As my family and I drove to my niece’s graduation party last month we passed through several small towns decorated for the 4th of July. Some had American flags flying from the homes lining Main Street, while others had beautifully potted plants hanging outside the downtown storefronts. It reminded me very much of The Andy Griffith Show and the fictitious town of Mayberry that was just as much a star character as Andy and Barney. Seeing these small towns made me want to come back to one of them and watch some fireworks, take in a parade and feel “community.” After all, “community” is really what The Andy Griffith Show was all about. It was about the relationships built with family and neighbors on the front porch, at the Barber Shop and on Main Street. I guess that is the one thing I didn’t see a lot of on this one particular Saturday in June – people. Sure, they will line Main Street when the parade comes to town or when they celebrate their obligatory apple, peach or arts festival, but for the most part downtown, and the vibrant community it once held, are a thing of the past. People don’t gather on the porch much anymore, local Barber Shops are closing, and (I know I’m going to sound like my grandfather here . . .) a large part of our culture would rather stay inside and play on their phone than walk outside and create community. Of course, my hope is that the church can “fill in the gap” for those towns and cities that are becoming less and less effective at creating community. So . . . if you have a chance, linger after worship and get to know those sitting around you. Grab a cup of coffee on Sunday morning and start a conversation with that person you know by sight, but not by name. Help out with a “Grab ‘n’ Go Grill-Out” Wednesday and say “hello” to the children and families of our Kingdom Kids Early Learning Center. Join a small group and gather for fun, food and fellowship throughout the week. Let’s get back to our roots when in the book of Acts we read the following about the early church, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (2:46-47). In Christ’s Peace, Pastor John

“ALMOST MAYBERRY”

Faithnews July 2019

Faith Kids Wow! We really had a blast

during VBS! Thank you to

everyone that helped, donated

items, prepped crafts, and

prayed! We served over 150

children between Kingdom Kids,

Faith Kids, and our community!

A special thank you to Angie

Miller, Valory Rasler, and Jon &

Sarah Bowen. They came early,

stayed late, and made sure it all

happened as planned!

It was wonderful having the

VBS families here for breakfast

and a presentation the following

Sunday. We couldn’t have done

it without the support of our

Faith Family! Thank you!

Next up is our Community

Splash Bash on Saturday,

August 3! Last year we had

about 100 kids and are looking

forward to doing it again!

The plans are in place and the

water slides are scheduled! We

have several items needed to

make it another successful

event. Grab a DARK PINK tag

in the lobby for items needed.

If you can help the day of the

event or help with preparations

the day before, please let the

office know.

Grab ‘n’ Go Grill Out We had our first GGGO on

Wednesday, June 26. We

couldn’t have been more

surprised at the turnout and

were truly blessed by the

appreciation from our

Kingdom Kids families and

staff! We had the opportunity

to meet many new faces and

get to know them.

To help us prepare for the next

one, please sign up to help with

set up, clean up, grilling, or

greeting. We will need a LOT

of hotdogs, water, cookies, and

chips. Please take a YELLOW

tag for needed supplies.

Our next Grab ’n’ Go Grill

Outs are coming up on

Wednesday, July 10 & 24. We

hope you can come and

fellowship with us.

Breakthrough Youth

July is one of my favorite months for youth ministry

because of camp! But there is so much more going on too,

here is what’s happening in July:

June 30-July 5: Sr. High Camp

July 7: Pool Party & CCS service project

July 14: Service Project 12:30-2:30 @ Church

July 21: Youth Sunday Planning & Practice 5-7pm

July 28: Youth Sunday Planning & Practice 5-7pm

Thank you to everyone that has donated food for camp!

We also appreciate your prayers for our youth ministry.

Stewardship Annual Budget $ 853,734

Needed Year to Date $ 410,450

Rec’d Year to Date $ 381,563

Men’s Cookout

Saturday, July 27th

5:00 p.m. at the pavilion

Bring your own beverage & a dish to share.

Everything else is provided.

Guests are welcome! Invite a co-worker or neighbor.

