Cook's United Methodist Church

August 2025 Newsletter

We exist to make followers of Jesus Christ who love God and others.

Bishop David Graves, the Episcopal leader of our Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference, will close the first year of his tenure among us. He spent his first 90 days listening to people and churches like us and ours as we named the pressing needs of our church families and the communities in which we’re planted.

Based on all they heard, these are the 5 priorities (and the rubrics that Bishop Graves and the leadership of our Annual Conference have helped us set so that we are focused in our discipleship with Jesus in ways that bring healing and hope to our communities:

• Mental Health and Well-Being. We will prioritize how to help our clergy, churches and staff remain healthy and flourishing as we navigate the challenging parts of ministry.
• Professions of Faith. A disciple invites and leads others to experience the love of Christ. We will reclaim our mission to reach those who can join us to transform the world.
• Culture of Call. We will nurture relationships that foster an environment where each of us can hear God’s calling on our life.
• Spiritual Leadership Development. We will allocate time and resources to cultivate, develop and educate faithful disciples to offer excellent leadership for current and future generations.
• Disrupting and Dismantling Racism and Discrimination. We will acknowledge the areas where we need guidance in order to be a voice that speaks up for what is right and against what is wrong. This will help us live into becoming God’s Beloved Community where everyone belongs.

During the month of August we will be exploring each priority as an imperative for discipleship with Jesus according to Holy Scriptures. Our teaching time in each worship experience will help us look at God’s call to us in Christ and recap how the Church has (or has not) responded to that call throughout history. Grab your Bible and join us - in person or online - and let’s grow together as we make a plan to respond to God’s call, individually and together! We indeed are better together!

Sandra

Common Table

Rev. Sandra will pick up the tab for what wets your whistle

You are always free to stay however long you want and can.

There is no agenda; YOU bring the questions, celebrations, beefs, and burdens, and we will share them.

Love will hold us together no matter what.

Come to one or both, invite a friend, meet a new friend, just come!

Tuesday, August 5 @ 5:30 p.m. at Corner Pub in Mt. Juliet

Tuesday, August 12 @ 10 a.m. at Billy Goat Coffee Cafe in Mt. Juliet

HEY, YOU! YES, YOU!!

Cook’s Church Council meets next on Sunday, August 10 at 4:00 p.m. As a part of our learning time during that meeting, we will work a RAD (meaning, Reflect - Adjust - Do) on our recent CommUNITY Fest and we need your help! If you attended, volunteered, helped plan, represented a ministry of the church or the community … if you set up a shop of items or products or information, or even if you just came TO shop, eat a burger, play games and have fun, would you do the following?



1. Reflect on all that you experienced and how it made you feel.
2. Come to the Council meeting and share with us as we pool our reflections on our experiences (Reflect)
3. Stick with us to determine what adjustments can be made to our planning and execution IF we do such an event again (Adjust)
4. Help us decide what to do to be more effective and more successful ‘next’ time (Do)

Thank you, in advance, for carving out time in your busy schedule to join us! (You can plan on 60-90 minutes of work and be back home before supper!)

Samaritan Fund 

The dollars in this fund are used to help those in our community with immediate needs. The money used to fund this account comes from donations left on the altar rail during communion.

Communion Sunday 

We will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday, August 3, 2025. If you will be worshipping/celebrating with us from home, please gather bread (or tortillas or crackers, etc.) and juice (if you don't have grape, any juice or liquid will suffice) enough for everyone in your household. We look forward to celebrating God's grace in this very special way.

United Methodist Men’s

Club Breakfast

Sunday, August 17 @ 7:45am

Youth Room

Caregivers Coffee Connection

A Caregivers Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1pm in Cook’s UMC Youth Room. Our purpose is to surround each other with support and friendship as we encourage the journey of a Caregiver by offering respite and support. If you or someone you know would benefit from a loving time of encouragement or just a place to meet and have conversation, please know you are welcome to meet with us. If you have any questions, call Judy at 615-417-9002.

NEXT Meeting Wednesday, August 20 @ 1pm.

Men of Cook’s

Thursday, August 28 @ 11:15

Corner Pub (Mt. Juliet)

From the CommUnity Fest Committee….

We want to thank everyone who came out and helped make the 1^st Annual CommUnity Fest a wonderful success!  It truly showed us what we as a community can do together to reach out to our Wilson County community! I don’t think we are looked at as only “that cute white church on the hill”. We are now seen as that active, caring group of God loving people who share themselves with and for others!!

There were so many volunteers who worked hard from start to finish – having fun, getting to know each other better and sharing fellowship! We, the committee, could not have done this alone. Thank you so much!!

Blessings and joy

Connie East, Judy Levitt, Eric Coomer, Amie Vaughan, Kathryn Kimball, Monica Cox, Sandra Clay and Edna Vaughan – planning committee

SHIFT ALERT! SHIFT ALERT!

