Well, for most of us, the summer is gone. It’s back to the “real” world. What does that mean for you? Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed July with my family and friends. However, one of the highest points in my experience this July was reading “The Shack” by William P. Young.
I picked it up and could not put it down. There was a time in Montana when I thought Diane was going to shoot me! I was paying way too much attention to my reading!
Have you read it? It’s the number one best seller today. Guess what, it is about God, the Trinity and life’s most disturbing questions. After one reads the book, conversations and deep discussions are sure to follow. It’s a great book for small groups.
Heck, it’s a great book for a whole church to read. As a matter of fact, I am encourating you to read it because my next sermon series, “The Shack Revisited,” will address some of the questions the book raises. We begin this Sunday (August 10) with “The Great Sadness,” and we will address grief, pain and healing.
On another note, it’s great to be back! I have surely missed you. From all I’ve heard, after Diane’s and Jody’s preaching . . . I’m lucky to still have a job!
Let’s get this fall started in a fine fashion with every member present in worship, Sunday School and small groups!
For the past few weeks, Rev. Jody Ray has been providing excellent discussion questions to go with each of his sermons. Rev. Diane Parrish did the same thing with her sermon this past Sunday.
The response to that has been huge. Many of you have been downloading the notes and using them in your Life Groups. To help better facilitate that, we’ve moved the sermon notes to our forum. This allows us to show you the notes along with the scripture and the Podcast for each sermon. In addition, it gives you a place to discuss the sermon right on the site!
Go check them out and share your thoughts on each one with your fellow Mt. Bethel members.
Every so often someone writes a book that pushes our thinking and focuses the lenses through which we see the world. The book called “The Shack” has definitely altered the prescription for me. It seemed like every time I saw someone at the ball field, in a restaurant or sat by someone on a plane they were reading it. People who knew me kept asking what I thought about the book. For about a month I considered it a passing fad.
Then one day I bought the book and read it in two days. Once I pushed through the “Great Sadness” and the unusual portrayal of God it began to enliven my thinking and encourage my walk. In these past weeks I have again wrestled with what it means for God to be judge instead of me, for Jesus to be fully human and fully divine, and for God to graciously and painfully give us free will that results in suffering. The book shares some controversial perspectives on the Trinity and on how people view the church.
I invite you to join me at “The Shack”, Encounter, for some of the painful and powerful ways we might learn from this book in relation to The Book (The Bible). Whether it’s a gentle hug or a swift kick every one of us has the potential to find that these next two weeks may be just the visit with “Papa” we need. If you haven’t picked up a copy of the book yet feel free to get one at the church’s bookstore.
As we prepare for our Back to School schedule for Children’s Ministry, we’re in need of volunteers to bring care and compassion and Christian Discipleship to our children. We have a spot for you.
Sunday School Coaches/Assistant Coaches
Each class needs adult leaders to tell stories, lead conversation, and engage children in learning the Good News. We have 4 classes for each age/grade, and each class needs at least 2 adults. Some couples are able to team teach and alternate weeks of service. Elementary classes (Kindergarten - 5th grade) meet at 9:30, and Preschool Classes (ages 2-4) meet at 9:30 or 11.
Logistics Team Members
Every Sunday we need volunteers to pass out roll books, track attendance, assist with security issues, and support our coaches. Team members serve on a rotating schedule each month. Service times are 9:15 – 10:30 (Elementary or Preschool) and 10:30 – Noon (Preschool).
Computer Check in Station Volunteers
We’re using our technology for better ministry in our preschool areas. Computer check in prints name tags with security information, tracks visitors, and processes attendance. We offer training for volunteers to keep the computers running, and assist visitors. Stations are manned in downstairs and upstairs preschool halls, and in the narthex for God’s Garden. Volunteers needed for the preschool at 9:15 – 9:45 a.m. or 10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
God’s Garden Volunteers
Children ages 3-5 can attend Sanctuary worship with their parents at 9:30 or 11. During the service, children are invited forward for Moments with the Minister, then dismssed to Room A35 below the Sanctuary for fun with Farmer Joe. While parents of attendees are assigned to serve on a rotating schedule, we need regular volunteers to assist with computer check in, escort children to God’s Garden, and assist in crowd control and pick up during the program.
