July 13,

2016

SURPRISED BY LOVE

The same wonderful thing happens every day. Multiple times each day, in fact. My daughter Hadley, who just turned 2, will find my iPhone sitting on

the counter or a table. She'll bring it to me and ask if she can play with it. As I nod my head yes, Hadley pushes the main button and then gasps and looks up at me in awe. "Mommy, look!," she says, as she points excitedly to the picture of her and her brother. "Mommy, look! Hadley and Elliott!"

And she looks so surprised and pleased and happy. Every time. It's as if she sees that picture and feels like the most important and beloved child in the world. YOU have a picture of ME on your phone? Every. Single. Time. And I smile and respond to her, "Yes. That's you. Mommy loves you a lot."

This exchange will never get old for me. How wonderful that this sweet child allows herself to be surprised by love every single day.

Now of course God doesn't have an iPhone. But if God did, there would be a picture of every single one of us on the home screen. God's house would be full of reminders of us and how loved we are. And if we looked through God's scrapbook, I imagine we would look up in awe and say, "YOU have a picture of ME? You were there when all of this happened?" And God would smile and say to us, "Yes. I was there with you. I'm always with you. I love you more than you can know."

Let yourself be surprised by God's love today. Sit in awe of the fact that you are a beloved child of God. Find fulfillment in the knowledge that God stands with you at every moment.

It's easy to forget because there's no picture to point at and gasp. But we can help each other remember and we can offer one another signs of God's surprising love every single day.

elainewildersignature

News

July Sermon Series: Virtues for Faithful Living. Join us for this 4-week focus on the intersection between personal character and our walk of faith.

July 17: Patience
July 24: Humility
July 31: Listening

2 Become 1 Workshop: Join us for a premarital workshop for engaged couples led by professional counselors on Saturday, September 10. Visit www.mariettafumc.org/2become1

for additional information and to register. (Rev. Brian Smith, ext. 7840)

Youth Sharptop Retreat. Join us August 12-14 as we gather with surrounding Marietta churches for fellowship, games, and worship. This year's theme at Sharptop is "Identity." For more information and to register, visit www.mariettafumc.org/sharptop.

Confirmation Registration is now open for all rising 6th grade students. We will start our adventure together with a retreat to Alabama (September 9-11) where we will begin to take a deeper look at our Christian Faith. Register and find more information at www.mariettafumc.org/confirmation. (Jessica Ferguson, ext. 7822)

The Bereavement Support Group will meet next Wednesday, July 20 at 6:30 pm in the Parlor. This group meets the third Wednesday of each month to offer support to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Save the Date: Nov 16-18. The Senior Adults are planning a retreat at WinShape on the Berry College Campus in Rome, Georgia. The cost is $250 and includes two nights lodging, five meals and a tour of Martha Berry's home. A deposit of $100 per person is needed by July 20. (Rev. Lori Ethridge, ext. 7835)

Cornerstone, a gathering of Young Adults in their mid-20s to mid-30s, meets Sundays at 10:10 a.m. in room 255 in the Discipleship Building. (Rev. Brian Smith, ext. 7840)

Support Groups are available here at the church for a variety of concerns: grief, caring for a loved one with dementia, addiction, or other needs. Visit www.mariettafumc.org/support for meeting times and details. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Interested in MFUMC's history? Helping in our Archives is a great way to learn (and help preserve our past). Please contact Milli Robinson at millirobinson@mariettafumc.org or ext. 7857 to volunteer.

Help restore lives impacted by human trafficking in our area. Volunteer at the Marietta Treasure Store, a consignment store which benefits Wellspring Living located at 800 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30064. Wellspring Living helps victims of Human Trafficking move forward with their lives through group resident and independent living programs. For more information, contact Forrest Cate. To sign up to volunteer, click here.

We invite you to serve with our Parking Ministry on Sunday mornings in half-hour and one-hour shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Help members who have difficulty walking to and from worship and Sunday School. Training is provided. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

The Hospitality Ministry is looking for friendly, creative and energetic volunteers to help greet on Sundays, provide special event setup and d�cor and be helpers at Church Family Supper on Wednesdays. (Beth Dawson, ext. 7829)

Restore to Glory!

Want more information about Restore To Glory! and its progress?

Visit its Web site, 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

This Weekend Only: Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Tickets are on sale for Schoolhouse Rock Live!, a family friendly show which brings the hit 70's cartoon series out of the TV. They are available at the Welcome Center Desk.

Dates for this show with live music and eye-popping sets are Friday and Saturday, July 15-16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 17, at 2 p.m.
The audience will be seated at reserved tables and served heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks.

Tickets prices are $20 (adults), $18 (seniors/students) and $50 (family of 4 and $5 each additional child).

(Brian Parks, ext. 7809)

Help with our Annual Back to School Backpack Event supporting Marietta City Schools and MUST Ministries.

We need donations of filled backpacks and/or school supplies by next Tuesday, July 19. Supply lists are available at www.mariettafumc.org or in the Welcome Center Lobby.
Help assemble backpacks next Saturday, July 23. All ages are invited for this fun service event.

Mission Mondays - Rising 4th - 6th Grade

Join us from 10:00 to 1:00 to do fun mission projects followed by lunch/dessert on the Square. Drop off and pick up in the Family Life Hall lobby. $10/person for lunch and dessert.

July 18 - Backpack Packing - school supplies, lunch at Taqueria Tsunami and dessert at Sarah Jeans Ice Cream.
*July 25 - Blessings in a Backpack - food for children in need, lunch at NY Deli and dessert at Miss Mamie's Cupcakes.

The Dementia Caregivers Support Group will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Hospitality Room. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

Upcoming Mission Trip Information Sessions

Czech Republic meets ths Sunday at 12:30 pm in the Library. Trip dates are October 7-16.
Ecuador meets July 24 at 12:30 pm in the
Library. Trip dates are September 24 to October 2.

(Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

It's time to help pack lunches for the MUST Summer Lunch Program Thursdays at 10 a.m. in the Lower Room. visit www.mariettafumc.org/summerlunch to learn more about this vital summer program and to volunteer(Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)