NEWS

Susan and I want to thank everyone for the reception and special music we received our first Sunday back home. Seeing all of you and being back in our home church is wonderful. Being away for thirty days gave us plenty of time to relax and to reflect on our mission as we serve “the Church of God’s Possibilities” with all of you by our sides. The last four years have been filled with all the elements of a life journey: love, laughter, pain, sorrow, death and birth. Christ is in our lives here, and I know he wants us to share the good news with everyone we can.

I suppose the most in depth revelation I kept getting during the Sabbatical was to trust God no matter the circumstances and to love one another with a sense of urgency and forgiveness. These components combined will make us free and we will serve our God, by providing to all who come, a refuge from a tough and dangerous world. It sounds ironic, but to experience real freedom requires a quality decision to depend on God in all things.

The Holy Spirit has reminded me that in the book of Genesis, Abraham was considered a righteous person before God because of his faith in God and that same precept applies to us.

You may be thinking this sounds good and I want to grow my faith. Over the next few weeks, we are going to be learning about God’s holy spirit and further develop the possibilities that God has for our lives and invite others to join us in this holy adventure. As each individual discovers God’s possibilities for their life and that transcends throughout the congregation, we will all become a fellowship where all people are invited to be free in Christ and have a life filled with the possibilities of God.

I am so excited about being home and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do! OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!

See you in church,

Buddy

(Check out what Pastor Buddy's reading and get UMC book, music and movie reviews on the LINKS page! -- Updated on 8/17/2010)

Thank you to Karla Oakley for singing the great offertory on Sunday, August 29th - "Hope Now." And thanks to Terri Goodner for singing the back-up part. You may write to Karla at P. O. Box 984, La Vergne 37085; email - moviegirl1@tds.net, and Terri at 1204 Starwind Trail, La Vergne 37086; email - terribeth89@yahoo.com.

Favorite Place to Worship - Smyrna/LaVergne

The 15th Annual Ruthies Awards are the official People’s Choice Awards for Rutherford and Cannon counties. Almost 200,000 votes were cast this year by the readers of The Daily News Journal and dnj.com to select this year’s honorees. Being a Ruthie winner is a coveted honor. For the 2nd year in a row, LaVergne First United Methodist Church has won a Ruthie Award.

Ruthies Awards!

It is that time of year once again! Last year our church was nominated as the Favorite Place to Worship in La Vergne. Let's try to accomplish this feat once again this year! Please take a moment to go and vote for our church at http://www.ruthiesawards.com/. I think you can vote daily so vote often!!

News and Meetings

Attendance - August 29th, 2010

Attendance for Worship - 220

Attendance for Sunday School - 118

Church Office Hours

The church office will be open August 30th until 3:00 pm and on Wednesday, August 31st from 12:00 until 6:00 pm. I will be taking a few days off.

I will return to the church office on Wednesday, Sept. 8th. I will be checking emails from my home computer and will be checking phone messages also from my home. Darlene

BIBLE STUDY

L.O.R.D.S. Bible Study led by Page Durham. Each Monday at 8:15 am at the YMCA. For more information you may contact Page at page.durham@comcast.net.

Choir Practice - Wednesdays

Choir Practice is 6:30 pm until 7:30 pm each Wednesday. Child care is provided, but please contact Tracy Morris (tracy.morris@ingrambook.com) if you should require a need for this.

Calling all singers!

It's that time of year again when we in the choir begin rehearsing for our Christmas Concert. If you'd like to sing with us, I can promise you a great time! Fun, spiritual, exciting and exhausting (in a good way!). We'll begin this Wednesday from 7:30 - 8:30 pm. Regular choir practice begins at 6:30 for one hour then at 7:30 it's all Christmas. By coming at 6:30 you can join the choir for three months and sing Sundays, too, or just come at 7:30 and sing the Christmas Concert only.
The Concert is Saturday, December 11th at 6:00 pm. Please come and join us. You'll have the best Christmas ever!!

Tim Hayden - nedsplce@comcast.net

Common Grounds

If you need a midweek pick-me-up and coffee, a croissant, and some Christian conversation to help you make it through the rest of the week, then join us at Starbucks Coffee House on Thursday mornings at 5:30 AM for Common Grounds. The decision to spend these 15-30 minutes together may be the best one you make all week. Can’t come every week? That’s fine! Just come when you can. We’ll be glad you did…and you will too.

