CHURCH BULLETIN AND CALENDAR

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

BAINBRIDGE, GEORGIA

FUMC VISION STATEMENT: God envisions the Bainbridge First United Methodist Church to reach out to others by sharing His love, mercy and compassion, which are fueled by worship and our growing spiritual relationship with Christ.

Forgiveness

Many of us will remember the unforgettable moment from the Vietnam war captured by AP photographer Nick Ut. It is of a nine year old girl screaming and running down a road just after a napalm attack. The young girl, Kim Phuc, was naked, scared, alone, and burned so severely that doctors would later give her little chance to survive. Despite this pronouncement, little Kim continued to defy doctors’ expectations and 14 months and 17 surgical procedures later, she was released to go home. I’ll let her tell the next part of her story as she told it on the radio program, “This I Believe”:

“It was a very difficult time for me when I went home from the hospital. Our house was destroyed; we lost everything, and we just survived day by day.

Although I suffered from pain, itching and headaches all the time, the long hospital stay made me dream to become a doctor. But my studies were cut short by the local government. They wanted me as a symbol of the state. I could not go to school anymore.

The anger inside me was like a hatred as high as a mountain. I hated my life. I hated all people who were normal because I was not normal. I really wanted to die many times.

I spent my daytime in the library to read a lot of religious books to find a purpose for my life. One of the books that I read was the Holy Bible.

In Christmas 1982, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. It was an amazing turning point in my life. God helped me to learn to forgive — the most difficult of all lessons. It didn’t happen in a day, and it wasn’t easy. But I finally got it.

Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days, but my heart is cleansed.

Napalm is very powerful, but faith, forgiveness and love are much more powerful. We would not have war at all if everyone could learn how to live with true love, hope, and forgiveness.”

If that little girl in the picture can do it, ask yourself: Can you?

Steven Shelton

SERVICES OF WORSHIP

SUNDAY, July 27th, 2008, 9:00 & 11:00 AM

ANTHEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“They Shall Soar Like Eagles”

SCRIPTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven Shelton

SERMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steven Shelton
VESPERS—7:00 PM—J. O. Smith Building

Youth Mission Team will share about their Mission Trip to Birmingham, Alabama

THE YOUNG-AT-HEART HEADLINES”

55 years and older

YOUNG-AT-HEART ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.

Lauren Harrell is recuperating from surgery. She will be at home if you would like to send her a card or note. Her address is 1909 Lake Douglas Rd. Let us keep her in our prayers.

MUSIC NOTES

All of our choirs begin their new seasons in the next few weeks!! You are invited to join; we have a place for you. The Music Ministries of our church offer special, enriching, fulfilling opportunities for service to our Lord and our congregation. Please prayerfully consider whether you are being called to serve in this area of ministry. All we ask of you is a joyful, teachable heart!

Chancel Choir: Sings for the 11:00 AM Service. Rehearses in the choir room on Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. A nursery is provided.

Heavenly Sunlight Singers: Will resume meeting on Tuesday, August 5th, at 10:15 AM in the Sunday School Building.

Handbell Choir: Will meet at 5:45 PM this Sunday, July 27.

Handbell Ensemble: Has room for more members! Please call Gaye if you’d like to join this group. We will provide a nursery whenever needed! We’ll resume rehearsals on Monday, August 11, 6:30 PM.

Youth Choir (Grades 6-College): Rehearses at 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoons in the choir room. Please bring your music from Camp. We’ll be singing these pieces in our new season!

Praise Bands: Both Praise Bands will be starting back up in the next week. Talk to Gaye if you’d like to be involved in this ministry.

Children, Ages 2 through Grade 5: Our new season of music and arts programs will begin on Wednesday, August 13th, 6:25 PM, following our Christian Fellowship Dinner. We will have a VIPM (very important parent’s meeting) during that first evening. You’ll be receiving an email and/or letter in the mail with information about our new season of study and activities

YOUTH NEWS

August 2nd All youth are invited to a going away pool party for the

Fabachers at the City Pool, Saturday, August 2nd, from 6:30 to 9:30

*August 6th Youth Leaders and Parents Meeting 5:00 PM J.O. Smith. Dinner will be served.

*WEDNESDAY PM Cell Groups begin August 13th..

CHILDREN’S CHAT

Our final Wacky Wednesday is this week! It is time for our annual trip to Water World!! You will need $10.00 for entrance fee, money for lunch and LOTS of sunscreen. The van leaves the Church at 10:00 AM and will return around 6:00 PM. Children’s Fellowship starts back up on August 3rd. We will of course have our annual Slippery, Slimy, Super Messy Games. Snack Supper begins at 5:00 PM. The Games begin at 5:30 PM, and we will finish at 6:55 PM. Our regular meetings will begin on August 10th. This year we will discover how God can give us the courage to do what is right in every situation we face in life.

SIXTH GRADE CORNER

Many thanks to our FUMC family and some area home school families who contributed to our school supply drive. The box is running over! It has been fun this Summer, and I have enjoyed our Thrilling Thursdays and look forward to a lot more activities and mission opportunities during the school year!

~~Mrs. Chee Chee

POTS AND PANS

If anyone has borrowed any pot or pan from the J. O. Smith Building please be sure to return them. We are short several of the pots and pans in the J. O. Smith Building and would appreciate their return.

