Dear Friends,
Come back with me to Turner Field again for the newsletter article this week.
It was such an interesting night at the ballpark. Sandy and I attended the game with some dear friends who are fans of the Chicago Cubs. Several times, when the Cubs rallied or scored, they stood and cheered wildly for their team. Their enthusiasm prompted me to comment, "If I get beat up because of you tonight, I will not be very pleased."
Fortunately, my warnings did not seem to dampen their passion to root the Cubs on to victory. Unfortunately for them, John Smoltz, Andruw Jones, and a rookie named Jeff Francouer saw to it that the Atlanta Braves ended up on the winning side of the contest. Some great pitching, timely hitting, and a couple of home runs put the Braves in the winning column for the game.
There was a couple sitting right behind us that noticed that our friends were Cubs fans. They took the opportunity to heckle our friends throughout the evening. They were pretty consistent in making negative comments about the Cubs at every opportunity that presented itself. They gloated when the Braves scored a run and took the lead. The most annoying habit was when the Braves fans did their "Indian Chant," this guy joined in loudly and way out of tune. As the evening wore on, the more beer he drank, the more obnoxious he became.
To be perfectly honest, it was an interesting time for me to be sitting at the ballpark. My home team, and the team who maintains my greatest loyalty and interest, is the Philadelphia Phillies. Being born and raised outside of Philadelphia, I have pretty much been a fan all my life. However, throughout my years I have a great appreciation for both the Cubs and the Braves. They are both great teams with great baseball traditions. Actually, I cannot see any good reason to denigrate either team, even when they are playing my beloved Phillies.
The only thing I felt that I could do to calm the situation with the heckling was to engage the fans behind us in conversation. Between innings, I would ask them about where they were from, their careers, and if the two of them had children. The man worked for a distributor and his wife was a teacher. They had young children. The husband told me that John Smoltz, the Braves pitcher for that evening, frequents a restaurant near where they live. He seemed pleased to speak of Smoltz from a perspective of personal encounter. The man assured me that John Smoltz was a genuinely nice guy. The private wish in my heart was that some of that kindness would have rubbed off on this baseball fan.
At least when they were talking to me, these two were not aggravating my friends. The more I got to know them, the less they were a frustration to me. Actually, they seemed to tone down the heckling just a little bit as the game progressed. Perhaps it was because it became obvious that the Braves were going to win. Or maybe it was because they were relating to us as people instead of the enemy.
It seems to me that it is vitally important for folks to spend time understanding one another's hearts, interests, and hurts if we are going to develop the kind of authentic relationships that can make a difference in this world. Without a little effort at getting to know these folks, the rhetoric and heckling may have escalated until angry words would have been exchanged.
Each Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11:00 there are services of worship that are prepared for us to find fellowship with one another and fellowship with the Lord. Come and be with us as we invest in the most important relationships. See you in church!
Blessings!
ARM
Rev Alan R Miller +
AUGUST IS CAMPMEETING MONTH!
On the last three Sundays of August, the 11:00 service will be planned to include additional hymn singing and a "campmeeting" mood in the worship.
If there are hymns that you would like included in the services, please contact the church office by phone or e-mail and let us know what you would like for us to sing on those Sundays. Each week the service will begin with a "song service" with selections of our favorite hymns. Is there a hymn that you love
Sunday School Teachers Needed
A Sunday School teacher is need for the 2-year-old class. Also we are in need of substitutes for the 2005-06. If interested, please contact Carol Corwin at 876-8932.
Something to Think About…
Recently I had purchased a birthday gift for someone and my schedule during a hectic week had not allowed me to wrap the gift in lovely wrapping paper and bow. The time came that I HAD to present the gift - wrapped or not. So…reluctantly I handed the gift to the recipient in it’s sack from the store. The birthday girl was so very excited about the gift – it didn’t matter at all what it was contained in. I apologized to the recipient’s mom that I had not gotten the gift wrapped and this is what she said “It is not what is on the outside that is important – it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
How true that statement is about our own lives. We spend so much time preparing the outside of who we are with fine clothes, “sprayed on” tan, make-up, six-pack abs, tattoos, and fine jewelry that we often neglect our inner self – our spiritual beings. Truth be known what is important is not the outside but the inside. In Proverbs 27:19 we read, “As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” What kind of reflection do people see from your heart?