Beginner Yoga Classes - Thursdays

The Yoga Class meets from 5:30 until 6:30 pm in the new fellowship hall. The cost is $3. If you have a mat, bring it with you. There will be a few extra mats available. If there are any questions, please call Debi Walker at 355-4946 or 545-5184.

Produce Table - Sunday

Do you have a garden, or have extra produce that could be donated to the church? There will be a Produce Table set up in the Welcome Center on Sunday, August 8th. If you have produce to donate, please bring it. It will be available to anyone for a monetary donation. This money will be used for our church Food Pantry. If you have questions, you may contact the church office, or Mary Blair at Blairmo2@tds.net.

Youth Yard Sale - September 3rd & 4th
The Youth will be accepting items Tuesday, August 31st, 6:00 to 8:00pm; Wednesday, September 1st, 5:00 to 8:00pm. We are unable to accept computers and floor model TV's. The proceeds will go to the Youth group of our church to help keep costs down for upcoming events. Contact Kathy Johnson at binny175@tds.net for more information.

Trustee Meeting - Sunday, September 5th

The Trustee Meeting will meet this Sunday, September 5th, following the 10:30 am Worship Service.

God's Warriors Fund Raiser at CiCi's Pizza

The God's Warriors Fund Raiser at CiCi's Pizza will not be held in the month of September due to the Labor Day Holiday.

God's Warriors Fund Raiser at CiCi's Pizza & The Quilting Circle

The Quilting Circle will not meet on the first Monday of September due to the Labor Day Holiday. The Quilting Circle will meet on Monday, September 13th, at 6:00 pm. The God's Warriors Fund Raiser will not be held in the month of September.

Nursery Announcement

Starting Sunday, Sept 5^th our toddlers will be in the new toddler nursery!! Please bring your children to the new room (located in the old sanctuary area) to drop off. Sign in sheet & pagers will be outside the room by the door.

"55 Alive" Lunch - Wednesday, Sept. 8th

"55 Alive" will be meeting on Wednesday, September 8th, for lunch at the Smyrna Town Centre at 11:00 am. We will have a short business meeting. Please plan to attend.

New Sunday School Class - For Women Only

There will be a new Sunday School Class beginning September 12th for women only. The class will be led by Debi Walker. The study is "Wising Up, Applying the Wisdom of Proverbs to Daily Life." This study on Proverbs will examine the wisdom contained in these ancient proverbs and their application for daily life. Throughout Proverbs, the basic theological idea expressed is that actions have consequences, both for the individual and also for society. The choices one makes and the way one chooses to conduct one's life are therefore of utmost importance. If you would be interested in participating in this Sunday School study, please sign up at the Welcome Center.

From the Worship Committee: Sunday, Dec. 19th @ noon vs. Houston Texans

Acolytes Needed!

If your child is interested in becoming an Acolyte and is between 5 years of age and 6th grade, please contact Terri Goodner at 615-294-2984 or terribeth89@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Ushers Needed!

If you are interested in serving God and His church as an usher for the 1st or 2nd service, please contact Terri Goodner at 615-294-2984 or terribeth89@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Titan Tickets Available

There are some Titan Tickets available - first come, first serve - for a donation to the church to the following games. There are 2 tickets for each game in Sec. 311, Row FF, Seats 23 & 24. If you would be interested in these tickets contact the church office for more information.

Sunday, Sept. 12th @ noon vs. Oakland Raiders

Sunday, Dec. 5th @ noon vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday, Dec. 19th @ noon vs. Houston Texans

Youth Request

The Youth are looking for a set of Billiard Balls. If you have a set and are interested in getting rid of them, please see Kathy Johnson or email her at binny175@tds.net.

Ministries of the Church

Mission Sunday - Sunday, September 5th

Mission Sunday is the first Sunday of each month. We have been asked to supply Peanut Butter and Jelly for the Smyrna/LaVergne Food Bank. There will be a collection bin at the Welcome Center.

Communion Rail Offering - Sunday, September 5th

The Communion Rail Offering will go to support the The Rutherford County Drug Court Program. Please consider leaving your gift to assist in this project.