A LAUNDRY BASKET FULL OF LOVE

Look for the decorated laundry basket which will be making appearances at various locations around the church property. We would love for you to join the New Beginnings Sunday School Class in helping provide linens for children coming into the Methodist Home for Children and Youth in Macon. They usually have 4-5 new children per month coming into the Home. Each child needs a new set of linens. Please take a list of items, and fill up a basket of your own, or just pick one or two items that you are able to provide. Jesus said, “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

PRAYER CORNER

PLANTS, PROSPERITY & PRAYER

I have a plant in my living room that droops if it doesn’t get watered ever 4-5 days. I’m sure it would be more healthy and vigorous, and possibly even grow if I remembered to water it before it got to the “droopy” phase. Sometimes I treat my relationship with God the same way. As long as my life is not in crisis, I figure that prayer can wait a while. But I’m wrong. When God’s blessings make me think I don’t need Him, I am more needy than ever.

The book of Hosea summarizes God’s relationship with Israel in words that describe that pattern of behavior in this way; “When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” (Hosea 13:5-6) It’s a sad cycle, isn’t it? God blesses, I grow; God satisfied, I take credit; God withholds His blessing, I realize my neediness; God reveals my sin, I repent; God forgives, I renew my devotion.

I’ve learned from my plant that I must pray even when I don’t see the need. I need God just as much when I’m being blessed as when I am in crisis.

Daily Prayer Focus

July 26 Sunday School Teachers July 30 Fall Church Programs

July 27 Youth Missions Vespers July 31 Congress

July 28 College Students Aug 1 Teachers and Students

July 29 MISSIONS Ministry Team Aug 2 Pastors

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS

Wednesday Night Suppers are currently scheduled to begin on August 13th. With the increase in food costs and services, reservations are a must, and if you are unable to attend on Wednesday and do not notify the Church you will need to pay for what has been prepared for you.

BUDGET REQUESTS FOR 2009

Budget requests for 2009, should be in by August 20th.

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

The Thursday morning Bible study led by Pam Hunt will begin meeting again on August 14th. We will spend four weeks reading and discussing The Lord is My Shepherd by Harold Kushner. On September 11th we will begin a series of 3 short term Disciple Bible studies: Genesis (10 weeks) Romans (8 weeks), and John (11 weeks). We invite you to join us for one or all of these studies as we explore our spiritual lives; and grow and learn together. We meet Thursday mornings 9:30-11:30 AM. For more information call or email Pam Hunt at 246-2920 or Jrhunt99@bellsouth.net. Please get in touch with me soon so I can order books as needed.

MINISTRY OF CONCERN, OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT

MEMORIAL MANOR: 1500 E. Shotwell St.

Linda Barber, Room 19

H. A. Olivent, Room 75

Alma Johnson, Room 63A

Frances Worthington (Lauren’s Grandmother), Rm 46

RIVERSIDE PLACE: 1151 W. College St.

Alfred Rogers Freida Dunlap

Pat Reynolds

WILLOW RIDGE: 801 Faceville Hwy.

Mildred Caldwell Nell Hambrick

Lois Hodges Carrie Nisbet

Mae Ola Gibson M. J. Swicord

Frances Brock

BAINBRIDGE HEALTH CARE: 1155 W. College St.

Mr. Lamar Dollar, Room 213

Mrs. Bronnie Dollar, Room 213

DONALSONVILLE, GA 38745

Evelyn Porter – Seminole Manor Nursing Home, Florence St.

SYLVESTER, GA 31791

Elizabeth Ivey, Sylvester Health Care, 104 Monk Street

PLANTATION MANOR, 31792

Frances Reeves, 220 Park Ave., Thomasville, GA 31792

BAINBRIDGE, GA 39819

Kate Nichols, 2100 Backlake Circle 246-0638

Charlotte Kwilecki, P. O. Box 5, 181 Turtle Pond Rd.

Johnny and Calista Pritzl, 1006 Culbreth St. 246-0348

MONTGOMERY, AL 36116

Pauline Cooper, John Knox Manor, 4401 Narrow Lane Rd.

VISITATION MINISTRY: Please call the Church or email youngatheart1@bellsouth.net if you are interested in joining the Visitation Ministry Program. The program entails visiting one of our members that are homebound, in a nursing home, or in assisted living once a month. You will be connected with someone to visit or may choose from the list in the bulletin. If you are currently visiting someone on a regular basis, please let me know so that I might direct people to those who are not seeing visitors. Thanks so much! Lauren

THOSE SERVING IN OUR MILITARY!

Keep in Touch with our Military!

Gemmer, Christopher AIC Charles Cooksey

ARSIC-S 379 EMXS/MXMWP

RCAC/FOB Sweeney APO AE 09309

APO, AE 09355 (Charlie has been deployed)

Tommy Fussell, Chaplain, USAF

2236 A Bridlewood Place

Scott FB, Ill. 62225

Permission to Speak Freely

Please come and join the New Beginnings Sunday School Class as we begin a new DVD and discussion based study on prayer by Andy Stanley. We will be examining the difference between Jesus’ teaching and the way we typically approach prayer. The study will last 5 more weeks began Sunday, July 20th. Come to listen and discuss what God had in mind when He gave us the marvelous ability and opportunity to talk to Him.

SINCERE CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY: Sincere Christian Sympathy is extended to Spencer “Onion” Davis, Buddy and Tammi Wester and Family, Chuck and Kay Wester and Family, Wanda Wester and Family and Sharon Shelton and Family upon the death of Jeannine Wester Davis. Jeannine died on July 24th, 2008. Each of you and your families will be in our thoughts and prayers.