Dear ,

                            CONSTANT IN PRAYER
Jesus taught it! Paul encouraged it! A Christian must be involved in it, if we are to follow Jesus Christ and become the persons  He and God the Father created us to be. What are we talking about?   PRAYER!  Matthew's Gospel  reminds us that Jesus said, "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matthew 21:22). Paul in writing to the church at Rome said, "be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12) The Christian life , in order to be what Jesus calls us to be, must be immersed in prayer. All that we do must be covered in prayer.
 
I hope that each of you who are part of the Isle of Hope United Methodist family pray regularly for the work of God's church here. As we came into the family, we were asked "will you follow Jesus Christ and support His church through your attendance, PRAYERS, gifts, service, and in recent days we have added the word "witness". We could talk about all of these things at length, but today I want us to focus on PRAYER.
 
When we first began talking about the need for another worship service, which has been given the name THE ANCHOR, we began in prayer. All those who have worked in the various committees and task forces planning for this new service of worship have been encouraged to pray in order to seek and do God's will for His church. I hope, as you have heard of this new service over the last several months, that each of you have lifted it in your prayers. The first "preview" service will be held August 16, 11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall. Rev. Meg Procopio will be the preacher for this first service.  Lindsay Bradley, our worship leader for these services, has been working over the last two months to get us ready for that start. Many are working with her. There is still room for you to offer your help. Call Lindsay at 355-8527 and ask how you can be involved.  Certainly you can pray. Isle of Hope UMC has a reputation in the community of "reaching out to others" and "doing the things we do with excellence".  We want, for the kingdom's sake, to do what God desires for His church, and to do it well.
 
In addition to praying for this work, you can continue to invite others to join you, either  in the Fellowship Hall or the Sanctuary for worship. Remember, 8:45 AM and 11:15 AM in the Sanctuary and 11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall. In those places, we will pray and worship together. SEVERAL HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY INTEND TO SUPPORT THE SANCTUARY SERVICES AND THE ANCHOR SERVICES WITH THEIR ATTENDANCE. WILL  YOU ALSO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT FOR SEVERAL SUNDAYS? This kind of commitment can mean  so much to you and to your church.
 
"Work as if everything depended on you, pray as if everything depended on God."
 
                                                       Working and Praying with you,