SPLAT University: Wednesday Night Leaders
Wednesday Night programs begin August 20. We need adult leaders in preschool and young Elementary. We also need parent volunteers for mother/daughter and father/son small groups for 4th and 5th graders. Logisitics volunteers assist with check in, name tags, and attendance.
What an outstanding Music Week we had at Mt. Bethel UMC last week! There were 107 rising first through sixth graders and a staff of 30. In just five afternoons, these children learned an entire musical play…the songs, the choreography, lots of acting parts, and many words to memorize. They came to us each day energized and ready to rehearse.
On Friday evening the children performed “Aristocats, Kids” and did a wonderful job. They almost made the audience think they had rehearsed for six weeks, not just one week! Mt. Bethel’s Music Week has become a highlight of the summer for many children in the church and in the community!
Welcome back to our returning families and thank you to all of our new families for letting us be a part of your child’s life. We are excited about the new school year that begins on Monday, August 25th! Watch your mail the week of August 18th for a postcard from your child’s teacher.
We look forward to seeing you Thursday evening, August 21st, at Parent Orientation and Friday morning, August 22nd, for Open House. If you have any questions, please call the Preschool office at 770-971-6812 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
At the beginning of each school year, all children must have a current Georgia Department of Human Resources Preschool/Childcare Immunization Certificate Form 3231. It must be on file in our office by the first day of school. This certificate is available from your physician or the county health department. Returning students with current forms on file DO NOT need to bring in another certificate. You will be notified by the preschool office when your certificate is ready to expire. New students may bring a copy to your child’s teacher at Orientation or Open House, or have your Pediatrician FAX it to the Preschool at 770-578-0217. Please contact your Pediatrician early in order to allow time for their office to complete the correct form.
DISCOVERY DAYS
Discovery Days is our afternoon program offered Monday-Friday from 12:30-2:30. This program is available to children 3 years old and older if potty trained. Discovery Days will begin Tuesday, September 2nd. In house Play & Stay is available Monday through Friday with no pre-registration. Tables will be set up outside the Sanctuary on orientation night for information and registration on our special activities.
All Discovery Days contact and class information can be found at the bottom of the main Preschool page.
BOOKBAGS AND T-SHIRTS
The Preschool provides special bookbags for each child in our program. We have ordered different colors for the various age levels to help the teachers and students identify their bags. The teachers will give the children their bags at Open House. New 2008-2009 Mt. Bethel Christian Preschool T-shirts will be on sale at our Parent Orientation. A table will be set up by the Parent’s Club. Please stop by! Afterwards, items will be available for sale through the preschool office.
As most of you know, we have an interactive childrens worship service every Sunday at 11am in the Fellowship Hall throughout the school year called “Live It Live!“. As the beginning of the school year approaches, we wanted to take this opportunity to show you some highlights from this past season of the show. Below is a video to help bring back the memories of this past year!
Don’t forget that “Live it Live!” returns for it’s third season on August 17th at 11am in the Fellowship Hall. New friends will join us as we continue to have fun while learning more about Jesus.
“Live it Live!” appears on the ION network at 4:00pm each Thursday. This is channel 12 on Comcast, channel 11 on Charter and channel 14 on DIRECTV.
If you’re interested in volunteering for “Live it Live!”, click here.
If you are in 6th grade and above, you can audition to be a member of the “Live it Live!” Worship and Drama Team. The auditions are August 4th and 5th from 1:00-3:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. We hope you can make it!
This summer we took rising 7th & 8th graders for a week of camp at SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) in Alabama. SIFAT is the same organization with which we take mission trips to Ecuador. They experienced what is called a “Learn & Serve” week where they were shown how the majority of the world live in third world countries and how as Christians we are called to help those people.
Here is the reflection of one of those students:
SIFAT had to be one of the biggest life changing events that I have ever been on.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that we have so much that we don’t need! For five days we found out how the rest of the world lives. One of the days, all I got to eat was what we could find and cook. I had one sixteenth of an orange slice, a bowl of tomato soup, and two spoonfuls of rice. That is a privilege to some children in third-world countries! That might be all they get for a week! And everyday we eat a full meal and then dump half of it in the trash saying, “Nah I’m full”.
Those words probably have never been said by the some people. They don’t know what it is like to actually have a full stomach. That can be changed. If everyone left only learning one thing, it was that this whole situation can be changed. If everyone gave up what they WANTED and didn’t NEED, the whole world would have their needs filled.
