Come gather at the corner of Brandenburg Hollow and Garfield Roads for the annual Sunday School Picnic. The picnic will be held on August 1 and will start at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 4:00 p.m.

This year the music will be provided by Bluegrass Blend.  Along with good gospel and bluegrass music you will find a moon bounce and other games for the children.  For the entire family there will good food featuring: Roast beef sandwiches, french-fries and homemade soup.  Desert at the picnic grounds will be ice cream with the ever popular flavor of Orange Pineapple.  But if you need to or want to take desert home just walk on down the picnic grounds and find a variety of homemade baked items.

It is always cool at the picnic woods so come spend the day with us and enjoy God’s blessings and great fellowship with the community.  The public is welcome so bring your friends and neighbors.

 

We are blessed to welcome Andrew Brown as the new Youth Ministry Director.

 Andrew has been serving for over two years with our youth ministry and has been a wonderful leader with the young people in our congregation. This past July, Andrew planned a Youth Retreat at Mason-Dixon Campground. He has lots of wonderful plans for our youth this coming year.

Please keep Andrew and our young people in your prayers.

 

August 16^th will be our second annual Vacation Bible School Reunion.

With special songs in worship, a review of Bible School week and cookout after church, our VBS reunion is something you don’t want to miss. We will play back to school Bingo, replay some great VBS games and sing the fantastic songs. Be ready to head back to Rome even just for an afternoon!

Mark your calendars now to attend.

 

The Teen/Youth Bible Study continues to meet the first and third Sundays of each month at 6:00 p.m.

The study is titled "Balance" and focuses on living a balanced life that involves God. This study is for the youth and led by the youth with adult supervision.

It is not too late to join this study.  Contact Sara Lewis or Pastor Katie for more details.

 

The church is starting a new ministry and it will depend on how many people are interested.  There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications.

Angel Food is available in a quantity that can fit into a medium-sized box at $30 per unit. Each month's menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60. Comparison shopping has been done across the country in various communities using a wide range of retail grocery stores and has resulted in the same food items costing from between $42 and $78.

Generally, one unit of food assists in feeding a family of four for about one week or a single senior citizen for almost a month. The food is all the same high quality one could purchase at a grocery store. There are no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that is almost too ripe.

Also offered are specialty boxes such as steaks, chicken and pork. Many participants in this bonus program appreciate the expanded choices. Additionally, there is no limit to the number of units or bonus foods an individual can receive, and there are no applications to complete or qualifications to which participants must adhere. Angel Food Ministries also participates in the U.S. Food Stamp program, using the Off-Line Food Stamp Voucher System.

If there is enough interest Garfield MAY become a host church and for that service to the community Garfield receives a donation to their mission ministry.  You can find out more about this and/or place your order by speaking with Linda Reeder.  If you wish to know more about Angel Food Ministries visit their website at AngelFoodMinistries.com.

 

---Submitted by Andrew Brown

The Kings Kids Youth Group is selling Youth Sunday DVDs for the low low price of $8.

The DVD includes the whole Youth Sunday service, Highlights of VBS 2009, The Kings Kids Sled Derby race, and the spaghetti dinner featuring the original play: The Case of the Missing Trumpet.

Order yours today so these memories can last a life time.  Send your order requests to A.Brown.87@live.com, or pick up an order form at the church.  This Offer not available in Stores!

 

Pastor Katie is looking for a few willing volunteers to help with a Bible School for homeless kids in Alexandria , Virginia on Wednesday, August 12^th.  It will be the same material we used for Bible School .

We would need to leave the church at 8:30 am on Wednesday morning and would return around 3:00 pm. If your teenager would like to help, please see Pastor Katie for a ride!

 

 

 

In connection with other Methodist churches in the area, there will be a Young Adult Cookout (people ages 18-35) at Pastors Katie and Chris Bishop’s house (8944 Indian Springs Road, Frederick, MD 21702) on Monday, August 24^th from 6-10 pm. There will be food, fellowship and fun with Bible Study beginning at 8 for those who wish to stay. Please come and invite your friends.

 

 

And now what are you waiting for?

Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.

