Prayer
We’ve been studying the 5 early church practices from Acts 2:38 & 42. The Apostles teaching (Bible), Fellowship (Community – Hawaiian Luau), Communion, Baptism & Prayer.
A little boy was kneeling beside his bed with his mother and grandmother and softly saying his prayers, “Dear God, please bless Mom and Dad and all the family and please give me a good night’s sleep.” Suddenly he looked up and shouted, “And don’t forget to give me a bicycle for my birthday!!”
“There is no need to shout like that,” said his mother. “God isn’t deaf.” “No,” said the little boy, “but Grandma is!”
Upcoming events in August
Sunday August 6th Communion & Sign-up for Sunday School Volunteers.
Thank you to those you went through the background check and our willing to be Sunday School Volunteers. The Sign-up sheet will be passed around with 2 volunteers going downstairs with kids the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of Sept, Oct, Nov. & Dec. There will also be an alternate position in case one of the volunteers can’t make it. If, as the volunteer you can’t make the date you signed up for, please let Pastor Michael or Stacy the office manager know so we can contact the alternate in advance.
We will post in the bulletin the volunteers and alternate for the current and coming week starting in September.
Sunday August 20th Outside worship/picnic on the Ruth’s property.
Thanks to Chuck & Helen for hosting, much like our Hawaiian luau we’ll have a sign-up sheet for side dishes for the picnic that follows worship beginning at 10 am. And thanks again to everyone that made our outside worship/luau such a success. With special thanks to Michael from Tailgate Caterers that donated all food and proceeds. ($360) to the church youth fund.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
Daily Reasons to Celebrate
Poor August, the only month without holidays! Still, there’s lots to celebrate these final weeks of summer. Enjoy some summer flavors: August 1 is National Raspberry Cream Pie Day; August 2, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day; August 3, National Watermelon Day; August 10, National S’mores Day (have a bonfire!); and August 24 is National Peach Day
If you share life with young kids, have a water balloon fight on — you guessed it — National Water Balloon Day, August 6! Head out for a final (National) Beach Day on August 30. Or head out for an intergenerational hike on National Trail Mix Day, August 31.
And don’t forget to celebrate God’s precious gifts of friends — National Friendship Day is the first Sunday in August; creation — Global Sleep Under the Stars Night is August 8 (prime time for meteor showers!); laughter — National Tell a Joke Day is August 16; and the opportunity to put God’s love into action by serving others — on August 22, National Be an Angel Day, or August 28, National Thoughtful Day, and, for that matter, every day of the year — holiday or not.
Thy will be done
Placing ourselves completely into God’s hands can be challenging. If you need help in that area, pray these words from Thomas à Kempis: “Lord, you know what is best. May your will decide what shall be done. Give what you will, how much you will and when you will. Do what you know is best for me. Do what pleases you and brings your name most honor.
“Put me where you will, and deal with me in all things as you please. I am in your hand — turn me backwards and forwards, turn me upside down. Here I am, your servant, ready for anything, for I have no desire to live for myself but only to live perfectly and worthily for you.”
Save-worthy
I was teaching a junior high Sunday school class about salvation and that age-old question, “Are you saved?” Before diving in, I asked the students what they collect and why. Answers included sports cards, coins, stamps and rocks — items you may have saved as a child too. We save because items seem special or interesting to us. Collecting implies worth and a desire to keep something safe.
In our class, that led to discussion about what it feels like to be saved by or for Jesus … to be the “savee” instead of the “saver.” How amazing that God deems us special, interesting and worthy of safekeeping. We are God’s precious, well-loved “collection,” and he’s reserving space and preparing a place for each one of us.—Julie Lee
When we least deserve love
“Love me when I least deserve it,” says a Swedish proverb, “because that’s when I really need it.” My mom recounts how my 1-year-old sister, scooting around in a walker, somehow got hold of and spilled a loosely capped bottle of cooking oil. As Mom cleaned up, my sis scooted into the bathroom and unwound all the toilet paper.
Mom went to investigate the ruckus, and as she respooled the TP, my sister went back to the kitchen, pulled crackers out of a lower cupboard, tossed them on the floor and drove over them — in the remaining oil. At that point, Mom decided it was naptime! Yet I know Mom laid her little one in her crib with tender love. After a rest, they’d start afresh.
In John 21, the risen Jesus addresses Peter, who had denied him three times the night of Jesus’ arrest. But Jesus didn’t treat Peter harshly. In love, the Savior offered his disciple a fresh start. So too, when we’re at our worst, hurting God’s heart by hurting others and creation, God loves us all the more. He loves us into a fresh start — even, and especially, when we least deserve it. —Heidi Hyland Mann
August
God in his own right hand doth take each day —
each sun-filled day — each rare and radiant night,
and drop it softly on the earth and say:
“Touch earth with heaven’s own beauty and delight.”
August Mission of the Month: Journey Care Hospice / Addus Homecare