clarkesville first united methodist church · all are welcome. solemates walkers will gather at...

INSID E THIS

ISSUE:

Preschool Open

House 3

SERVE 4

August Concert

Schedule 6

PRAY 7

Birthdays &

Anniversaries 8

Letters from

Campers 9

Finance

Committee 11

August

Calendar 11

Pastor’s Report 12

The Grapevine Clarkesville First United Methodist Church

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7

Camp

Meeting

Month

Sermon

Series:

H2O Bring your own chair or blanket for seating and if desired, a canopy for shade.

2

S o l e mates is a wellness ministry

dedicated to the walkers and hikers in

our congregation. Men, women, and

children; power walkers or strollers;

all are welcome.

SoleMates walkers will gather at Pitts Park on

Tuesdays at 8:00am. For more information, contact

Willene Keel, [email protected] or 706-691-9212.

SoleMates hikers will take an “urban hike” on Au-

gust 18. They will explore side streets in Clarkes-

ville, a few historical buildings, and share the old

stories of some of the landmarks. Meet at the Church

Office at 8:30am. Bring water and a sack lunch.

Wonderful Wednesday

Summer “Picnic” Fellowship

On Wednesdays the Fellowship Hall will be open

from 5:30-6:30pm to “meet and eat”. Bring your own

supper and drink - brown bag from home or carry out

- and enjoy a meal with others before going up to the

Sanctuary for the concert.

If it’s Wednesday, it must be wonderful!

Sunday Night Fellowship:

We meet weekly at 6:30pm at different local restau-

rants. It’s informal fellowship at its best. Buy your

own meal, sit wherever you’d like, and get to know

others in our church family.

August 6 1st Sunday Fun-Day!

August 13 Your Pie

August 20 Casa Bariachi (across from Walmart)

August 27 Wendy’s in Clarkesville

FELLOWSHIP We invite you to be involved!

United Methodist Women:

Our UM Women would like to invite you

to visit a Circle and enjoy the fellowship

of other women united in mission:

Kite Stribling: Meets monthly on the 1st Thursday.

In August they will hold their annual luncheon at

1:00pm at The Chophouse at LaPrade’s.

Contact: Marcia Martin

Morning Joy: Meets monthly on the 2nd Monday at

10:00am. The August 12 meeting of Morning Joy

UMW will feature Bruce Forbes and Ken Iossi shar-

ing some of their experiences on the mission trip to

Honduras this year. Anyone who is interested in this

trip and/or the next one is invited to attend this meet-

ing at 10 am in The Connection.

Contact: Ellen Boyd

Friends in Faith: Meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesday

at 7:00pm. August is restaurant meeting month.

Contact: Sandy Blake

United Methodist Men: All men are invited to United Methodist

Men’s gathering on the first Thursday of

the month. They meet in the Fellowship

Hall at 7:00pm for dinner, fellowship, and a program.

The August 3rd speaker will be Madi Hawkins, from

Habersham County Animal Care & Control Dept.

Je t s e t t e r s: Jetsetters, our Older Adult

Ministry, meets at noon on the 4th Tuesday of each

month in the Fellowship Hall for a covered dish lunch

and program. Beth Crabill is planning the August

22nd program and will have details soon!

Ladies Lunch Bunch: The Lunch

Bunch goes on a culinary adventure

monthly on the second Tuesday. The Au-

gust 8th trip is to our favorite 211 Main

Street, the café & bakery in Lavonia. Meet at

10:30am at the church office. Please make your res-

ervation with the Church Office or Frieda Powell

by noon on Monday, August 7. Coordinator: Frieda Powell

3

Youth Ministries

CFUMC Preschool “Rooted in faith, growing in love”

Music Notes We encourage all who have an interest in making a joyful noise with our Chancel Choir to join us for choir

practice beginning August 2 at 7:30pm in the choir room. We always have room for you! No music experi-

ence is necessary.

Camp Meeting Month is coming! We will dust off the Cokesbury hymnals and enjoy songs of old. If you

have a favorite, be sure to let Paula know so that we can include it in our music for August.

Joybells rehearsal begins on August 23 at 5:15 in the bell room.

Smoke on the Mountain: If you are interested in attending a performance of “Smoke on the Mountain” at

the Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts in Franklin, NC in October, please contact Paula Gibson.

Tickets are $17.00 for adults, $12.00 for students. Deadline for attending with our group is September 1.

