The Sermon Title: How Many Times Shall I Forgive?

Rev. Harriet J. Bryan

The Scripture Lesson: Psalm 51: 1-5, 10-15

The Gospel: Matthew 18: 21-35

Points to Ponder:

"The simple truth is, we all make mistakes, and we all need forgiveness."

--Desmond Tutu, article in The Guardian

"Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and every one of our hearts. The process is simple, but it is not easy."

"Once you have been able to forgive, the final step is to either renew of release the relationship you have with the one who has harmed you."

--Desmond Tutu, The Book of Forgiving: The Fourfold

Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World

Click here for a Sunday Sermon Sneak Peek.

HURRICANE RELIEF

As the devastation in the hurricane's path continues to unfold, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is moving to respond. Along with our prayers, the most immediate need is for funds, which can be given directly to UMCOR (Advance #901670) by clicking here  or you can give online through Madison Street by  clicking here . Just be sure to put in the comments "Hurricane Relief."

Donations can also be made during worship through MSUMC by noting Hurricane relief on your gift check or envelope.

Thank you for concern and desire to offer Christian care to these neighbors in the storm's wake. Since this will be a long-term recovery, we'll stay on top of relief efforts and share information as it becomes available.

THRIVE: FOOD, FELLOWSHIP & STUDY  

Menu for September 24th: General Tso Chicken, Chicken Lo Mein, Fried Rice, White Rice, Egg Rolls and Cherry Dump Cake. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, $2 for children 3-5, and free for children 2 and under. No family pays over $20. Come enjoy a fabulous dinner and wonderful study! There are activities for all ages.

SUNDAY MORNING SMALL GROUP STUDY OPPORTUNITY 

Beginning Sunday morning, October 22 through November 26, (6 weeks) the study of Islam will be presented during the 9 o'clock hour. Two guest speakers, experts, have been secured, various sources have been identified, and quite a few adults have shown interest in participating. 

And there is still room for more. During October, you will have the opportunity to sign up so that we will have enough space for everyone. Keep watching this newsletter for information.        

If you are interested or have questions, email Jenny Parris or call 931.553.0433.

Mark your calendars for:

THE HOLIDAY MARKET

November 4, 2017

For booth rental please contact:

    Debi Winters - 358-3673 or [email protected]

    Kay Hopson - 648-4068 or [email protected]

For more information you may contact

    Suzanne McCafferty - 358-3879 or [email protected]

A New Women’s Bible Study: 1 Peter, A Living Hope in Christ

Mondays from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

6 week study – begins October 16

Courtney Mambourg, Facilitator

Childcare will be available.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Our inheritance through Christ is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. In 1 Peter, a man of faith and flaws and eyewitness to the life of Christ challenges us to look beyond our current circumstances to a future inheritance. He shares his concerns on big picture issues for the early church, describes believers' true identity in Christ, and ultimately helps readers discover what it means to experience the Living Hope they have in Christ. Key themes of humility, submission, and identity in Christ guide the study of 1 Peter as participants are challenged to read the book in its entirety each week. To register for this class and/or childcare click here.

Discipling ~A Disciple’s Path

      Facilitator: Harriet Bryan, Room 104

Studying ~Genesis: A Story of Beginnings

     Facilitator: Jared Wilson, Fellowship Hall

Serving ~See, Know & Serve

     Facilitator: Lisa Martin, Room 115

Healing ~For those who have or are experiencing grief

     Facilitator: Laurie Hynson, Room 116

To register, click here.

Upcoming Student Ministries Event

Students in grades 5-12 are invited to participate in the next Student Ministries event—an outing to Clarksville Zombie Hunters on Oct 7th, 5-8 pm. The cost is $22/per person and must be paid online at the time of registration. To register for this event, click here. Deadline to register is Sunday, October 1st. If any parents wish to attend, please email Grant Perry, to see if you need to register.

Family Pumpkin Palooza!

