August 3,

2016

BEGINNING AGAIN

Traffic congestion notwithstanding, I love, and have always loved, the first day of school. I remember the anticipation, hoping to get a teacher

whom I liked, one with a sense of humor and who loved baseball. I remember the new notebooks, the new pants (purchased, usually, at Town and Country Shopping Center out past the Big Chicken before there was a Big Chicken). I remember hoping that all of my buddies and most of the pretty girls would be in my class. I remember all of that. We had not yet discovered backpacks, but they are a part of the anticipation now and we will bless them in worship this Sunday, along with all the hopes and dreams contained therein.

A number of us in the church are starting classes soon--elementary, middle, high school, graduate school. Others of us are older and think, perhaps, that the anticipation of new beginnings is for someone else. We don't do that--start anew--anymore. But don't for a minute sit back and think that we are beyond new beginnings. Don't think for a minute that there are no fresh starts in our future. Our God is continually remaking us and we are always starting over.

The late Elie Wiesel said it so beautifully: "God gave Adam a secret, and that secret was not how to begin, but how to begin again." We remember Adam's story. He and Eve were disobedient to God and their relationship with their Creator was broken. The bliss and innocence of Eden was replaced with the edict that Adam was to till the soil, to labor for his sustenance, and Adam was faced with the dilemma of beginning again. According to the story, Adam and Eve were not forsaken by God. They were clothed for protection, still under the umbrella of God's love and care, but their lives were different. They had to begin again, and they did.

And now we're talking about all of us, aren't we? Every one of us, at some time, has had to begin again. Perhaps we failed. Perhaps circumstances beyond our control changed forever our plans and dreams. Perhaps we were betrayed, or perhaps we betrayed. We can fill in the blanks, but we had to begin again.

There is no better place than the church to begin again. The church will confirm in us the basic truths of life: we are created by God; we have the potential to be creative, faithful people; we have the potential to connect to the people around us and to live, discover, and celebrate life together. The church can assure us that, no matter how dark the world seems, God loves us and we have a future. We can begin again.

And I'll see you this Sunday.

News

Promotion Pep Rally, Sunday, August 14, 10-11 a.m. All preschool and elementary children and parents are invited to kick off the school year with a Pep Rally! We'll start in the Family Life Hall with brunch and photo ops, then children will leave with their new teachers and parents will stay for an informational meeting. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

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

Organ Concert, Sunday, August 28, 3 p.m. Organist and Music Associate Brian Parks will feature works from early Americana,
the European tradition and an improvisation on an audience-submitted theme. A reception will follow. (Brian Parks, ext. 7809)

Men's Low Country Boil, Thursday, August 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Walt Davis. Learn more about how to serve our church and community as a man of MFUMC. For more information, visit www.mariettafumc.org/lowcountryboil. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)

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)

Save the date for our next blood drive. Sunday, September 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Family Life Hall. (Forrest Cate ext. 7806)

Calling all card crafters! There will be a cardmaking workshop on Thursday, September 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Rubber Stamp Fantasy on the Square (115 Church Street). The cost is $20. Please RSVP to Rev. Lori Ethridge at ext.7835.

Join the Senior Adults for a trip to see the musical "Forever Plaid" at the Rome Little Theater on Sunday, August 21. We will depart immediately after the 11:15 a.m. worship service. Cost is $25 which includes a box lunch from Jason's Deli. RSVP to Rev Ethridge at ext. 7835.

Congregational Care volunteers needed! Are you willing to visit a homebound member of our congregation once a month? We provide flowers and you provide friendly conversation. Our list of members needing care keeps growing. Join us in this important ministry. (Rev. Elaine Wilder, ext. 7826)

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

Blessing of the Backpacks is this Sunday, August 7 at both worship services. Children can bring their backpacks to worship and will receive a special pin to remind them of God's love as they start a new school year. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)

One Faith, Many Voices is an annual celebration of church music in worship. Sundays in August will feature: Campmeeting/Revival (this Sunday), Classical (August 14), African-American (August 21) and Old-Time Bluegrass (August 28). (Bryan Black, ext. 7815)