Reflecting,
Anita
Fine Arts Academy Wrap-up
What a great week we had at the Fine Arts Academy. Children learned drama, woodworking, dance, sewing, scrapbooking, Fun with Flowers, cooking and music. Creativity abounded. Thanks to all the volunteers who made this exciting week possible: Scott Davis, Lyman Bowker, Milla Wilkes-Davis, John Rowan, Frank Richardson, Journey Wilkes-Davis, Lauren Faircloth, Saif Wilkes-Davis, Amy Garigan, Sam Powers, Alison Smiley, Judy Shippey, Dottie Klingbeil, Lynne Edwards, Roxanne, Selina and Nick Snider, Donna Rowan, Vanessa Richardson, Dot Cohan and Emilie Powers. Thank you for giving of your time to our ministry to children.
It is time to begin thinking and planning for the 2005-2006 school year’s church activities for children. Not only will we be starting Children’s Church but also Sunday Night Live (our ministry to children ages 3- 5th grades.) SNL happens each Sunday evening from 5:00 – 6:30 with a time of Bible Study, games, crafts and praise and worship. If you would like to volunteer to help with this ministry to children, please contact Anita as soon as possible.
Chrismon Committee To Meet
The Chrismon Committee will meet on July 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the church social hall. Anyone interested in helping us work on Chrismons for the church Christmas tree is invited to come.
PACKING LIST FOR CAMP LIVINGSTONE
1. BEDDING (SLEEPING BAG OR SHEETS AND BLANKET, PILLOW)
2. SHOES (SANDALS W/BACKS, SNEAKERS OR HIKING BOOTS)
3. WASH CLOTH AND TOWELS
4. SOAP AND SHAMPOO
5. DEODORANT
6. TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE
7. SUN BLOCK
8. INSECT REPELLANT
9. FLASHLIGHT
10. PONCHO OR RAIN SUIT
11. CLOTHING APPROPRIATE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND SUMMER WEATHER CONDITIONS. ** NO SHORT SHORTS, MUSCLE SHIRTS, TANK TOPS, BABY DOLL TEES, OR SPAGHETTI STRAP SHIRTS**
12. ONE PIECE SWIM SUITS OR COVER UP W/ TWO PIECE SWIM SUITS- NO SPEEDOS FOR GUYS, HA HA
13. $30-40 FOR TWO MEALS UP AND TWO MEALS BACK
14. NOTEBOOK AND WRITING UTENSILS
15. **BIBLE**
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:.......................................................................................154
Worship 8:30:........................................................................................ 131
..............11:00:.........................................................................................161
Total Worship:.......................................................................................300
MY GIFTS
Received Last Week: ......................................................................9,515.00
Received to Date:.......................................................................240,736.00
Designated:.........................................................................................885.00
MY SERVICE
Ushers:......................C lifford Johnson, Capt., Elbert Byrd, Guy Browning
..................... Bob Dasher, Buddy DeLoach, Bob Pirkle, Charles Strickland
Security Steward:............................................................................Elbert Byrd
Greeters: (Front)...........................................................................Kelly Wiggins
................ (Back)...........................................................................Darlene Goff
Acolytes:.......................................................... Joey Armeni & Molly Zechman
Crucifer:......................................................................................Elizabeth Goff
Altar Steward:............................................................................... Judy Shippey
Sound Room:......(8:30)............................................................... John Rowan
...........................(11:00) ...............................................................Shawn Diggs
Contact Information for Camp Livingstone: Alan Darsey (912) 977-4992, Jennifer Darsey (912) 977-4864, Joel & Cindy Chandler (912) 572-9189, Camp Livingstone (423) 263-5060. During our travels to & from camp, you can contact us via cell numbers. When we arrive at camp, cell service becomes very poor & the camp number will be the most reliable way to get in touch with your youth.
PORTABLE CD PLAYERS ALLOWED WITH CHRISTIAN CD’S ONLY. NO OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES ALLOWED!!
WE WILL LEAVE THE CHURCH AT 8 A.M. MONDAY JULY 25. ALL GOING TO CAMP WILL NEED TO BE AT THE CHURCH AT 7:30 A.M. W/ 4 COMPLETED CAMP FORMS IN HAND. FORMS AND FINAL PAYMENT FOR CAMP MUST BE TURNED IN BEFORE LOADING BUSES.
WE WILL ARRIVE BACK AT THE CHURCH ON SATURDAY, JULY 30 BETWEEN 7 P.M. AND 8 P.M. A PHONE LIST WILL BE LEFT BEHIND, IF WE DEVIATE FROM THE ABOVE TIMES YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE TIME CHANGE.
All of the youth who have attended the car washes, need to be at Bible Study this Thursday at 6:30 at the coffee shop in order to receive information on the amount of money that will be deducted for camp. ALL CAMP MONEY IS DUE THIS SUNDAY. Thanks to all those who supported the car washes. As a result of their support, we raised $1800 to go toward camp.
