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Senior Pastor
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Senior Pastor [email protected]
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Revelation 21:5
Brothers and Sisters –
Summer Greetings in the name of Jesus! When we humans hear “everything” is going to be made “new” it brings us joy in the eternal sense, but it make us nervous when applied to our lives on earth. We like “new” in small doses. We like new shoes, new suits and dresses, and new cars but when we talk in reference to
“new” in the life of the church our defenses automatically go up. We take comfort in the fact that the message of the gospel is always the same and that the scriptures never change. In a constantly changing world we take comfort that God never changes.
Unfortunately the comfort we take in our unchanging message and our unchanging God often spills over into taking comfort in making sure our “religious preferences” never change. We have our favorite way to worship, favorite hymns and songs, favorite pew, favorite creed, favorite verse, favorite Sunday School room, favorite painting, favorite folks, favorite memories, favorite history, etc. These can become our idols if we are not careful. When we take comfort in “nothing” ever changing in the life of the church we find ourselves way too self-centered and way too exclusive of others. There are only four major movements in authentic Christian worship: The Gathering and Entrance into worship, the Proclamation of the Word and Response to the Word, Thanksgiving and Holy Communion, and a Sending Forth into the world to live as disciples of Jesus (Worshiping with United Methodists, Hoyt L. Hickman, 2007, pp. 67-119). These are the essentials of worship that never change, but the effective communication of the gospel happens when these essentials become “meaningful” to the worshiper. Jesus came to make “all things new.” Essentially, that’s why he was crucified – the “powers that be” like things as they are, the way they always have been.
Many of you have been praying for “change.” You have told me so. But often, when we pray for change and the change then comes, we don’t like it because the change is not happening in a way we want it to happen. A relaunch of the church, and a possible renaming of the church is simply a HOPE that we can remain a beacon on the hill in this community by continuing to reach more people for Christ. I assure you, the essentials of being a follower of Jesus will never change, but we also have to be sensitive to his mission of making “all things new.” I want to offer the very best Traditional and Contemporary worship services we can possibly offer. I want us to look for “fresh expressions” of faith when opportunities arise. I want the Holy Spirit to empower discipleship and evangelism. I want this CHURCH to be here for this COMMUNITY for many centuries to come. Is this not what we all want? Jesus Love You! I Love You, Too!
Mark Your Calendar
August 4
Prayer Team Meeting
August 8 Covenant Place Hymn Fest
August 13
Lunch Bunch
August 14 Tikes & Trikes
Trustees Meeting
August 20 Older Adult Game Day
August 25
Move Up Sunday 4th Sunday Prayer Service
August 27
School Starts Back
AUGUST Family Newsletter
GMV KIDS
GMV
9/11 Wednesday Evenings at 6:30pm in the FH
LEARN • FELLOWSHIP • SERVE Each Wednesday Night GMV Kids will have a time
of worship and then rotate through learning, fellowship and serving.
If you need more information about any of the upcoming events please
contact Amy Sizemore at [email protected]
CEC NEWS MISSIONS
GMVUMC Shut In List *Please always keep our Shut Ins in your thoughts & prayers*
Lille Mae Akers Junior Hughes Glenn Brown Midge Hunter Sue Gravlee Mildred Beatty Jan Biddle Zelma Hill Sue Parker Margaret Jefferson Faye Blaylock J.C. Brown Joan Oxley Phyllis Meek Betty Helms Joyce Watkins Peggy Camp Harriett Griffin Mildred Glass Carolyn Barnes Melba Millican Desiree Sherrer Connie Crawford Dave Cromes Jo Dickinson Frank Malone Kenneth Jennings Sam Morrow Ann Zumbado
HONORARIUMS & MEMORIALS
STUDENT MINISTRY
SENIOR ADULT MINISTRY August 8: Covenant Place Hymn Fest 10:30am
August 13: Lunch Bunch 11:00am
August 20: Older Adult Game Day 11:30am
In Memory of Judy Reagan by James & Shirley Nolen
In Memory of Reuben Downey by Ambassador Class
In Memory of Sherrell Guthrie by Wendell & Martha Guthrie, Susan Earle, Sandy Cowan, Elizabeth Allen,
Rodney & Michelle Rushing, BBVA Compass Bank, Hair Group of Homewood, Baileytown United Methodist Church and Baileytown Masonic Lodge.
In Memory of Robert Barnes by Kathy Erhart
In Memory of Kay Pea by Joan Reynolds
In Memory of Mary Louise & Norman Hart by Harold Payne
In Memory of Frances Cook by Open Door Sunday School Class
Starting Aug. we will start back
collecting individually packed food
items for Backpack Buddies.
Collection barrels will be located in
Gym foyer and Narthex . We will be
serving Tarrant Intermediate school
and Fultondale Elementary this
school year providing 75 meals per
week for kids not having food at
home to cover their weekend . Packing of the Backpacks is
done once a month by Amy and Kids as an ongoing mission
outreach. Packing Lists are available at collection stations.
Thanks for your support of this loving ministry.
CEC has had a great summer. We have
had lots of fun learning, having water
days, and our older children have gone on
several field trips. We are looking
forward to a new school year. Open
house will be Thursday, August 22 at
6:30pm and our first day of school will be Tuesday, August 27
Please be in prayer for all the teachers and families as we
start a new school year!