Paula Gibson, Director of Worship Arts

CFUMC Preschool will hold a drop-in Open House on Thursday, August 10,

4:30-6:00pm. The Open House is for preschoolers, parents, grandparents and any-

one who would like to see the preschool. We are planning for our biggest year

yet! Please keep the teachers and administrators in your prayers as we attempt to

add more space and staff to serve more families.

The first day of preschool is August 15, 2017. If you would like to read a story or lead a class in a craft

project, please let me know. The children love to have visitors. They will probably sing some songs and

recite a Bible verse for you.

Thank you for your support of the CFUMC Preschool Ministry.

Susan Weidner, Director, CFUMCP

NEW SCHOOL YEAR

NEW YOUTH SCHEDULE

Starting Wednesday, August 9, Youth nights will look a little different!

Everything will still be at the same times - Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm and Sundays 6:30-8pm -

but NOW we will be doing snacks and small groups on Wednesday evenings

and Sundays will be food, games, worship and a message. I hope everyone gets EXCITED about this!

Questions about getting involved with Youth?

Email Rachel Brown, Interim Youth Director,

at [email protected]

Let’s help Rachel help others! From Sept 30-Oct. 7, Rachel

will be in Haiti as part of a 30-member medical & construction

missions team. Rachel is a nursing student and medical missions

is very dear to her heart. To support Rachel on this trip, you may

give a monetary gift to the church noted “Rachel Brown.”

mailto:[email protected]

4

SERVE We lend a hand in our community!

Nursing Home Visitation: Join us at the

Habersham WEST Nursing Home, 5:15pm monthly on

the third Monday night (August 21), and the Haber-

sham EAST Nursing Home, 5:15pm monthly on the

fourth Monday night (August 28), for singing and fel-

lowship with a sweet group of folks. For more informa-

tion, contact Sandy Shell or call the Church Office.

Connectional Ministry Food 2 Kids: Our UMC

Connectional Group mission project is Food 2 Kids.

F2K provides 192 bags of weekend food for hungry

school children during the school year. To help finan-

cially, you may give a check to our church and note

it, “HABERSHAM Food 2 Kids”. To help pack

bags, come on August 24, at 9:00am at Ebenezer

UMC in Hollywood. Just show up! To deliver bags

on Fridays, contact Jennifer in the Church Office. This year we will also have monthly food collections.

The Food Bank asks for different products

each month. For each pound collected, they

will give us $0.65/pound credit towards our

F2K account. The collection box is in the

Church Office. August: 16oz Peanut Butter.

The Blessing Box: “Take what

you need, bring what you can, above all

be blessed.” Nestled in the shrubs of our

Meditation Garden is this small box of

food and books to give the needy body &

spirit a boost during a difficult time.

Items for the box may be left in the Church Office.

We thank Beverly Harvard and Paula Gibson, who

check the box weekly, and all those who donate food

to keep it stocked.

Meals On Wheels: Our church has

delivered meals for one week each month for

30+ years, and we are the only church in

Habersham to make this commitment each month.

Thanks! to our August driver: Alice Soderman.

CommUnity Thrift Store: Our community gifts in June were $2100,

Bridging Generations; $300, Sharing &

Caring; $800, Habersham Food 2 Kids; $650, Haber-

sham Homeless Ministries; $350, Clarkesville Soup

Kitchen. Thank you to Barbara Kirkland for donating

display shelves, and Jim Hudak and Jerre Harvard for

the installation! Donations are welcomed during store

hours, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-2pm.

Stephen Ministry: Stephen

Ministry is grounded in Jesus’ command

to love one another. Through one-to-one

caring and confidential relationships,

those who are hurting receive the love and care they

need to support them. Monthly, Stephen Ministers

gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and

continuing education. Stephen Ministers will meet

next on August 7 at 6:00pm, in the Connection. For more information or a confidential referral to a

Stephen Minister, please call Stephen Ministry Team

Leader, Ron Waters, or the Church Office.

Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry: Skeins of Love invites others to fellowship with

them and share in this caring ministry. All skill levels are welcome. Yarn and instruction

are available. They gather each Thursday at 10:00am in The Connection, room C-11. Thank

you to Linda Angel and Miriam Iossi for helping deliver prayer shawls. Contact these ladies

or the Church Office if you know of someone who needs the prayerful comfort of a shawl.