Acts 22:16

The feeling of triumph was short lived. My husband Chris, had to leave for work extra-early and the job of getting the house started had fallen on my shoulders. Dishes were washed, laundry was started, the living room had been vacuumed. I had woken my daughter from her sleep (something I never like to do). She was dressed, fed, and watching Elmo peacefully in the living room, while I hopped quickly into the shower. I was proud! I had gotten the day started all by myself. Taking the shortest shower of my life (I think there was still shampoo in my hair) I walked out of the bathroom to my worst nightmare. My daughter Eden was standing in the hallway, coloring on the wall.

It was not a few strokes here and there. It was not with the yellow marker. No such luck. It was red, purple and black PERMENANT marker from the carpet to as high as she could reach. The stripes ran the length of the wall. And standing there with the crayons in her hands and me in my robe, Eden boasted, “Look, Mommy! Pretty!”

Not sure what to say, I think I nodded before taking the markers out of her hands and walking into the bedroom. As she followed me, she kept asking, “Pretty Mommy? Pretty?”  There on the bed were the clothes I had laid out for the busy day of meetings. They would have to wait. Pulling on my “cleaning clothes,” I began to explain to my toddler that we color on paper and not on walls. As tears filled her eyes, I waked to the kitchen to find the magic erasers, hoping that they would pull the colors off the wall. Together we washed, and washed, and kept washing until most of colors disappeared (some of the paint).

As we washed, I thought about the way that God washes us clean. No matter how big, or long, or dark the sins in our life, God’s grace washes us clean. No matter how proud we have been, no matter how many tears we have cried, God’s grace washes us clean. As we are baptized in Christ, our sins are washed away. As we confess how we fall short, our sins are washed away. What are we waiting for? God’s love and grace is ready and available, all we need to do is receive it.

If you are having a hard time receiving the love and grace of God, if there is something that you are still “waiting for,” please call or talk with me. I would love to help!

May you and your families be blessed as the summer comes to an end!

 

The week that Josh, Chase, Collin and I went to Camp Manidokan was a very educational and adventurous week. Every day our group would do an exciting activity.  In the mornings after breakfast Pastor Katie or Pastor Chris would lead in a Bible Study. After the Bible Study our group would get ready to hike to the place where we would do our afternoon activity. In the evening we would have worship and sing songs of praise about our Lord.  I learned many interesting things.

 I want to thank Pastor Katie and Pastor Chris for inviting us and being 2 of our cabin counselors.  I hope we can go back next year and have another great year!

 

 

--Submitted by Andrew Brown

Youth Director

Almost two years ago I felt that God was calling me to Garfield United Methodist Church.  I had no idea what he had in store for me, but I felt honored when the PPR committee came to me and wanted to know if I would fill Philip’s position, which he had done such a great job in.  Knowing I had some big shoes to fill I prayed about it, and talked to my friends and family.  After a lot of prayer and thinking about the great young people that are committed to the youth group I knew that this is what God is calling me to do.  It is a great leap of Faith on my part because I never considered myself as a leader; I liked being behind the scenes and helping get stuff done.  I’ve had a great time over the past couple years getting to know some of the young people here through camps, activities, and VBS. I look forward to getting to know even more of you. It is an honor to serve this Church, the young people of the community, and God.

As Youth Director I hope to continue the great progress that my predecessor has made with this group and build upon it.  The youth group has really reached out and took on projects that we have never done before like, the Youth Camping Retreat, the Mummers Day Parade Float, and sledding down a snowy mountain in cardboard to raise money so others can experience the Love of God.  We have raised thousands of dollars and sent care packages and Bibles to help others in our community and around the globe. 

In January the youth group decided to dedicate this year as the year of outreach.  We have been successful in our outreach so far, but we still have a ways to go, and we are planning new and exciting ways we can reach out to those around us.  So if you know a young person, let them know what they are missing out on.  I would encourage everyone to invite a young person they know to one of our youth meetings or events.

The youth are currently meeting the first and third Sundays of the month for the Bible Study entitled “Balance” this Study is open to all youth and Young Adults.  After the Study is over we will go back to our monthly meetings which are held on the third Sunday of the month.  Look for the youth helping out at the Sunday School Picnic on August 1. We also are planning a rock-a-thon to be held September 11-12, and building our Mummers Day Parade float for the parade on October 31.

