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!”
It’s not always high numbers that count. I truly believe the Lord works in ways they may not fit our human logic. Sometimes God may use 30 people to save 4 people. But, we don’t know what those 4 people may go on to do in life once saved. Now that I think about it, I may have heard this in sermon, but now I have seen it happen!
This week during VBS at St. Philip we had about 30 volunteers come and provide dinner, song and worship, bible stories, games and crafts. We had an average of about 22 children over four nights join us, mostly 10 – 12 year olds. Every one of them learned something about Jesus. On the last night we had four of the children give their hearts to Jesus. It was powerful to watch their arms go up in the air.
Each of the four was given their first bible. I watched one boy stroke his new book like it was the finest thing he had ever been given, and of course it is! He turned the pages carefully, looked up scripture, and then proudly read it out loud. It was amazing!
And as a bonus, thank you God, good fellowship and fun was had by all the volunteers too. The spirit is building at St. Philip!
”We can not always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future”.
-Franklin D Roosevelt.
I think the above statement really sums up a lot about the Estonian people and their country. In just the last 15 years, Estonia has gone from being a dilapidated communist republic of the USSR to a full member of the European Union, and the changes have been widespread, but the future is definitely unknown. The Baltic economic miracle in Estonia has been significant for many, but for the elderly, children, and particularly the sizable Russian speaking minority in the Eastern portion of Estonia, the trickle down effect has halted to a slow drip. Alcoholism, Suicide, Domestic violence, and unemployment remain high and many people are looking for answers to their problems.
People that used to be supported under communism have fallen into poverty, and those in poverty have become victims to drugs, violence, and poor opportunities for work and education. Despite their 60 year stint in the USSR, where religion was strictly forbidden, people are again returning to the Lord and searching out for the truth.
The curiosity of many however has not been satisfied due to lack of programs in the churches. Mount Bethel has been partnered with a church in Kohtla-Jarve, Estonia for 15 years now, and they are desperate for our help. Due to low membership, and unavailable financial resources, their outreach programs have been close to non-existent. As a group, we will be traveling in 2009 to help our connecting congregation reach out to their community and begin to build this church through community activities like VBS and other programs open to the public.
The church in Estonia, and particularly the youth, face an uncertain future and that is people will either turn away, or they will embrace it, and it is up to us to help them make that decision. If never given the opportunity to feel the Lord’s love, than they will likely choose to turn away, and we will begin losing more and more of our brothers and sisters who never even had an opportunity to know the truth. Will you help us in this endeavor to reach out to a community in need? I hope that if you feel at all led to be a part of our efforts in Estonia that you give either myself, or Page and Carl Henry a call or email. We would love to answer your questions, and look forward to seeing you be a part of putting the uncertain future of Estonia in God’s hands.
Our summer teams have returned but we actually have four trips scheduled for this Autumn. Our Costa Rica Women’s team is full for Sept. 25. We are also having our first ever trip to Macedonia on Sept. 20. In November we are going all the way to India for the very first time. Just three years ago, we made our first trip to Africa and now we are moving into Asia!
Our first trip to Bolivia on Sept. 4 is in need of more team members! This is a very unique trip that requires backpacking and camping high in the Andes. If you are an adult male with an adventurous spirit and in good physical shape, we could use you! We have never done a men only trip before but this is truly unique! The SIFAT organization has been working with the village of Quesimpuco, that is isolated by a rushing river. The only way the children of this village have of getting to their SIFAT sponsored school is to cross this river by gondola. This is very dangerous so our mission is to build a footbridge for the villagers to get across the river safely. Please join David Dollinger, leader, and two of our pastors on this one of a kind mission trip from September 4-13.
MBUMC has a long history of providing timely help when disaster strikes! Over a decade ago, south Georgia had a streak of tornados and floods. Mt. Bethel bused teams to Albany among other places, to clean debris and chainsaw fallen trees. Some of our members, including a Youth Team, went to the Florida panhandle after Ivan to help down there. Our members sent a truckload of gifts to Pennsacola the following Christmas.
We all remember the response to Katrina, sending truckloads of bottled water and other donations to Gulfport, MS and sending numerous teams, twice weekly for the first few months. We are still helping to rebuild on the Mississippi coast.
Our latest efforts are in flood ravaged Iowa. We donated 200 flood buckets that we have been storing and are now planning on collecting 400 more. You can help by writing a check for $50 or by shopping for the supplies yourself. Go to www.umcor.org to find the list or stop by the “bucket table” outside the Sanctuary or CAC on Sunday morning.
We have already sent Paul King to Iowa to “scout” for us and are sending our first team to Iowa on August 24 to 29. If you want to go, please pay $225 by August 3 so we can purchase the tickets. Contact the Mission Office at 678-560-7527 if you are interested in joining a team.
What a better way to have fun and fellowship than dancing, singing, and acting in this year’s Music Week Production of Disney’s Aristocats, Kids? This year children from 1st to 6th grade will rotate through drama classes, dance classes, bell and chimes classes, music classes, and the children’s favorite class, lunch. These kids will have many opportunities to have fun with their friends while learning music and acting skills through fellowship shared with our talented Music Ministry Staff. Be sure to check out the final product this Friday, the 25th at 7:00pm. Meow!