Sign up in the lobby or contact Bill Bridenstein @ 266-5316

Proverbs 22:17

“A merry heart does good like medicine”

Red Cross Blood Drive

Thursday, July 18

12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Register at

1-800-RED CROSS or

redcrossblood.org

Sponsor Code: fumcgos

Walk in appointments are

limited. Donors can get a

theme park ticket, while

supplies last!

Stephen Ministry Summer is well upon us. And the calendar is rapidly ticking down the pages. As we get older, and we are retired, time seems to go much faster. However, there are still 24 hours in each day and the same number days in each month. We jokingly say, “It just takes two of us to do the same amount of work one of us used to do in half the time it now takes two of us to do!”

Even though we seem to be just as busy, our days are filled differently than when we were younger. We spend more time reading, enjoying extended family and friends, and of course, working on our hobbies.

Some of that “extra time” during retirement is spent volunteering. Whether it’s working in the gardens at church, helping with church or funeral dinners, making peanut brittle, mentoring a child or Bible buddy, or folding and mailing church literature, it is a time of working for God’s kingdom and also fulfilling the mission, vision, and values of Faith UMC.

All those things contribute to God’s kingdom on earth. All those things are a part of working in our own Mission Field. One may never know what a kind word, assistance with a task, or mentoring a young person can do to bring about change in their life and growth in their spiritual life.

A statue of Christ at a church in Europe was found almost intact after the wars. It was again erected at the rebuilt church. The only damage, the hands were missing. The congregation decided to leave it as it was found rather than repair it. Their thought was that on earth we now are the hands of Jesus. He is with us, but not physically using His own hands to repair and restore a person’s life.

Stephen Ministry is one way to serve as Jesus’ hands on earth. God’s love is shown in many ways. Whether it’s working at a task at the church, or in sharing with another to carry the life-challenges they are facing, both are working to further God’s kingdom on earth.

There is still time to volunteer to complete the training to be one of the Stephen Ministers. Please contact one of the Stephen Leaders if you would be willing to serve God in this way. The process for becoming a Stephen Minister is explained on the Stephen Ministry bulletin board. Pastor John, Janet Miller, Cathy Van Huystee, John Moore, Linda Schrock or any of the Stephen Ministers would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have regarding Stephen Ministry. -Submitted by Linda Schrock

Discipleship

For the last few years we have had banners up in the Narthex that read, "Disciples Making Disciples". This phrase is so much more than just a catchphrase or a pithy saying. Instead it is a paraphrase of the Great Commission in Matthew 28. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The phrase has two important components.

First is that we must be disciples ourselves. We define a disciple as someone who is taking one step closer to God everyday. Doesn't mean we are perfect, but that we are striving to live as Christ. Being a disciple begins with our commitment to following Christ and to rely on his grace, mercy and salvation.

The second component is to make disciples. To share our faith, the ways in which we rely and follow Christ, with others. You see, we must first follow Christ, and then invite others to follow along this journey with us. It really is all about multiplication. Not because we want a bigger church or more people involved in our programs, but because we have the Good News, the life-saving gift of a relationship with Christ.

Who is in our lives right now that could use this good news? How can we share with them the ways that God is working in our lives? Take a step our your comfort zone, invite a friend, co-worker, or family member to church, Bible study, or a program. Have them join us for our Second Sunday Donut Drop-in, designed to be an easy entry point for visitors! Or perhaps invite them to our Grab & Go Grill Out on July 10th & 24th. No matter how you invite them, or what you invite them too, it can begin conversations about life, faith, and Christ. Let's be a church of disciple-makers; disciples making disciples. -Pastor Sarah

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Brian Conwell 7/22 Victor & Cristol Valdez 7/11 Kim Dahlman 7/2

