“Did You Know He Was Doing That?”

A week or so before the end of the school year, the LSE choirs held a concert.  Both of the boys were in choir this year and we were excited to be able to watch them perform in person.  We arrived for the concert, set up our folding chairs (the concert was in the parking lot), and were handed programs. 

As is my habit, I flipped the program over and began checking to see that the boys’ names were there and spelled correctly.  Sara looked down the list of songs the choirs would be performing.  She then called my attention to a place on the program and said, “Did you know he was doing this?”  One of the songs the 8^th grade choir was singing had a solo being performed by none other than Garrett Snyder. 

As the time came for Garrett’s solo, we got our cameras ready and waited excitedly.  The song was “Chim Chim Cheree” from Mary Poppins.  After the opening verse, Garrett stepped up to the microphone and sang the second verse without missing a note, complete with Cockney British accent.  Not only did we not know he was going to do this, we didn’t really know this was in his skill set.  Don’t get me wrong, he has a fine voice, but we’ve just never known him to have an interest in doing anything other than blending into the background.  We were so impressed at how great a job he did because we didn’t know he had it in him.

Have you ever been surprised by someone when they reveal a skill or talent you never knew they had?  Maybe it’s a coworker who reveals a hobby you had no idea they were interested in, or a neighbor who suddenly displays a talent you’ve never seen before.  It might even be your spouse or children or parents who amaze you with a previously unknown gift – like cooking a gourmet meal or playing a beautiful song on the piano.  I am always amazed when I see a previously unknown gift someone I thought I knew displays. 

Last week I shared that our church is beginning a visioning process to help us consider what God might be calling us to do and be in the coming years.  As part of this process, we are asking all those in our congregation to share with us the gifts and skills God has blessed you with.  I’m always amazed when doing these surveys to learn the gifts and skills people reveal, things I never knew were interests or talents.  We are trying to get as much participation in this gifts assessment as possible and ask everyone – adults, children, members, nonmembers, – to please fill out the survey.  The survey may be found here.

Knowing the specific talents and skills God has gifted you with helps you to better live into the person he is calling you to be. It also helps the church live more fully into being the church in the community, as each member can better specifically contribute to the work God is calling us to do. Thank you for sharing your skills and interests with us.  I am looking forward to more surprises.

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday we will begin a new message series “Discernment: What is it and how do we do it.”  This week’s message is titled “What is Discernment.”  Our scripture reading will be from 1 Kings, chapter 3, verses 5 through 9.

The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.”

Solomon responded, “You showed so much kindness to your servant my father David when he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and with a heart true to you. You’ve kept this great loyalty and kindness for him and have now given him a son to sit on his throne. And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. But I’m here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can’t be numbered or counted due to its vast size. Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help.”

We will begin our service with the song Word of Life by Jeremy Camp.  Our hymns for Sunday include: Breathe on Me, Breath of God, and Be Thou My Vision.  This week, our video hymn will be the song Lord, I Need You, by Matt Maher.

COVID Precautions

The Church’s Administrative Board met this month and discussed our current COVID 19 precautions.  In May the decision was made, in accordance with new CDC guidelines, that masks are no longer required in the church for those who are fully vaccinated.  Social distancing will still be encouraged and practiced, as will enhanced cleaning procedures.  The Administrative Board considered returning to 100% capacity in the Sanctuary, but given a rise in COVID cases again, decided to keep every other pew closed for the time being. 

We know there are some who are still not feel comfortable or able to attend worship at this time. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:20 worship service on our Facebook page and the message on our website.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

From Our County Health Department

We now have Covid vaccine available. We STRONGLY encourage all eligible individuals ages 12 and up who are NOT VACCINATED to come to the health center for vaccination as soon as possible. The Covid-19 vaccine shows that two doses are 88% effective against symptoms and 96% effective against hospitalization of the Delta variations, along with one dose at 33%. Our current county-wide 32% vaccination rate can be much improved by the end of August if we start now. The Cooper County Public Health Center has vaccination clinics by appointment on Tuesdays and walk-in (no appointment necessary) on Thursdays until 7pm.

Thank you, Melanie Hutton Administrator

Announcements

Mark Your Calendars – Our congregation has been chosen by our District leadership to participate in a new visioning process with a national church leadership consultant.  This process will help us as we continue to seek new ways to minister to our community and fulfill our mission of “Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”  Kay Kotan, the national leadership consultant, will be with us Sunday afternoon, August 8 to lead us in a process of discovery and discernment.  The more participation we have and the more representatives from our congregation we have, the better the product will be.  Please mark your calendars now and plan on joining us Sunday, August 8 beginning at 1:00 pm for this important time.

Blood Drive – Our next Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up Monday, August 16 from 2-6 pm. 

As happens most summers, the supply of blood available is in short supply and donors are greatly needed.  If you would like to sign up to donate on Aug 16, you may do so here.

Technology Upgrade Update – In May, the Church’s Administrative Board voted to approve a plan to update and upgrade some of the technology capabilities at the church.  We will be installing video cameras and other equipment to enable video streaming of worship services and upgrading out internet service.  This part of the project is already funded through a few generous donations, the use of some memorial funds, and a grant from the United Methodist Foundation.

The Board also received a bid to upgrade the projectors and visual quality in our Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.  The total for this project was an additional $8,500.  Thank you to those who have generously contributed to this project! We have met our fundraising goal and are excited to move forward with this project.  Depending on availability of materials, this project could be completed this month.

Events this week:

Monday, July 12: TOPS, 9:00 am, Foundations Classroom

Al Anon, 8:00 pm, Church Lounge

Tuesday, July 13: Outreach Committee, 6:30 pm, Church Lounge

NAMI, 6:30 pm, Foundations Classroom

PEO, 6:30 pm, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, July 14: Al Anon, Noon, Church Lounge

Friday, July 16: Al Anon, 7:00 pm, Church Lounge

Closing Words of Wisdom:

God has given a spiritual gift to the church in you, and you dare not keep it to yourself.” ― Aaron Niequist