The office will be closed next Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day as we honor our heroic brothers and sisters of the military who have gone before us.
1st Explorers Summer Camp
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti sauce and pasta.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!
Summer Midweek Meals—New Information!
Our midweek meals have been an amazing source of food and friendship. There’s nothing like listening to the laughter of a newborn baby, but the joy in our fellowship meals comes pretty close. Our gatherings have curtailed during the summer months with these exceptions:
June's midweek meal will be June 18.
July's midweek meal will be July 16.
Our August gathering will be Sunday, August 17 (details below).
Save the date!
Our August gathering will be held at the Deep Creek Pavilion on Sunday, August 17,
from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Come join in the fun!
We will restart our WEEKLY meals on Wednesday, September 3
(which is the Wednesday following Labor Day).
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Report
The students had testing at school this week. Even the lower grades that didn’t have testing were required to stay quiet the whole testing period! At our after-school program, we prioritized some relaxation time for them and a lot of play outside! Generation Kids came on Thursday; and as always, they taught a great lesson on God’s love. All of the Explorers are looking forward to the End-of-Year Party on Thursday, May 22!
Mission Moment 5.21.25
Jonathan Bailey
CBF Field Personnel, Bali, Indonesia
Two, three, four…
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long
How long to sing this song?
—Psalm 40 modified by Bono, titled “40” the last track on U2’s 1983 album War
Music and meditation are saving my life right now. It could be listening to music or playing music; either one will do really. And it is meditation—a daily sit on the cushion, making space in my heart and mind—that’s been keeping me together lately. My life has been ruffled quite a bit the past few years and the Spirit seems intent on teaching me about change. Music and meditation are a way for me to see and cope with impermanence.
Making music has always been a part of my life—whether it was singing to Dad’s harmonica as a kid, children’s choir, youth choir, then adult choir at church, studying cello and a bit of banjo, drumming as a young missionary in West Africa, leading music in an African church during seminary days and falling in love with the music of the Balinese gamelan. There is hardly a time when making music has not been a part of my life.
I know there’s no record of Jesus singing in the Gospels, but I’ve always imagined he did.
Listening to music a part of my routine, too. It can be a mirror of the present moment. I’m told that more regions of the brain become active when listening to or playing music than any other activity in which we can engage. Listening to music particularly connects me to things in my past, evokes emotions and can set a mood. I love the ethereal chants of Hildegard von Bingin in my early morning contemplation; storytellers like Jim White in the late afternoon; Coltrane for the evening; and the haunting harmonies of Arvo Pärt late at night.
Music (and other arts, too) do more to open me to the mystery of God than anything else I know; and, strange as it may sound, touching mystery is the best antidote for the challenges of change. Music becomes prayer when it gives voice to the cries of the soul.
Pray, Practice, Ponder
What music is resonating with your soul these days? Maybe the lines of an old hymn are on repeat in your mind, or maybe there is a popular song that keeps coming on the radio at just the right moment. It could be a Celtic chant, an 80s ballad or an African-American spiritual. Whatever it is, take some time today to immerse yourself in music as a spiritual practice that opens you up to the mystery of God.
Pray...Give...Go.
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Report
As summer is getting closer and testing at the schools approach, the Explorers are getting a bit more restless at after school. To help with this, we have been outside more playing games together, such as four square, whiffle ball, and just enjoying the outdoors. Our 4H agent came on Monday and taught about tectonic plates with a fun snack activity to demonstrate involving graham crackers and icing. Kaitlyn came to teach chapel, and she always brings fun activities and games to play with the kids. We also wrote our Pen Pals again and look forward to celebrating with them at our end-of-year celebration next week!
College Bible Study
Join us for our weekly college Bible study every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the youth room!
Midweek Meal & Activities
Our Wednesday evening fellowship meal and bible studies are going great! Let’s keep the momentum going, inviting others to join us and enjoying the deepening of our fellowship.
REMINDER: Reservations must be made before noon on Mondays.
Below is the schedule for our Wednesday evening activities:
The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Group time begins approximately 6:10 p.m. and goes to 6:45 p.m. This group time is for college students and adults.
Our youth will meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m. in the youth room.
Our children also meet from 6:10 to 7:00 p.m, and they will be in the children’s department for a devotional, activity and play time.
Choir rehearsal follows at 7:00 p.m.
We can’t wait to see you on Wednesday evening!
A Break for Wednesday Evening Dinner & Bible Study
We will break for the summer from our regular Wednesday evening dinner and Bible study. It’s been a great opportunity for food, fun and fellowship, and we look forward to returning to our regularly-scheduled mid-week time together in September!