DAILY CHANGES

Have you looked in our church's Sanctuary recently? Currently, there are no pews to sit on, no chandeliers to light the room, and no choir loft for the choir to sing from. Every few days I take an opportunity to peek inside our Sanctuary to observe the progress that has been made in the renovation. Some days I see drastic changes like a newly built chancel area or an installed pulpit. Other days the changes are less noticeable, like new wiring or removed asbestos. Each day the Sanctuary becomes a little bit closer to being completed. Wouldn't it be nice if Jerry Mann, our Facilities Director, could snap his fingers and the Sanctuary would be finished? Wouldn't it be nice if next Sunday we were able to worship in the completed Sanctuary? Of course! But we also know that such a large project like this takes time, hard work and attention to detail.

As I watch these daily changes take place in our Sanctuary, I am reminded of how each and every day we have opportunities to do things that can help us become closer to that person that God has called us to be. Every day we are invited to grow and serve as a disciple of Christ. The Christian life and faith is defined by our daily efforts to live into the likeness of Christ.

One of the questions asked of those who are to be ordained as a United Methodist minister is, "Are you moving on towards perfection?" A soft chuckle usually reverberates through the room when this question is asked because we know that none of those being ordained are
perfect. But that question is asked because we want to know: are you continually striving to become a more faithful servant of Christ?

When our Sanctuary is finished, it will not be because someone snapped his or her fingers and it was completed overnight, but it will be because of the hard work that took place day after day. It is my prayer that we are all striving daily to become more faithful servants of Christ.

I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Our Senior Adult Ministry will host an AARP Safe Driving Course from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835)

Help MFUMC pack lunches for the MUST Summer Lunch program. Meet Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Lower Room to pack 300 lunches. For more information and to sign up, click here. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Fuse Sports. Registration is open for Fuse lacrosse! Practice/games will be on August 9, 16, 23, 30 and September 13 and 27 from 2-3 p.m. Flag football and cheerleading begin October 4 and registration begins August 12. Fuse Sports are open to ages 3 (by 9/1/15) through 5th grade. Click here for more information or to register. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

Join our senior adults for an overnight trip to Rome, GA on August 21-22 to see the play, Drinking Habits, about a group of industrious nuns who try to save their convent by bootlegging the communion wine! On that Saturday, we will take a boat trip on The Roman Holiday to learn about the history and unique ecology of the Coosa and Etowah Rivers. The cost of the trip is $30 plus meals and lodging. The deadline for signing up for this trip is August 9. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835)

Save the Date: Lil' Lambs Consignment Sale. Shop earlier this year with our new August dates! Mark your calendars for August 21 and 22. (Georgia Rambo, ext. 7805)

Blessing of the Backpacks. On Sunday, August 2, bring your backpack to church and receive a special blessing for the school year during Children's Time. All children will receive a special medallion for their backpacks to remind them of God's love! (Georgia Rambo, ext. 7805)

3rd Grade Bible Presentation. On Sunday, August 30, all 3rd graders will be presented a Bible during 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Worship. Each Bible will be engraved with the child's name, so please click here to reply to Kelly Duncan with the 3rd graders name (as you'd like it engraved) and which service your family will attend on August 30.

Kids: Beat the Heat! Summer programs for children continue through July 31:

Nursery: Parent's Day Out from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Preschool camps: Girly Girls and Manly Men
Elementary 3rd-5th Grade: Mission Mondays. Meet in the Family Life Hall lobby at 10 a.m., returning around 1 p.m.
(Georgia Rambo, ext. 7805)

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

Senior Adult Ministry Catered Luncheons Resume on September 16 and continue through May 2016 on the third Wednesday of each month in the Wesley Dining Room (Room 104). The dates and speakers are:

September 16: Reverend Kent Burel on "Theology in The Wizard of Oz"
October 21: Mrs. Phyllis Wright, Professor of Nursing at Emory University on healthy aging
November 18: Mrs. Susan McDonald sharing her faith story in song

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

Volunteer for the Back To School Backpack Event! We need volunteers to fill backpacks with school supplies for the rest of this week and to hand them out on Saturday. The volunteer signup sheet is at www.mariettafumc.org. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

Mission Mondays for Children. Completed 3rd through 5th graders are invited to join us for service projects. Meet in the Family Life Hall lobby at 10 a.m., returning around 1 p.m. (Georgia Rambo, ext. 7805)

Please Note These New Adult Sunday School Classroom Locations: Jack Aaron Class (Reception Hall), Open Door Class (Room 256) and 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

Saturday, July 25

Backpack Event

Sunday, July 26

5th Grade Promotion Sunday

Thursday, July 30

MUST Summer Lunch packing concludes

Thursday, August 13