The most powerful night was the two or three hours we spent in the slums. Each group was made into a family, that was sent into the slums, and had to work for their food, water and shelter. Each counselor played a realistic role. One was a homeless man, one was a drunk, one was a gambler, and many more. The whole situation was viewed as a “game”. As we walked throughout town looking for work, a man caught my eye. He slept on the ground curled up in a ball, with nothing but a shirt and pants. His feet were dirty and bare. He spoke no English, so I had to say, “zapatos?” which meant shoes. He pointed at himself indicating he needed some. I gave them up. It was torture walking on gravel with bare feet. But God’s word says we should give out of love, and I felt my heart tugged with love and pity, so I made a sacrifice.
That same night two men in military clothing came into the village.
A smoke grenade landed at either end of the town. Screams rang out, and everyone was ordered to go to their homes. We ran to our shack in the slums, and as we did, fear broke out from everyone. People were frightened for their lives. The” game” had just taken on a whole new meaning. The military came through every house and asked for the oldest son. Unfortunately, that was me. I was told to put my nose up against the wall, and stay still and silent.
They took eight of us to the woods, and on the march, one of the councilors, playing the Christian man in the town, began to hum. The tune he was humming was “Amazing Grace”. Slowly, one by one, each student added on. The men screamed at us to stop. When we arrived in the woods they blindfolded us and asked us questions about a Christian man in the town. We sold the man out, telling them what he looked like. And he was taken deep into the woods and killed.
The whole thing was a drama. It was an “act” if you prefer. However, this sort of thing happens in real life, and whether you took the game seriously or not, you had to realize, that this is what goes on everyday.
Each and every student was taught how to serve others and humble themselves. The trip trained us for mission trips to come in the future. So as we take our experience back home, we have to help.
There is now a burning passion inside each of us to serve. And I pray that you all will feel it soon enough.
Note: Robert McMichael has recently joined the team at St. Philip as their worship leader.
Robert H. McMichael III, is a native of Atlanta, and is a product of the Atlanta Public School System. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He recently completed all course work for the degree of Master of Divinity at Gammon Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He will be awarded this degree in May of 2009.
Robert has distinguished himself as a writer, lecturer, vocalist and organist. He has served in numerous capacities in churches throughout the Atlanta area. As Organist, he has served at the Mallelieu United Methodist Church, East Point, GA, (now East Point First Mallelieu UMC) and at the Hoosier Memorial United Methodist Church, his home church. He has served the Cascade United Methodist Church as Director of the Women’s Chorus and Praise and Worship Leader. He also served the Historic Central Ministries United Methodist Church where he served as Minister of Music, Worship and the Arts. He currently serves the Mt. Bethel/St. Phillip United Methodist Church in Marietta as Worship Leader. As a baritone soloist, Robert has been featured at many recitals and concerts. One of his proudest moments when he was chosen to be a part of the Chorus that performed Brahms’s Nanie at the Woodruff Arts Center under the direction of the late Robert Shaw. In July of 2001 he co-chaired a delegation that traveled to the Ivory Coast of West Africa to take the Gospel message in song and to begin discussions on how the then “Methodist Church of Cote’Ivoire” and the United Methodist Church could merge. Within two years of the initial conference, the Methodist Church of Cote’Ivoire became a part of the United Methodist Church. Robert is also a Realtor ® with Coldwell Banker – Cascade Realty.
Robert believes that it is his calling to “Spread the Liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ through word and song.” It is this calling that has sparked Robert to begin writing his first publication With My Whole Heart: Worship as a Lifestyle. Robert believes that worship should be more than a once a week event, however, it should be the lifeline upon which Christians thrive.
Robert is an active member of several community and civic organizations; the NAACP; the Boys and Girls Club of America; the American Guild of Organist; the Hampton University Choir Director’s/Organist Guild; and the National Academy of Religion. Robert enjoys water sports, reading, writing, and especially cooking. He also enjoys spending time with his two best friends Tammary T. Smith, and Jarvis R. Wilson. He is the son of former US Marshal Robert and Kathye McMichael.
Robert has adopted as his life’s theme, “Love, The More Excellent Way!”
Well, for most of us, the summer is gone. It’s back to the “real” world. What does that mean for you? Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed July with my family and friends. However, one of the highest points in my experience this July was reading “The Shack” by William P. Young.