P R A Y

Fleece Blanket Prayer Ministry: These tied-knot blankets are for the youth of Murphy-Harpst

Children’s Center, a UM facility in Cedartown, GA, that cares for troubled youth from difficult

circumstances. The next meeting will be the first Monday in October, at 10:00am.

Beads of Focus Prayer Ministry: Guided by prayer beads, the group meets each Tuesday at

11:00am in the Connection for informal prayer on the fruit of the Spirit. Other forms of prayer,

such as Taize, will also be studied.

Clarkesville Soup Kitchen is open! Volunteers and monetary donations are needed. Call 706.510.9590 for more info.

5

Liturgists in Worship:

August 6 Jeff Spivey

August 13 Jim Watson

August 20 Lewis Hinely

August 27 Marcia Martin

Coordinator: Michael Carroll

Assisting with Communion:

11:00 Worship, Brian & Sally

Shelton

Children’s Church

9:00/11:00 Worship:

August 6 Edie Bolton

August 13 Rachel Brown

August 20 Paige Spivey

August 27 Kelly Burgess

(summer schedule subject to change)

Coordinator: Kelly Burgess

Acolytes, 11:00 Worship:

August 6 Ashley Jones

August 13 Abigail Hotard and

Audrey Hotard

August 20 Canon Brooks

August 27 Maggie Shelton

Coordinator: Sherrie Fry

Ushers:

8:30 Melvin & Judy Thompson

11:00 Blaine Boydstun, Sherrie

Fry, Jerre Harvard

Coordinators: Garnett Hulsey

and Phil Brownrigg

Altar Flowers:

August 6 Emmaus

August 13 Paula Gibson

August 20 Garnett & Jean Hulsey

August 27 Jeff & Paige Spivey

This Month’s Worship Volunteers Evangelism Ministry Visitation:

Aug. 6 David & Gloria Agnew

Aug. 13 Calvin & Mary Wilbanks

Aug. 20 Jerre & Beverly Harvard

Aug. 27 Dee & Lynda Petty

Trustees Sunday Lock-Up:

Unlock: Sandy Blake

Lock: Jerry Medlock

Sunday Morning Fellowship

Breakfast:

FELLOWSHIP HALL (9:30am) *hosts needed to make coffee and set

out donuts -call the Church Office to

offer your service

CONNECTION (8:30am)

Alison George

Clarkesville First United Methodist Church Staff Ministers of Faith Our Congregation

Pastor Pastor Keith Cox

[email protected]

Interim Director of

Youth & Children

Rachel Brown [email protected]

Music Director Paula Gibson

[email protected]

Admin Assistant

and Community

Ministries Coordinator

Jennifer Boydstun, UM Deaconess

[email protected]

Financial Secretary Pat Fenton

[email protected]

Pianist / Organist Don Griffin

Nursery Teresa Colvin and Marie Rogers

[email protected]

Volunteer

Receptionist Team

Linda Allen, Linda Camp,

Judy Forbes, and

Beverly Harvard

Custodial, Main Campus

Custodial, Connection

Maintenance

Ricky West

Carol Ann Rundberg

Ken Iossi

Preschool Staff Susan Weidner, Director

Linda Angel and Karen Taylor [email protected]

It’s our Mediation Garden! Thanks to

everyone who helps keep it beautiful!

6

GROW Grow in the grace & knowledge of our lord & Savior Jesus Christ

- 2 Peter 3:18

6:30pm Discipleship Hour

On Wonderful Wednesday

Children will have the summer off from program-

ming and may join parents for the Summer Con-

certs.

Youth: 6th-12th graders meet in the Connection

Ministry Center for snacks and small groups.

Music: Chancel Choir practices each week at

7:30pm. Joybells begin August 23. Men’s and

Women’s Ensembles resume practice at a later

date.

Adults: Attend the Summer Concert Series!

Summertime means

Summer Concert Series! Our Music Director, Paula Gibson, has put to-

gether a stellar lineup of very talented church

members and a guest artist who are sure to wow

audiences with their music. Concerts are free of

charge, and held each Wednesday, at 6:30pm, in

our sanctuary. Come and bring a friend!

August 2: Gloria Agnew and John Bussler

August 9: Kevin Woody

August 16: LeAnne Challenger,

with special guest Ashley Jones

August 23: Katie Grady and Jennifer Jennings

August 30: Two Diamonds & A Rock

You’re Invited! August 6 is the first Sunday of a new

study, “God’s Story, Your Story,” by

Max Lucado. The “Upper Room/

Nomadic/Everybody” Sunday School

Class invites all interested adults to

join in. This class currently meets in

the Fellowship Hall.

