Thank all of you for the food, hugs, prayers, attending the funeral, cards and phone calls I received at the death of Carroll. You are continuing to lift me, my children, and grandchildren up, and we appreciate it more than you know. You are truly God’s people.
Love, Gaye
A significant spiritual marker in my life occurred when I was a student beginning to learn more about vocational ministry. The spiritual guides were mentors from different walks of life, but all were people who had given their own lives to mentoring students and young adults just starting out in ministry. I got to know many of these folks in a weeklong orientation. We had communicated by written mail (before the days of email, texting or any other kind of instant communication), but spent time getting to know each other better in the weeklong orientation process for summer student ministry.
At the end of my orientation week, I was in a commissioning service for summer missions. It had been a very good week, exploring more and more about the call of God on my life. I was anxious to get to my place of summer service, but very unsure of all the particulars that I would face relating to the job I had said a resounding yes to. Uncertain of the ways everything would unfold, I was nervous. I was a little afraid of failing or not doing a good job. I wanted desperately to succeed at this kind of “trial run” for ministry. After all, summer service was only 10 weeks.
Was I ready for a lifetime of vocational ministry? I had no idea if I was. During that service, we prayed, we sang, we listened, we waited. And while we waited on God to speak, I distinctly and clearly in a way unlike anything I had ever experienced before, heard God say to me, “I choose you.” I was so caught in that moment, I wasn’t really sure someone else had not spoken aloud. But it was the voice of God clearly calling me into that space of uncertainty, fear and anxiety reassuring me that I had indeed been chosen by the Creator for something I didn’t even begin to understand.
Those who walked alongside, most of whose names I do not even remember, nurtured and encouraged and guided me to a place where I was able to hear and believe that I was going in the right direction for ministry. I am so thankful for that opportunity. It still encourages and reminds me how significant a thing it is to listen. God still speaks in ways that are clear. God still calls. God still chooses. And thankfully, God uses others in our lives to remind us of and to call out what we cannot even articulate ourselves. I remember the mentors today and I give profound thanks for their leadership and love for me.
Pray. . .Give. . .Go.
Think of some ways you and your family can celebrate family fun times. How about a picnic or hike? What about playing a board game? What community service project could your family do together to bring fun to someone else? Observe some of these “holidays” this month:
August 10 is National S’mores Day! Gather around the fire pit and make s’mores while swapping stories.
August 12 is International Left Handers Day! Recognize those in your family who are left handed and have everyone try to eat left handed!
August 25 is National Banana Split Day! Enough said!
August 27 is World “Rock, Paper, Scissors Day”! Have a family tournament to see who wins this timeless game.
The bottom line is this: Have fun with your family!
Continuing a tradition begun last year, children and their backpacks will be prayed over at the start of the new school year, at the August 18 service.
Children, youth, and college students are invited to bring their backpacks that day for a special time of blessing. Please come!
Wish List for 1st Explorers
Our after school ministry begins again next week. There are several items that are needed which could help keep the cost of the program manageable. The “wish list” includes:
Healthy snacks: snack crackers, applesauce, graham crackers, Goldfish crackers, individual servings of pudding, popsicles, popcorn, fresh fruit (apples, grapes, bananas), trail mix, granola bars, dried fruit, etc.
Wiffle balls and other playground supplies
Volunteers to share skills
Volunteers to greet and check children in and out
Snacks and playground supplies can be left on the cart at the back door. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Marina Hunley-Graham or Kayla Hartman
1st Explorers Has Some Openings
If you know of someone looking for after school care for their child grades K–6th grade, please let them know that there is still some space in 1st Explorers. The church van picks up children at Scotts Creek. Also, if they attend Fairview School, a school bus brings them to the church. The program begins August 14 and runs from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day that school is operating in full session.
For more information, contact Marina Hunley-Graham.
Each week we include a recipe in the Church Chimes and we hope that you are enjoying reading and trying them. You can add your favorite recipes to the Chimes by sending them to Cheryl Beck at cabeck@ncsu.edu. This is an ongoing WMU project.
Thanks for participating!
Thank you to Sandi and Lexi Allen and Melanie Joiner for working with the children in the nursery last Sunday. We appreciate all of you!
On August 11, Carrie Nelson will serve in the nursery. Thank you, Carrie!
We are still looking for an extra volunteer or two to fill some spots
in the nursery calendar. Please let Cheryl Beck know if you can help.
Ingredients
1 can LeSeur peas (small, young peas), drained
1 can shoepeg corn, drained
2 cans French style green beans (regular beans are fine), drained
1 small onion, finely sliced (I use 2 tablespoons)
1 small green pepper
2 seeded cucumbers (optional)
Chopped pimientos
Instructions
Drain all vegetables thoroughly. Combine all vegetables. Mix 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, and 1/3 cup oil in a saucepan. Heat until sugar dissolves. Pour over veggies.
– Provided by Barb Holquist
Green Bean Salad
Click here to download a printable version.
-Provided by Barb Holquist
Add this email address to your contacts list on your devices so that our staff and Pastoral Care Team can learn of your prayer requests as quickly as possible. And yes, you may still contact the church office directly at 828-586-2095 to share your prayer concerns, as well.
Stephanie Dickerson will be giving a presentation on “Wi-Fi in Schools & Health" at the Rotary meeting Thursday, August 8 at noon.
Non-members are welcome to attend this meeting which will be held in our Mission Fellowship Center.