The Sermon Title: Actions Speak Louder than Words

Rev. Harriet J. Bryan

The Gospel: Matthew 21: 23-32

Simple (But Significant) Steps for Aligning Our Words and Actions:

At the end of each day,

·     Remember God loves you unconditionally.

·     Review your day. When did you share God’s love? Give thanks for God’s grace. When did    

      you fail to live as a disciple? Ask for God’s forgiveness.

·     Resolve, with God’s help, to align your life with your beliefs.

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 October 4th: Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Garden Salad, Roll, and Chocolate Cobbler. . 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.

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

To register, click here.

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.

To register for this class and/or childcare click here.

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]

Upcoming conference

”A Sacred Calling: Faith Communities Caring for Our Earth”

Oct. 14, 9-3:30, West End United Methodist Church

Keynote address by Rev. Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, an international interfaith environmental organization. 

Three sets of workshops geared toward equipping and inspiring individuals to help their faith communities be better caretakers of the Earth.

Register by Oct. 11.

Click here to get more information and to register.

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 this 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 usually 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)

    Oct 4  ~Circuit

    Oct 11 ~Meditation/Stretch

    Oct 18 ~Kickboxing

    Oct 25 ~Pilates with Cynthia Mitchell

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 2017

Mark your calendars for our annual Christmas for Kids Collection Day on Sunday, December 3 when we will collect unwrapped gifts for children of our community. On Saturday, December 9, we will host our annual Christmas for Kids Store where gifts are sold for $1 to local low income families. Details about how to donate and serve are coming soon!

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!

UMCOR Buckets

UMCOR is in need of Cleaning Kit Buckets. The buckets will be sent throughout the areas with recent natural disasters. 

The Outreach Committee will be collecting items and cash donations at the Commerce entrance and in the Narthex the next two Sundays. On, Sunday October 15th there will be a packing party after worship in the Fellowship Hall with cookies and lemonade provided for volunteers. We are also looking for someone who would be willing to deliver the buckets to the Nashville area. 

If you would be willing to deliver buckets or have questions please email Judy Smith or call 931-645-6354, OR email Thea Knox at [email protected] or 816-721-7229.

**Bucket Lists may be found at UMCOR tables located in the Narthex or the Commerce Street entrance.

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.