Pauline Swinehart Sue Weldy Chris & Gina Fisher

Jan Clark 7/24 Austin Moss 7/12 Paula Williams

Cara Starzyk 7/25 Bob Schlobohm Courtney Bierbaum 7/3

Kay Bunn Kylie Tesman 7/13 Elaine Marohn

Mark Richards Alex Van Hoozer Deb Van Dyke

Dave Moss 7/26 Lori Bowers 7/14 Rob & Deb Wilfert

Josh Riker Kathryn Rhodes Jan McDowell 7/4

Nancy Bortner 7/27 Jeff & Kim Dahlman 7/15 Karen Sharkey

Taylor Zimmermann Shannon Jamison Tom Horein 7/5

Brian & Teri Birk Shirley Nicoson 7/16 Linda Rupnow

John Goerlach 7/29 Ron Rinehart Mike & Vanessa DuBois 7/6

Billy Bridenstein John & Cathy Van Huystee 7/17 Kent Stauffer 7/8

Sylvia Rinehart 7/30 Dax Corns Jon & Sara Bowen 7/9

Kathy Eash Ella Hess 7/18 Mya Ott

Pastor John Angie Oliver Kinsley Blair 7/10

Trevor Brickner Todd & Tammy Snodgrass 7/19 Kelsey Brickner

Pat Fawley 7/31 Bruce & Lynda Atkinson Jessie Alber 7/11

Sarah Regan David & Lorna Long Aaron & Jennifer Bennett

Linda Thies

If we’ve missed your birthday or

anniversary, please call the office

so we can add it to the database

and celebrate you!

Su

n

Mo

n

Tue

W

ed

Th

u

Fri

Sa

t

1 6p M

en’s Fellow

ship @

Michael’s R

estaurant 6p S

mall G

roup (Bortner)

2 3 6p P

ickleball 4

Ind

epen

den

ce Day

Church O

ffice &

Kingdom

Kids C

losed

5 Church O

ffice &

Kingdom

Kids C

losed

6

7 8:30a Traditional W

orship 9:45a G

rowth S

tudies 10:45a F

amily W

orship 3-6p Y

outh Pool P

arty

8 6p Men’s F

ellowship @

M

ichael’s Restaurant

7p Worship in the C

hapel

9 4p Stephen Leaders

6p Stephen S

upervisory 7p D

aycare Com

mittee

10 5p G

rab ’n’ Go G

rill Out

6p Pickleball

7p Peanut B

rittle Com

mittee

11 6:30a M

en’s Breakfast

Bible S

tudy @ M

ayberry 10a Intercessory P

rayer Team

6:30p S

mall G

roup (Veterans)

6:30p Relational M

issions 7p T

rustees

12 13 G

uatem

ala Team

L

eaves

14 8:30a T

raditional Worship

9:30a Donut D

rop-In 9:45a G

rowth S

tudies 10:45a C

asual Worship

12:30p Youth W

ork Day

@ F

UM

C

15 6p M

en’s Fellow

ship @

Michael’s R

estaurant 6p S

mall G

roup (Bortner)

7p Worship in the C

hapel

16 11:30a S

enior Lunch @

Bill’s B

BQ

4p W

orld Missionary P

ress

17 6p P

ickleball 6p Ladies B

ible Study P

icnic

18 6:30a M

en’s Breakfast

Bible S

tudy @ M

ayberry 10a Intercessory P

rayer Team

12-6p R

ed Cross B

lood Drive

19 20 G

uatem

ala Team

R

eturn

s

21 8:30a T

raditional Worship

8:30a Youth C

ouncil 9:45a G

rowth S

tudies 10:45a F

amily W

orship 5-7p B

reakthrough Youth

22 6p M

en’s Fellow

ship @

Michael’s R

estaurant 7p W

orship in the Chapel

23 4p S

tephen Leaders 6p S

tephen Supervisory

24 5p G

rab ’n’ Go G

rill Out

6p Pickleball

25 6:30a M

en’s Breakfast

Bible S

tudy @ M

ayberry 10a Intercessory P

rayer Team

6:30p S

mall G

roup (Veterans)

7p Finance C

omm

ittee

26 27 5p G

uys N

igh

t Ou

t C

oo

kou

t

28 8:30a T

raditional Worship

9:45a Grow

th Studies

10:45a Fam

ily Worship

5-7p Breakthrough Y

outh

29 6p M

en’s Fellow

ship @

Michael’s R

estaurant 7p W

orship in the Chapel

30 31 6p P

ickleball

July 2

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