If you have a college student,

please share their mailing ad-

dress with the Church Office.

Several groups would like to

mail cards of encouragement and

treats to our young people!

Attention Teachers! The Students-in-Need Committee is making a slight

change in the way funds are dispersed to help schoolchildren. Teachers: you are

on the front lines and see needs in your classroom. We would like to help with

expenses you willingly incur out-of-pocket for student needs, classroom supplies, and teaching aids.

Please give the church office your name by August 6 so that we can add you to our disbursement list.

Thank you for all you do for the kids!

7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your request to God. Philippians 4: 6

† Praise! April Cox has a position w/Habersham County Schools as a Deaf and Hearing Impaired teacher!

† Our condolences to Jim & Kathryn Marlowe on the death of her brother, James Cody.

† Our condolences to the McNair Family on the death of Brian’s father, Johnny McNair.

† Our condolences to Peg, Katrina, and Eddie Staples and Margaret Ricketson on the death of Jim Staples.

† Our condolences to Wes & Becky Turpen on the death of his father, N.U. Turpen.

† James Hayes, medical tests.

† Pam Carroll, recovering from total shoulder replacement.

† Linda Allen, rehab at Toccoa Nursing Home.

† Michael Carroll, upcoming surgery on August 4

† Darryl Parker, health concerns

† Becky Farmer, surgery July 28

† Katrina Staples, health concerns

† Wally Armstrong, hospice care

† Relatives and Friends:

Preston Noblet, Michele Sheffield’s son, has knee problems.

Gary DeMore, brother of Phil DeMore, recovering from surgery.

Terry Hollis, brother of a friend of Sandy & Etsel Shell, critically injured in farm accident.

Condolences to Patte Rodriguez’ niece, Katie Vey, and family on the death of father-in-law, Barton Vey.

Condolences to our District Superintendent Rev. Richard Chewning and family on the death of his

mother, Joyce Chewning.

Condolences to the Dawson family on the death of son Alan Dawson.

Condolences to the families of the teens killed in the car accident in Stephens County.

† Our Stephen Ministry caregivers and their care receivers

† Our CFUMC Preschool ministry

† Our students, teachers, administrators and support personnel as they return to school

† Missionaries associated with our church family: Jeff & Holly Higgins Robinson, now stateside (Shari H. Collins),

Petrit & Meredith Kemp Lleshi, now stateside (Rev. & Mrs. Tony Kemp)

† All men and women of the Armed Forces

† The leadership of our church and our government

† United Methodist Missionaries and Mission Centers we support:

Nancy Carew—missionary in Liberia

Rev. Chuck Jack—missionary in Red Bird Missionary Conference in Kentucky

Wallins UMC—small church on a circuit in the Red Bird Missionary Conference in Kentucky

Joy Center—Community Center in the Red Bird Missionary Conference in Kentucky

To make an addition or update to the prayer list, please fill out a Prayer Request card located

in the pew pocket on Sunday morning, email [email protected], or call the Church Office.

P R A Y CFUMC Prayer Ministry meets weekly at 9:30am to pray in one accord as requests are lifted up to the group. Prayers are for persons, church minis-

tries, and activities listed in the prior Sunday bulletin and for those request-

ing non-published prayers. If you would like to be a regular part of this

group, come to the Prayer Room, C-17, in the Connection on Tuesdays.

PRAY Join us in prayer for our Family of Faith

8

AUGUST Birthdays and Anniversaries

We don’t want to leave you out! Submit your birthday/anniversary to the Church Office if it is missing from our lists.

Thank you so much for the prayers and financial support on my trip to Honduras. I enjoyed spending time

in the village with all the kids and families. I look forward to going back. Thanks again. -Davis Jennings

Words are not adequate to express our sincere thanks to our church family for all you did during our dark

days when Jim died. All the cards, flowers, prayers, food, and just general concern and love were over-

whelming but greatly appreciated. No other church we know is more caring and giving.

Thank you all, Peg, Katrina and Eddie Staples

Dear U.M. Church Family, Thank you so much for all the prayers, visits, thoughts, cards during this difficult

time. We are so blessed to have such wonderful, loving, caring friends and family!

Love, family of Alan Dawson

We are ever grateful and bless for your donation and support. God Bless You! The Clarkesville Soup Kitchen

The Mailbox

If you’d like to request a greeting card to be sent to someone on behalf of the church, please contact Katrina Staples, CareMail Coordinator, [email protected].