August 7: Nerf War in gym from 6:30-8:00pm
August 14: Zip lining at Cornerstone Ranch 6:30-8:00pm
August 21: Back to School Swim Party at the Salters 6:00-8:00pm
August 28: No Youth - get settled into your first week of school
Please contact Mark & Carla Barber or Ben & Whitney Hamm
FALL LIFE GROUPS
• Parenting Life Group-Daryl & Haley Irons|Sunday Evenings 6:00PM| RM TBD
this class will be utilizing the book Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David Tripp. This will be an interactive small group where we discuss the principles laid out in each chapter of the book as well as personal stories, struggles, and triumphs. Childcare will be provided. Please contact Daryl at [email protected] for more information.
• Jesus & the Church 101 Life Group|Rev. Steve Baccuss|Monday Evenings 6:30PM|OFF CAMPUS
this is an introductory class into Christianity and Methodism. Please contact Rev. Steve Baccus at [email protected] for more information.
• Evangelism Life Group|Pastor Ray Whittaker & Bill Couch|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
this class will be utilizing the book Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels. Please contact Pastor Ray at rwhittaker @gmvumc.org for more information.
• Revelation Life Group-Rev. Jeri Hunt|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
• No Other Gods Life Group-Cathy Harris|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
this study will challenge women to evaluate the modern-day idols in our culture and embrace a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus.
• Servants, Misfits and Martyrs: Saints & Their Stories Life Group-Chester Jolly|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
discover a world of saints whose faith, hope, and action will inspire and encourage you to make a difference!
• Rebuilding the Temple Life Group-Heather Cason|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
we will learn to do what's good for our bodies today and weight will take care of itself.
• Women’s Prayer Life Group-Pam Irons|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
• With A Purpose Life Group-Anna Firestone|TBD
• Sign Language Life Group-Terry & Tori Dahlgren|Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM|RM TBD
Family Life Group Kick-Off Event-Wednesday, September 4 at 5:30pm in the Fellowship
Hall. All Life Group facilitators will be there to greet you and answer any questions
while we enjoy a FREE meal together. All Life Groups and Children’s Activities
will start September 11.
RAY’S RAMBLINGS Charlotte and I are honored to have been appointed here to our home church
and we look forward to being in ministry with you for many years to come. Let
me say that while we recognize many faces of you who were here when we
began pastoral ministry, our memory of your names is not near as good. So, we
ask whether you have been here for a while or are fairly new to please tell us
your name…several times. We look forward with great anticipation as GMVUMC
embarks on this new chapter of life that we are coming up to in the near future.
Our desire is to walk with you into our new future with love, hope and grace.
May the peace of Christ rule in your heart!
In His Service, Ray
CHOIR NEWS We would love to have you sing with us in the Chancel Choir at Gardendale-Mt Vernon United Methodist Church! The Chancel Choir: *rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7:30pm – 8:30pm *sings during the 11:00am service with warm ups at 10:40am *wears robes during the service – no dress code for the service*usually uses music during the service, very rarely sings by memory *consists of wonderful volunteers You do not have to read music to sing in the Chancel Choir. You are not expected to be at every rehearsal or Sunday service. You do not have to be a member of the church to sing in the Chancel Choir. You do not have to audition. You are not expected to ever sing by yourself. You are expected to have a great time praising God!
Men’s Ensemble and Chancel Choir will resume rehearsal on July 31. The Men’s Ensemble rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 7:30 and the Chancel Choir rehearses from 7:30 – 8:30. Everyone is welcome to join!
Handbells will begin rehearsals on Sunday, September 8 from 5:00 – 6:00. A basic knowledge of music is needed to ring Handbells. However, if you are interested in ringing and do not know how to read music, contact Ginny Hughes. She can help you learn and be comfortable before the first rehearsal. We would love for you to join us!
Private music lessons are available through a ministry of Gardendale-Mt. Vernon UMC. Lessons will be offered in piano, guitar, voice, organ, clarinet and flute on Monday and Tuesday afternoons and evenings. Each lesson will be 30 minutes in length for a cost of $100 a month. Lessons will be taught at the church in a convenient and secure environment. Our teachers are experienced, quality musicians committed to sharing the joy of music with students of all ages and ability levels.
Teachers, Instruments and the Ages they will teach: Ginny Hughes – Voice (Age 10 – Adult) Robin Maples – Piano (K5 – Adult) Debbie Gray – Piano and Clarinet (First Grade - Adult) Michael Jackson – Organ (Age 12 - Adult) (Students must have 3 or more years of piano) Grant Thompson – Guitar (K5 - Adult) Heather Cason - Flute (Various Ages)
For more information or to obtain a registration application, contact Ginny Hughes at [email protected].
FINE ARTS ACADEMY
Bulk Rate
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 5
Non-Profit Org.
805 Crest Drive Gardendale, AL 35071
Attendance Report
7/7 7/14 7/21 7/28
8:30 Worship: 62 77 58 66
9:30 Worship: 159 169 143 181
11:00 Worship: 161 167 159 160
Kid’s Worship: 19 26 24 13
Total Worship: 401 439 384 420
Church Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Fridays 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Church Office: 205-631-7631
Care line: 205-631-0811
Child Enrichment Center: 205-631-0433
We have several ways you can receive the Family Connection…
Our Website (under worship-sermon series)
Email Mail If you would like to change the way you are
receiving the Connection, please email Jennifer at [email protected].
