THANK YOU
Thank you a bit late to the Men’s Fellowship for your support again at this year’s VBS. Once again you have provided the funds to pay for the staff and kids T-shirts. That means so very much to all of us. Bless you and your constant kindness.
Belinda
Thank you to the congregation of St. John’s. You donated $305.00 in change to the youth who were going to Kentucky. This money was added to funds from other churches to purchase supplies for all our work. Your generosity helped to make life a bit better for the people on Lotts Creek. Thank you again,
Belinda
KENTUCKY MISSION TRIP
“I will give my all. Here we are, an offering.”
“Offering” by Andra Moran
And we did. From Saturday, July 31 through Saturday, August 7, Joe Gingrich, Daniel Sickinger, Isaac Hammonds, Abbi Dummermuth, and I became a part of a group of 65 adults and youth at Lotts Creek, KY. From the beginning of our week, we gave our all. Frannie Millward, our 84 year old guide and leader who works just as hard as all of us, had us play get to know each other games and introduced us to why we were in KY on that particular week. She divided us into groups for cooking meals and groups for work projects and groups for even more games.
The Kentucky Mission Trip is not just about work, but most of the day is involved with work. We began each day with breakfast at 7:30, morning watch for a time of quiet with nature and God, and then work. Some of us went shopping for food for our meals, some of us went to work sites (drywall in one house, painting outside of another), some of us worked in and around the school. School began August 11 and so we had that week to clean in the school in preparation for the teachers and students. From scraping and staining playground equipment to cleaning bathrooms to cleaning out the science lab and the art room and lockers and the pre-school to weeding and mulching the butterfly garden, we gave our all. We shared experiences with our new and old friends, we discovered who we are, we worshipped each night, we ate new foods, we learned of the life in the mountains and the threat of mountain top removal, we danced to mountain music, and we laughed and cried together. We took time to relax at the beach when the weather and park workers cooperated and we sat together and talked. Some of us conquered fears of things unknown especially when we rode the sky lift to the top of Natural Bridge. We learned about dealing with 65 different personalities. We learned about how we help those that need our help. We gave our all.
We gave our all and we became the offering to God and to the people of the mountains. We offered ourselves to God to direct us and lead us to do all that was asked and not asked. We became the offering needed that particular week in Kentucky. And it felt so good.
Belinda
XOO (Christ, Others, and Ourselves) will begin meeting Wednesday, September 15 at 5:30 in the Social Hall. XOO is open to all children in grades Kindergarten through 5th. This year we will be talking about faith practices. We will have pizza and salad the first night. Cost for that is $3.00. Kids, you will receive emergency forms for your parents to fill out and a schedule. So, come, join in the fun and fellowship and learning with kids your own age.
SUNDAY SCHOOL KICK-OFF
In preparation for the new Sunday school year, our annual kick-off will be Sunday September 5 at 8:30 AM. During this time, the children will be able to visit their classrooms, meet with their teachers, and do a quick craft. Parents will be asked to fill out a registration form for each child and pick up an information packet. Sunday school will then begin the following Sunday, September 12 at 9:00 AM with our group opening in the adult bible Class followed by dismissal to grade level classrooms. Hope to see you all there as we begin our new season!!!!