2 Stan Wilbanks

4 Josey Butcher

4 Dean DeLaigle

4 William McNair

5 Ellen Boyd

6 Karen Taylor

7 Brian McNair

9 Garrett Cummings

10 Miriam Iossi

12 Audrey Kelly

12 Catherine McNair

13 Sara Kerr

14 Millie Holcomb

15 Charles Burke

15 Motsey Wilbanks

17 Gloria Armstrong

17 Matthew Weidner

17 Steve Wilks

18 Jack Powell

18 Walter Teague

19 Steve Blake

19 Laurel Blake Kafsky

19 Brian Nichols

19 Rick Price

19 Sandy Stryker

19 WA Trotman

20 Randy Brooks

20 Marie Rogers

21 Michael Van Hooser

23 Tim Teague

23 Susan Weidner

24 LeAnne Challenger

24 CJ Pitts

25 Jim Johnson

25 Frieda Powell

26 Ouida Chambless

27 Rabun Bennett

27 Claren Spivey

29 Maebree Holcomb

30 Phil Chambless

30 Etta Johnson

30 Jack Thomson

SHARE We share life together in community!

♥ ♥ ♥

2 Bob & Vicki

Washington

4 David & Gloria Agnew

10 Bob & Jeanie Cook

11 Tom & Sara Kerr

12 Jack & Frieda Powell

15 Mike & Nancy Mixon

15 Tom & Connie Wilbanks

19 Garnett & Jean Hulsey

23 Charlie & Mary Walker

29 Mitch & Ellen Boyd

9

Camp Evergreen Thanks Because of your generous donation, children are experiencing the love of Christ and the beauty of His crea-

tion this summer. Below are notes from children who got to come to camp because of you. Thank you for pro-

viding a life changing experience. Thank you and God bless.

10

Scan and Donate!

Online contributions are even

more convenient. Now you can

use your smart phone scanner

app to scan the code and donate!

GIVE Thank you for your generous giving!

General Budget

Total 2017 General Budget: $588,504.00

Monthly Need (Avg Per Month) $49,042.00

Budget Income thru 6/30/17: $253,927.00

Budget Expense thru 6/30/17: $253,940.00

Future Facilities Fund

Bridging Generations rec’d-to-date $216,781.26

Bridging Generations Thank you for your generous giving

towards the Bridging Generations

Faith Commitment Campaign!

Great things are happening as we work together to

bridge the generations on our church campus!

“For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures

forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.”

Psalm 100:5, NRSV

From Your Finance Committee It has been many Grapevines since I have corresponded with the congregation on the financial state of

the church. Despite having multiple projects on going at the church, our financial state remains strong.

The church incurred unexpected expenses during the last several months. Despite unforeseen costs

such as replacing air conditioning units the church has continued to pay our apportionments as well as all of

our general operating expenses on time. We continue to fund all of our outreach programs both locally and na-

tionally. Our cash reserves for the general budget remain healthy thanks to your giving.

General Budget: The Finance Committee has begun planning for our 2018 general budget. Each com-

mittee chairman has received a budget development worksheet which will be submitted to the Finance Com-

mittee in late August so that we can plan the budget properly. We hope to submit a budget to the Church

Council in September and have the 2018 budget approved prior to our general budget pledge campaign. The

general budget plan campaign will begin in early October.

Future Facilities: Construction continues on the new fellowship hall thanks to your faith and your

giving. The church is at a critical juncture as we move to complete the new fellowship hall in that we must bal-

ance our general budget giving along with the need for the future facilities fund. Please be aware that we do

not commingle monies from the general budget and the future facilities fund. Our contractor continues to make

draws on bank-secured funds as we move toward finalizing the new fellowship hall. Once the project is com-

pleted, we will close our construction account and pay all debt for the fellowship hall out of the future facilities

fund.

Thank you for your patience and faith as the church negotiates a difficult path during the building and

ministerial transitions. If you have any questions on financial issues please feel free to contact Bruce Forbes or

me at your convenience.

