Letter from Our Pastor
August 30, 2010
Dear Friends,
What a full day of worship and learning we had on Sunday! My thanks to Colleen Atamaniuk, Todd Yann, Sarah Evins, Glenn Atamaniuk, Michael Aldrich, George McLaughlin, John Knorr, the Chancel Choir, Mary Phillips, and Jim Kimmel for your amazing music at our morning worship. Thanks to Shannon Bennett and Dr. Kurt Jeter for your inspiring words about the importance of small groups in one’s spiritual development. We also say thanks also to Mark Absher and Dick Casada for your words about the vital ministry of The Gideons International. The FUMC faith community has been a faithful supporter of the work of the Gideons for many years. We are grateful for the ways God is using this awesome organization to touch the lives of persons literally around the world.
We ended the day by gathering for The Big Splash which launched our small group ministries for 2010. It was an incredible honor for us to have Dr. David Lowes Watson, a renowned scholar on John Wesley and the Wesleyan movement in America, as our guest speaker. If you missed what Dr. Watson shared with us about the importance of small groups, you missed a truly inspiring message. My thanks to him for coming to share with us. Also, thanks to the RE-Band for your lively music. You certainly energized all who were present. Thanks to J.W. Luna, Mandy Hutchinson, and Helen Lombardo for sharing your witness about how being a part of a small group has influenced and strengthened your walk in faith. The sincerity of your words inspired all who heard them. It was a wonderful time of sharing and learning for all. Thanks to the small group ministry team for your hard work in making this possible.
My thanks to everyone who volunteered to be a part of the children and youth teaching team. If you feel that God is calling you to become a part of this ministry, please contact Becky Peeler or Jacob Fasig to volunteer or for more information. You will be glad that you did and so will our children and youth.
We are hoping to launch a new semester of Disciple Bible Study beginning on September 8. Currently Disciple 1, 2, 3, and Jesus in the Gospels is being offered. To be included in one of these classes, please contact Mark Coursey at 794-2734 or mcoursey@franklinfumc.org. These classes are for those who want to learn more about the Word of God in a small group learning approach. I give this my highest recommendation to you.
So many wonderful things are happening at FUMC. There is a strong movement of God’s Holy Spirit among us. There is an amazing sense of oneness and excitement of what the future holds. It is becoming more and more the heartfelt belief among our faith community, the best is yet to be!!! Thanks be to God!!!
Grace and Peace,
Lynn
Lectionary for Sunday, August 29, 2010
Jeremiah 2:4-13; Psalm 81:1, 10-16; Hebrew 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14