afraid?” It is a question that all of us face sometime in our lives.
I received an email this week from one who shared some of her fears. Visiting in the hospital, I heard another express some fears. Fears come at us from many angles. The question is, how do you deal with your fears? Read Matthew 8:23-27 in preparation for Sunday morning’s message. The disciples were suddenly faced with the fear of a storm and there are some important messages for us in that story.
Sunday afternoon we are having a Back To School Rally for the Hispanic Community of 100 Oaks. This is an opportunity to build relationships with the Hispanic community as we move toward English as a Second Language Classes and Spanish Bible Study and Worship in 2011. This event begins at 3:00 PM. We could still use some homemade goodies for the Rally. If you would provide some homemade cookies, finger sandwiches, chips & dip, please contact Jennifer Lindholm jlindholm@gmvumc.org. You can bring them Sunday morning. If you would like to help with this outreach, please let Jennifer know. We will need some people to help with food tables and handout school and family packets.
Sunday evening we kick off BODY BUILDING: Connecting, Growing, Equipping the Body of Christ. Intergenerational Worship begins at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary. This Sunday some of our children will be leading our worship. Then at 6:30 PM there will be a variety of opportunities. Our Youth Ministries have restructured their Sunday evening to be part of the worship time. After worship they will have their small groups and children will have growth studies.
Adult options are as follows:
• Connecting Group: Jesus 101, led by Bob Brewis. This is a look at Jesus in the Gospel of John. Read the first chapter of John before the class.
• Growing Groups:
o Fearless Groups, led by Paul Wiegert and Judy Shepherd
o Disciple Bible I led by Billie Sue Hulsey
• Equipping Group: Discover Your Serve, led by Pam Ansardi
• Chasing Rabbits: Faith Conversation with the Pastor.
I’m looking forward to our Chasing Rabbits conversations. Sunday night we’re going to begin with the question, Why did the people of Israel have so much fear in their journey to the Promise Land, when God kept working miracles? Which leads to the question, why do we let fear grip us? If you have some faith questions you would like to discuss, drop me an email.
Sunday also kicks off a Month of Prayer for the Children. You are invited to be a Prayer Warrior for one or more children or for a teacher as they begin the school year. Cards with all the children enrolled in our Child Enrichment Center and all the school aged children of our Church Family will be on the altars on Sunday. They will be color coded according to age. There will be instructions on the prayer card about praying for the child/teenager for the month of August and writing the child/teenager a note to let them know you have been praying for them.
Then on August 8th, at 3:30 PM, there will be a Prayer Walk at all of the schools in North Jefferson County. In most of the schools we will have the opportunity to walk the halls of the school and pray for students, teaches, administrators and staff. You might go to the school closest to you, or the school that your children/grandchildren will be attending. There will be a leader at each campus with information on how you might pray as you walk through or around the facilities.
I’m excited about what God has planned for us in the month of August. Be in prayer and be present as we grow together in Christ. As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
