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Dear Friends,

Midsummer can be a difficult time for the soul if a person is encouraged by the attendance of others at worship services! If the expectation is for a full sanctuary on a Sunday Morning, the result can often be discouragement.

This is a time of year when lots of people are away, very few new residents are looking for a church home and individuals or families are distracted by the options available for leisure activities. With school not in session and the weather so pleasant, summer is a great time to find opportunities for recreation.

Over the years, it has seemed to be mostly a fruitless effort to try to stimulate worship attendance during the summer months. For the most part, it has seemed that folks are in attendance when they want to be and when they are able.

That, in my opinion, is the core issue. The one thing that none of us can discern in the life of another is their motivation. What prompts us to be present in worship? What gives us permission to remain at home or to engage in another activity? It is quite challenging to find the reason that people “want to” be in worship. There is not always something we can do about the situation once we understand it.

In my life, there are almost no exceptions to the discipline of keeping Sunday as a day of worship. As I think back over the past 27 years of ministry as well as the years preceding being an ordained pastor, I can think of only one Sunday when I missed worship without having a valid excuse. Honestly, I feel very bad about that one day.
Something is missing in my heart and my life when I am not in worship each week. The very act of attending a worship service keeps me in touch with God, in contact with my fellow Christians, and instructs my value system regarding how to live appropriately in this world.

Though I am uncertain of the source of this quote, I remember that it gave me cause to stop and reflect. It was said,

“In our culture today, we have our core values backwards. These days
we worship our work,
we work at our play,
and we play at our worship.”

That is a powerful observation on the way our culture functions these days. Do you think it may be accurate?

Each Sunday morning, at 8:30 and 11:00, we gather at First United Methodist Church for worship. At 8:30, the Celebration Service provides a contemporary style of worship. At 11:00, there is a more traditional approach to worship. At both opportunities, the Scriptures are read and taught, prayers are lifted for our needs, fellowship with other believers is available, and each one is invited to make a response to God’s love that is authentic to their own heart.

James Taylor, in his song “You’ve Got a Friend” wrote, “winter, spring, summer or fall...you’ve got a friend.” Our church echoes, “winter, spring, summer or fall” you have a place to worship, to be nurtured in your faith, and to find meaning through your spirituality. See you in Church!

Blessings!

ARM

Rev. Alan R Miller

Something to Think About…

Years ago the Denver Zoo had a difficult decision to make. They were offered the gift of a beautiful, large polar bear, but the problem was that there was no existing room for the bear. At the time of the gift the board of directors was in the middle of a fund-raising campaign to renovate the zoo. They changed the strategy to include a magnificent habitat for the polar bear in their renovation plans.

In the meantime the bear was put in a small temporary cage. The space was so small that it could only take three steps, turn around, and walk three steps back.

Because of unforeseen delays the construction took three years, but the bear’s new home was grand – waterfalls, caves, and lots of space. The bear entered its new home, looked around, took three steps, turned around, took three steps back and turned around.

Do we become so conditioned to things “the way they’ve always been” that we miss out on the wonderful new opportunities that God has for us? Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Let us not take three steps in God’s plan and turn around and take three steps back. God has a plan for us individually and as a church family. Let us rejoice in ALL that God has for us.

In Christ,

Anita

Blood Drive

Many of us have either been the recipients of blood or some member of our family has been blessed with the “gift of life.” What a privilege it is to know that if we are in a car accident or have a disease that effects our supply of blood that blood will be made available to us. This happens only because people are willing to donate blood for this purpose. On July 18 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. in our social hall we will have the opportunity to give blood. Any person age 17 or older that weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to participate.

I will support First United Methodist Church by…

MY PRAYERS

Grace Stevens, Jim Blocker, Elizabeth Hutton, Ann Powers, Dorothy Stagmeier, Davis Darsey, Jean Jelks, Carolyn Strickland, Chris Varmecky, Liz Muncher, Ethelda Lee, Lynn Bean Lanier, Lynn Sikes. Our soldiers and their families. Harold Lynn, Jeff Smith, Ray Barrett, Evan McLain, Ike Sallee, Brian Layer, Bruce Gannaway, James Lockridge, Spence Burnett, Jeff Starkey, Shane Baker, Tommy DeLoach, John Grady, Steve Lutsky, Bill Howard, Geoff DeTingo, Jason Matthews, James Lowe, Brian Butler, John DeStazio, Thomas Kupsh, Korey Kramer, Vanessa McCulley, Brian Hudson, Rodney Takahashi, Darryl Bell, Mario Crook, Sub Hall, Jim West, Robb Waters, Donald Smith, Richard Aaron, David Stroupe ,Matthew Wickham, Will Arnett, Justin Blackstone, Joseph Foust, Jerald Smith, Jake Rice, Steven Louviere, John Durst, Tom Mentes, Jon Sullivan, Aaron Duncan, Richard Macdougal, Timothy Plumb, Josh Lamere, Mike Musgrove, Brian Wilber, Patrick Kilby, Bob Warren, Charles Whitsel, Clifford L. McDaniel, Jr.

MY PRESENCE
Sunday School:.....................................................................................119
Worship 8:30:.........................................................................................67
..............11:00:.......................................................................................132
Total Worship:......................................................................................199

MY GIFTS
Received Last Week:...................................................................$8,197.50
Received to Date:...................................................................$221,756.00
Communion:.................................................................................$132.00
Memorials:..................................................................................$1,804.00
Youth:.........................................................................................$1,095.00

MY SERVICE
Ushers:......................................................................... Joey Brown, Capt.
Angel Cordero, Bucky Keel, John Rogers, Jack Shuman, David Smiley, Lew Waldrop
Security Steward:................................................................Lew Waldrop
Greeters: (Front).....................................................Ray & Irene Martin
...................(Back)........................................................... Tina Thompson
Acolytes:....................................................Allison Smiley, Elizabeth Goff
Crucifer:..................................................................................Ryan Smiley
Altar Steward:...................................................................Nancy Stafford
Sound Room: .............(8:30).................................................Alan Darsey

....................................(11:00)...................................................Cale Smith