IN SPITE OF OUR FAILURES

The National Basketball Association (NBA) finals are being played and in just a few months, the league will crown its champion (it was the late sportswriter Sam's Picture Jesse Outlar who once wrote, "If the NBA had been in charge of World War II, Japan and Germany would still be in it."). The league takes an interminably long time to finish its season.

Our Atlanta Hawks had a great year and I confess that, probably like you, I watched more professional basketball this year than any season before. We all like a winner. Alas, the Hawks' effort fell short and we look for better things next year.

In the final days of the Hawks' season, I heard a broadcaster outline the challenges to the team and the way for the team to overcome them and defeat LeBron James and his Cleveland teammates. "The Hawks," he said, "have to play a complete game. They need to make their shots and play stellar defense. They need not to make unnecessary errors and they have to have no
unforced turnovers.

Well, duh! If a team can do that every game, it would go undefeated! If we score and they don't, if we control the ball and they don't, if all our strategies are implemented perfectly, we should win. Again, duh!

Basketball games aren't like that. Teams miss shots, play spotty defense, turn the ball over, and make mistakes. Good teams make fewer of them and the best teams overcome them. Errors are a part of the game.

And you know where I am going with this. All our shots don't go in, not yours and not mine. Sometimes the other team seems better prepared, better situated, and more fortunate than we. Sometimes we don't have any defense at all, but are woefully vulnerable. Sometimes the errors are beyond our control and sometimes we cause them ourselves.

Nobody gets a perfect ride. No one goes through life unblemished or even able to meet every challenge. But our strength is that we travel together. In the church community we support one another, pray for one another, and are available to one another. And in our failures, we rely not on ourselves but on the redeeming grace of God. Some people have a hard time with this, but Heaven is never surprised when we fail. But Heaven is, I think, heartbroken when we try to hide our failures from our Maker, from ourselves, and from one another.

Let's do this and let's do it together.

And I'll see you this Sunday.

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News

Young Professionals Night at the Braves: Join other young professionals for a Braves game on Friday, June 19. Tickets are $20. Click here to reserve your spot. (Rev. Brian Smith, ext. 7840)

One Rehearsal Family Choir. Sing with the choir on Father's Day and/or Patriotic Sunday (June 21 and 28). Simply come to the Choir Room at 8:30 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. for a quick rehearsal and then sing for morning worship. (Bryan Black, ext. 7815)

Plan now for the Great American Family Picnic on July 4th in the Park on Polk. Hosted by the Phileo Sunday School class, this is your chance for the best seats for Marietta's fireworks show and to support MUST Ministries. To register for the event, visit www.greatamericanfamilypicnic.com. Volunteers receive free admission and dinner. Send an e-mail to forrestcate@mariettafumc.org to volunteer. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Don't let boredom creep in this summer! In June and July, preschool and elementary age children have a variety of camps such as "I Spy," "A Bug's Life," cooking, martial arts, dance, and tumbling. Older children enjoy fellowship and community service on Mission Mondays. Parent's Day Out is available for nursery age children, so they can have fun with friends too! Click here for more information or contact kellyduncan@mariettafumc.org.

All men of the church are invited to a cookout at the home of Brian McNair, 20 Adair Drive Marietta 30066, on Thursday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy food and fellowship and learn about upcoming events for Men of the Church. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Epworth Mid-High Mission Trip. Rising 7th-9th graders are invited to join us for mission projects, worship and fun at the beach from July 19-22. Early Bird Registration is $150 and ends May 31. (Josh Sweeney, ext. 7808)

The College Sunday School Class meets in the Parlor throughout the Summer. All are welcome. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Young People in Mission. Rising 7th graders through College Freshman are invited to join us for whitewater rafting, paintball, mission projects, and worship at Youth Camp from June 22-July 2. (Josh Sweeney, ext. 7808)

Restore to Glory!

Want more information about Restore To Glory! and its progress? Visit its Website, which includes the latest news about projects with photos to show our progress. There, you will also find information about how to donate or make your pledge.

This Week

Tomorrow, June 10, MFUMC's Senior Adult Ministry will visit the Carter Presidential Library and Museum to hear authors Martin Frost and Tom Davis discussing their new release entitled, The Partisan Divide: Congress in Crisis. The event is free and begins at 7 p.m. We will depart the church at 4 p.m. and stop at Mary Mac's Tea Room for an early supper. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835)

Our Dementia Caregivers Support Group will meet tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Three of our Adult Sunday School classes will move to new locations this Sunday:

* Jack Aaron Class: Reception Hall

* Open Door Class: Room 256

* LightSeekers Class: Room 252

Registration for Weekday Preschool and Kindergarten 2015-16 is underway. For more information, click here. (Nancy Tatnall, ext. 7842)

Connect Through Table Fellowship

Church Family Supper takes a vacation during
the summer and will return Wednesday, August 26.

We hope to see you then!

Save the Date

June 8-11

Vacation Bible School

June 22-July 2