“Tuesday Study Group,” a women’s study sponsored by the United Methodist Women, meets for its eighteenth year on the third Tuesday of each month from October until June in the Church parlor. This year’s study focuses on the Beatitudes, using the book “The Eight Blessings-Rediscovering the Beatitudes” as its study guide. Shane Stanford, author of this study, describes it with these words-”The Beatitudes are more than just poetic verse used to begin the Sermon on the Mount; they are the essence of Jesus’ message from beginning to end.”

Dianne Antos is the study group facilitator, and each member has an opportunity to lead part of the study. The group’s time together begins with a “bring your own” lunch. The actual study starts at 1:00pm and finishes by 2:30pm. Newcomers are welcome and encouraged. Please speak to Dianne, either directly or by calling the church office if you would like to learn more.

Mark 9: 30-38
Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
I want to remind you this morning of our new vision statement.  I hope you are getting closer to having it memorized so that when someone asks you about your church, this will come to mind.  To help you, we’ve got banners on the altar, so will you say it with me:  Be rooted in God’s love.  Grow in grace.  Bear fruits of justice and peace.  In the Weekly Edition of the Epistle, included in your program this morning there is a brief article that discusses the second part of this vision: Grow in grace.  I hope you will read it and continue to think about this vision statement and where you are in your faith and how you plug in to this vision. (more…)

Mark 8:27-38
Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper

Last week we introduced our new vision statement to you, and I want to begin this time together by reminding you of that statement. Be rooted in love. Grow in grace. Bear fruits of justice and peace. In your program in the Weekly Edition of the Epistle is a short meditation on what it means to be rooted in God’s love. Next week there will be another one that discusses what it means to grow in grace. So I hope that as the weeks progress you become more and more aware of what this vision statement implies for you and for our church. I also hope that the vision statement becomes ingrained in your mind so that as soon as you think about church, this vision statement pops right into your head. So I want to invite you to say it with me: Be rooted in God’s love. Grow in grace. Bear fruit of justice and peace.
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Mark 7: 24-37
Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper

Today we are sharing with you a vision that has come to some of us – not as easily as we might have hoped, but nevertheless a vision that has come that we hope can guide us as we look to our church’s future.  The church council has worked faithfully for several months trying to put into words a vision for our church and John Swanson has been kind enough to offer some of his artistic skills to express our vision in a visual way.  And so, now you have heard a little bit from Bert about this vision.   Today, we are casting this vision – it has not been adopted by any official body.  It is not yet finished, really.  It is simply an offering to you, for you to consider, as you think about your church and the visions you have had for your church.
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Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Rev. Bryan Travis Hooper
Next week will be our Rally Day, and this is a big day for us in the church.  On Rally Day, we encourage everyone to come to church and be with us together as we all return from our summer plans and start the year off again.  I want to encourage you, as we did last year, to make an effort to invite your friends to be here.  It will be a great chance to share your church with others.  Also, next week, we are going to have a special time to hear about some of the work that has been going on with regards to a new vision for our church.  The Church Council and others have been working to imagine what our church might be, and some of that work will be shared with you next week.  So please make a special effort to be here next Sunday. (more…)