Your brother in Christ,

William J. Spivey

11

Regular Sunday Morning Schedule*

8:30am Traditional Worship Service—S

9:00am Contemporary Worship Service—C

9:30am Fellowship Time—FH

10:00am Sunday School Hour

(Children, Youth, and Adult Classes)

11:00am Traditional Worship Service—S

August 1

9:00am Solemates -Pitts Park

9:30am Prayer Ministry -C

11:00am Beads of Focus Prayer Ministry -C

August 2

**Regular Wednesday Evening Schedule

6:30pm Summer Concert - Agnew and Bussler -S

August 3

7-8:00am Men’s Breakfast -Crossroads Cafe

10:00am Skeins of Love Prayer Shawl Ministry -C

1:00pm Kite Stribling UMW - Chophouse

6:00pm Staff-Parish Relations Committee -AB

7:00pm United Methodist Men - FH

August 6 - Communion

*Regular Sunday Morning Schedule

5:30pm Youth Worship Team -C

6:30pm Youth -C

6:30pm 1st Sunday Fun-day at Pitts Park

August 7

6:00pm Stephen Ministers meeting -C

August 8



10:30am Ladies Lunch Bunch -211 Main St


August 9


6:30pm Summer Concert -Kevin Woody -S

August 10

7-8:00am Men’s Breakfast -Crossroads Café


4:30-6pm CFUMC Preschool Open House

August 13



6:30pm Youth -C

6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship -Your Pie

August 14

10:00am Morning Joy UMW Circle - C

6:00pm Finance Committee -AB

August 15




7:00pm Friends in Faith UMW -restaurant meeting

August 16


6:30pm Summer Concert - LeAnne Challenger -S

August 17



August 20



6:30pm Youth -C

6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship -Casa Bariachi

August 21

5:00pm Grapevine Deadline

5:15pm Habersham West Nursing Home Visitation

7:00pm Church Council -AB

August 22




12:00pm Jetsetters Lunch -FH

August 23


6:30pm Summer Concert - Grady and Jennings -S

August 24


9:00am Food 2 Kids bag packing - Ebenezer UMC


August 27



6:30pm Sunday Night Fellowship -Wendy’s Clkvl

6:30pm Youth -C

August 28

5:15pm Habersham East Nursing Home Visitation

August 29



11:00am Ladies Lunch Bunch


August 30


6:30pm Summer Concert - Two Diamonds & a Rock

1:00pm Grapevine Mailing -AB

August 31



Regular Wednesday Evening Schedule**

5:00pm Joybells (begins August 23)

5:30pm Wonderful Wednesday “Picnic”—FH

6:30pm Discipleship Hour

(Youth & Summer Concert Series)

6:30pm Ensemble Choir (will not meet in August)

7:30pm Chancel Choir

FH = Fellowship Hall

C= The Connection

S = Sanctuary AB = Admin. Bldg

Attention! Community use of

facilities is not listed on calendar due

to space limitations. To minimize

scheduling conflicts, please check

your proposed date & time with the

office’s main calendar before

scheduling an event or meeting.

12

The Grapevine, August 2017

Clarkesville First United Methodist Church 1087 Washington Street, P.O. Box 365, Clarkesville, GA 30523

Office: (706) 754-2677 FAX: (706) 754-1276

e-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.clarkesvillefirstumc.org

Office Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday

Closed for lunch 12:30-1:00pm, daily

Return Service Requested

The Pastor’s Report “Prolific”

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Cor. 12: 4-6, 27

I can honestly say that we are truly blessed here at Clarkesville First UMC. It is amazing to

watch as we work together to build God’s Kingdom. There is a joy that continues to spread throughout our

church walls and outside our church walls on a daily basis.

I believe that God will continue to bless us as a church if we are willing to trust God with all that we have.

A good friend of mine once prayed, “God, I want all of you for all of me.” This is a powerful prayer. This

prayer must start at home for us as individuals, and with our families. When we have committed to that prayer

at home, then we will witness a greater unity within our church. Let us claim that prayer and a spirit of unity

for the church.

Everyone has a role to fulfill. Everyone is needed. For us to continue to grow both spiritually and physi-

cally as a church, we must continue to act in one mind and in one accord. Only the Holy Spirit can bring this.

We must pray, “God, I want all of you for all of me.” When you pray this, be willing to lay down any precon-

ceived ideas that you may have and listen to God. Be ready to be used by God. We have the responsibility to

be faithful with our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. Our standard comes from God’s Holy Word.

Our goal is not to be the church of the past or the church of the present. We want to be abundantly productive.

Producing Spiritual fruit in great numbers. In a single word, we must be prolific; God’s living Word living

through us. That is the church that God wants us to be.

Pastor Keith Cox

[email protected]

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