Join in a day of Fall Family Fun on Saturday, September 30, from 10:00-2:00 for the Pumpkin Palooza at Patterson Place Farm. Families and children of all ages are invited on this fellowship outing for fall in which children will enjoy fun activities and pumpkins galore! Church families will meet at 10:00am at 2480 Patterson Road in Woodlawn, Tennessee, and enjoy an afternoon together exploring and playing. The admission price for Pumpkin Palooza is $5.00. This includes pony rides, hay ride, zoo, campfire cooking (which is always delicious) and live music. At the end children or adults can pick out a pumpkin. They droppable-1505486267606usually start at $1.00. No registration is required, and we hope to see you there!

Wellness Wednesdays

6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Join us on Wednesdays evenings for some fitness & fellowship!

Men's basketball - gym

Women's fitness - CLC Activity Room (next to the gym)

    Sept 27 ~Kickboxing

F.U.E.L. has moved!

The F.U.E.L. ministry room is now in a bright and clean new space! Come and visit the new location in the Fellowship Hall and bring donations of peanut butter crackers. Many thanks to Tom Perry, Mark Hodges, Tom Rives, John Wamble and Luke Brockett for construction work. We also give thanks for Judy & Gary Smith for serving as the moving team as well as the ongoing F.U.E.L. coordinators! Monetary donations are always accepted and greatly appreciated.

Reading Buddies

A new ministry opportunity will kick-off on October 16! Reading Buddies is a chance to join with our school partner, Moore Magnet Elementary, and help build literacy skills and confidence in young readers. You will meet each week one on one with a child to read and/or listen in an effort to promote a strong literacy foundation while offering the care and encouragement each student needs to thrive!

The Reading Buddy orientation will be held on Wednesday, October 4th at 9:00 a.m. at the school, 1350 Madison Street. Online registration will be available September 25. For more information, contact Katy Olita.

Christmas for Kids ~Save the Date

October 22 ~Volunteer information available

December 3rd ~Christmas gift collection during worship

December 9th ~Christmas for Kids Store in the gym

We will need lots of volunteers and gifts!

How You Can Support our Partner Schools

Norman Smith Elementary School

Moore Magnet Elementary School

All donations will be received at the Commerce Street Entrance. Thank you!

Louisiana Saturday Night

Loaves & Fishes Fundraiser

First Presbyterian Activities Center

(corner of Foster and 3rd St.)

Saturday, October 7th, 4:30-7:00 pm

Dine in or Carry out

Tickets are $10 each and includes chicken & sausage gumbo, slaw, roll, praline and a drink. For more information email [email protected] or call 931.645.9020. Go to www.eventbrite.com for online tickets.

Feeling led to help out in the area of Congregational Care?

Thinking about Serving From the Heart? There are a variety of ministries to engage in. Driving folks to church who need transportation, visit the homebound, share Holy Communion, arrange and deliver flowers to homebound members, knit or crochet a prayer shawl, join with the Prayer Chain who offer immediate, confidential prayer, cook meals to freeze for later delivery, send packages and notes of encouragement to our deployed soldiers. If your heart is leading you to engage in any of these ministry activities, please email Laurie Hynson or call 931.647.0221 for more information.

Library Notes

If you’re looking for something different to read, here are some new titles in the church library that might catch your interest.

A Brief History of Sunday: From the New Testament to the New Creation by Justo L. Gongalez. This historical overview tells the story of how and why Christians have worshiped on Sunday from the earliest days of the church to the present.

The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus by Dorothy Day. Unlike larger collections and biographies, which cover Dorothy Day's radical views, exceptional deeds, and amazing life story, this small book focuses on a more personal dimension of her life. (NOTE: Her fame continues to grow. She was one of four people Pope Francis named as truly great Americans, and admirers have petitioned the Vatican to make her a saint.)

Three Prayers You’ll Want to Pray by George H. Donigian. Three well-known prayer texts co-mingle with the author's life story to reveal things about prayer and life so desperately needed in today's world. The unlikely combination of prayers by a diplomat (Dag Hammerskjold), a theologian (Reinhold Neibuhr), and a rabbi (Jesus of Nazareth), come alive as prophecy, wisdom, and saving grace.

Letters from the farm: A Simple Path for a Deeper Spiritual Life by Becca Stevens. The author, an Episcopal priest, founded Thistle Farms, a national bath and body care manufacturing and distribution enterprise in Tennessee, run by survivors of trafficking and addiction. These letters describe a faith that strives for justice and peace through loving our neighbors.