I would like to thank everyone who donated canned goods, food, time, and money to help make the youth camping retreat a great success.  As always the church has shown us great support, and we hope that you can continue to help support the youth group so we can continue to grow, not only in size, but in faith as well.  Feel free to contact me anytime: A.Brown.87@live.com, or (301)606-5458.  You can also find The Youth Group on Facebook.com, search for GUMC Youth.

 

We are planning on starting a children’s choir! If your child (any age) is willing to share their voices or play hand bells, plan to stay 30 minutes after church on August 23^rd and September 6^th.

Our first time sharing in worship will be September 13^th for Rally Day!

 

 

Remember as our college students return to their studies to provide Sylvia with their address so that they can receive a copy of the newsletter while they are away from home.

  

Looking to the Fall

We are looking at trying Bible Study different this fall. It has been proposed and approved by council to try to have a weeknight study for children, youth, their parents, and all adults one night a week. We would provide dinner at 6:30 and begin the study at 7pm.

If you are interested in helping or participating in this endeavor, please let Pastor Katie know.

 

As we move forward in sharing God’s Word with the World, we are looking for your suggestions. Please fill out a yellow card answering the following questions: What does Garfield do well? What can Garfield work on? If Garfield could do anything, what would you like to see happening here?

Cards can be put in the offering plate or left in the white box in the entry way. Thank you for taking the time to fill them out!

 

--Submitted by Pastor Katie

From hiking to rafting to flying through the air on the rock climbing wall, I was so proud of the challenges our young people faced. And they had a great time doing it!

Thank you for your notes, donations, and prayers. All made the week at camp possible. We are planning on taking 3-8^th graders to camp next year. If you are interested, watch for details in January.

 

As the 2009/2010 school year begins we are again reminded of the number of people in the Smithsburg, Sabillasville and Wolfsville area schools that do not have the supplies needed to begin the year.  With that in mind, Garfield will again be collecting Tools for Schools.

Please bring items such as paper, composition books, crayons, rulers, glue etc and place them in the box in the narthex for delivery to these schools.

Everything that you bring will be used by local students and is appreciated by each school in the area.  Give as God leads you to give and know that you make a difference.

 

Income	2008	2009
Month	10607	8693
YTD	53166	63634
Expenses	2008	2009
Month	18271	9891
YTD	65455	68087
Sunday School/Missions	2008	2009
Sunday school	246	118
YTD	1359	1093
Missions	453	599
YTD	3267	3200
Attendance	2008	2009
Worship	590	365
YTD	2535	2248
Sunday School	139	79
YTD	651	461

Christians consider themselves to be people with whom God has made a New Covenant.

Which Old Testament prophet first spoke of the New Covenant? Choose the correct name below:

A. Isaiah

B. Joel

C. Jeremiah

D. Obadiah

Answer: C. See Jeremiah 31:31

 

Garfield,

Thanks so much for the Devotional Journal and recognizing me at your graduation celebration.  You all have been so welcoming to me, I can’t thank you enough. 

One of the biggest motivation factors for me during my time at college was knowing that I had a strong support system back home.  I always looked forward to the many youth events after busy weeks of studying.

Thanks again for everything

God Bless

Lance

During the month of August we will have two guest speakers.

Pastor Katie and her whole family will be on vacation August 3^rd to 10^th.  With Pastor Katie on vacation Sandy Lewis will deliver the message on August 9^th.

Then on August 30, Pastor Katie will be away for a meeting to continue her education.  So Sara Lewis will be our guest speaker.

Please plan now to attend both of these services and support those who “fill in” for Pastor Katie.

 

 

Five steps to a friendlier church

1. Speak to the other person first. Don’t wait for him or her to take the initiative.

2. If there is someone you don’t know, introduce yourself to him or her.

3. Be pleasant in your words and expressions. A great church cannot be built with frowns.

4. Invite newcomers to a worship service or to a church event and introduce them to other members.

5. Encourage people to participate in those church activities that interest them.