A New Diapers and/or Wipes Collection

There is a hamper at the Welcome Center to collect diapers and/or wipes for the expected baby boy of Kristin & Tim Miller, who is expected to arrive in early October. We will collect diapers and/or wipes for them throughout the month of September.

Video Techs Needed

We are currently searching for anyone who would be interested in joining our video team. Whether you can build the presentation or just run the slides during the service, we can use you! If you feel that you could serve the church with this talent, please contact Jonathan Mallard at jonathanmallard@hotmail.com or stop by the sound/video booth!

Nursery Help Needed

There will soon be a need for an additional volunteer in the nursery during Sunday School for about 6-8 weeks. If you are interested in helping out during this time, please contact Tracy Morris at tracy.morris@ingrambook.com or 287-3147.

Urgent! - Substitute Sunday School Teachers Needed

Due to the summer months and people traveling, we have lots of our children's Sunday School teachers that are or will be out of town in the next few weeks. I currently have a small list of 2-3 substitutes who have been faithfully filling in for the regular teachers. Their faithfulness has caused them to miss their own Sunday School classes quite often. Plus, our need is greater than what they can staff. So... I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!! I need 2-3 more people who are willing to help with our children's Sunday School classes. If you are interested, please email me at Kimberly_Johnson@comcast.net. or call me at 223-1091. Our children need you!!!!

Blessings, Kimberly

United Methodist Women in Action – UMCOR Health Kits

Did you know…the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides various “kits” to relief efforts including those locally affected by flooding in TN as well as efforts in Haiti, Chile, etc. The UMW group is collecting items for Health Kits. Please consider donating the below items. Donations can be placed on the table in the Welcome Center.

Each Kit Contains:

1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”, no kitchen towels)

1 washcloth

1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz and up)

1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)

6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

$1 (for UMCOR’s purchase of toothpaste)

Please see Terry Roney, Ashley Caldwell, or Kathy Johnson with any questions. Thanks.

Mentoring Program Needs You!

Stewartsboro Elementary School is seeking volunteers who are interested in investing in the lives of children (K-5th grade). The Super Stallions Mentoring Program is growing and they need more mentors! They define mentors at STE as someone who is engaged in a one to one relationship through which an older person encourages the development of competence, confidence, and character in younger children. Many of the mentors eat lunch, play sports, do arts and crafts together, read, draw, or play a game with each other. Mentors are NOT tutors and will not be asked to tutor unless this is something the mentor and mentee agree to do together. All mentoring needs to take place on STE campus during school hours 7:30 am - 2:30 pm. Each mentor will need to go through our brief training and have a background check that's completed by our Principal. You may contact Shannon Ritchie at 904-6705, ext. 7, if you would like more information on the program. She is available to provide more information by mail or a group presentation to those who are interested.

Altar Flowers

Would you like to provide flowers for the Sunday morning worship services in honor of someone? What a wonderful way to say "Happy Birthday!" or "Happy Anniversary!", or just to let someone know they are appreciated. You may also wish to provide flowers in memory of a loved one. There is a flower sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway beside the glass doors. Pick a date and sign your name. You can choose to have the flowers delivered from Accents with Love (223-6147) in Smyrna and they will deliver them to the church on Saturday. Or you may choose to purchase flowers yourself or bring them from your garden at home. You can either bring one or two vases of flowers. Prayerfully consider beautifying our church on Sunday mornings.

Pictures

There is a box located on top of the mail slots for pictures you may have of church events. These pictures are used in the Church Scrapbook. If you have extra copies of pictures of church events, please place them in this box. If you have any questions, you may contact Kathy Runge at bkrunge@tds.net or Jennifer Blair at tdjablair@tds.net.

Shares or Bricks
It's still not too late to take the opportunity to support the Building Fund by purchasing a share or "brick". Each share is $30 a month with a commitment of 3 years. You can purchase 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 shares, or you can purchase 1/2 share, 1/4 share... just whatever you feel you can prayerfully afford. There are Commitment Cards for Shares available. For more information, contact Galen Medlin or Jim Wilson.

Click VOLUNTEERS to view a list of Nursery, Children's Church, Acolyte, User, etc. volunteers for the current month.