Unity Sunday – August 31

Cook's next Unity Sunday is scheduled for August 31 ... the third of four fifth Sundays in the year. But, we'll be SHIFTING from celebrating the unity of the Cook's Church family to PRACTICING unity with our community. 

We will keep our regular schedule for worship and Sunday School/small groups. And, we are adding two opportunities to love our neighbors. We need your help!

We need sweet snacks that can be delivered to the Mt. Juliet Police Department and to the Wilson County Sheriff's Office. (Think: cookies, brownies, muffins, cereal or granola bars, etc., by the dozen(s), please.) Bring those goodies with you when you come to church the morning of August 31.

If you can help, we'll send a small team to deliver half the haul to MJPD and the other half to WCSO with a Thank You poster for each. 

It is God's gift to us that we've been planted in this place. And, loving our neighbors is the way we love God!

Book Club

It's never too late to join the book chat!

Our next book will be "The Frozen River," by Ariel Lawhon. 

Mark your calendar for Sept. 16 at 5:30pm, place TBD.



We'll see you there!

David Allbritten; Sandra Carney; Evan Davis; Connie East;

Beverly Lamberson; Saundra London;

 Bill Markie; Larry McIntire; Eli Pedigo; Erik & Jessica Page; Wanda Shaver

SALT (Serving at the Lord’s Table)

UNSWEETENED CEREAL; CANNED SOUP & SALTINE CRACKERS (4 sleeves to a box) 

All donations can be left in totes in back hall.

Backpack Program

The Backpack program supports our neediest children. Students are supplied with food items to bridge the weekend gap during the school year.  The Church at Pleasant Grove sponsors the Backpack Program for 5 schools in our area and they need help stocking their shelves. Items requested are: Instant Oatmeal Packages; Individual Mac & Cheese; Pudding Cups (non-refrigerated; Ravioli, Spaghetti-O's; Granola Bars; Fruit Cups; Applesauce; Juice Boxes (avoid those with lots of sugar). All donations can be left in the totes in back hallway.

Home Centered

Miriam Appleby,

Dot Creasman,

Gladys Pennington,

Norman & Ruby Walker

Oliver Academy

Oliver Academy will begin its 2025-2026 school year on Tuesday, September 2. Please note that access to certain areas of the building will be limited on Tuesdays and Thursdays while the school children are present. 

Fellowship Donuts

Volunteers needed to bring donuts for our fellowship time (between first service and Sunday School). There is a sign-up sheet on the wall next to the donut table across from the coffee pots by friendship hall. 4-5 dozen needed each Sunday and must be here by 9:15am. Keep your receipt to be reimbursed by the office. Tax exempt forms available in the office.

Are You on Facebook?  

You can help us spread Cook's news! It's easy: first, be sure to "Like" Cook's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cooksumc/). Then keep your eye out for announcements, inspiration, and invitations to worship. When they show up in your FB feed, "Like" or "Share" the posts. The more who do, the more people see it, even if they're not yet members and/or don't “Like” the CUMC page. Have photos from a church event or something you want to promote on social media? Send info/photos to Alison Nash or the church office.

Current Information

The most recent Newsletter, Financial Statement, 2025 Officers / Committee Members Listing,

and approved Church Council minutes can be found in the literature rack in the back hallway (just outside the Friendship Hall).

Church Office Closed

Monday, September 1^st

Labor Day

August Schedule

Common Table, Tuesday, August 5 @ 5:30pm (Corner Pub)

Missions Meeting, Wednesday, August 6 @ 6:00pm (Library)

Finance Meeting, Sunday, August 10 @ 3:00pm (Lamplighters)

Church Council, Sunday, August 10 @ 4:00pm (Youth Room)

Trustees, Monday, August 11 @ 6:00pm (Youth Room)

Common Table, Tuesday, August 12 @ 10:00am (Billy Goat Café)

United Methodist Men’s Breakfast, Sunday, August 17 @ 7:45am (Youth Room)

Oliver Academy Teacher Move In / Parent Meeting, Monday, August 18 @ 5:00 – 9:00pm

CareGivers Connection, Wednesday, August 20 @ 1:00pm (Youth Room)

Staff Meeting, Tuesday, August 26 @ 11:45am (Library)

Congregational Care Meeting, Wednesday, August 27 @ 10:00am (Lamplighters)

Men of Cook's, Thursday, August 28 @ 11:15am (Corner Pub)

Unity Sunday, August 31^st

TKD Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays @ 6pm (Friendship Hall)

Boy Scouts, Thursdays @ 6pm (Youth & Shine Rooms)

In Person Giving An offering plate is passed around during traditional worship service in the sanctuary and an offering basket is available at the back of the Friendship Hall during "The Well" worship service, or you can drop your offering off by the church office during regular business hours.

Online Giving You can give online at www.cooksumc.org or text cumc to 73256.

Standard text message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Text HELP to 73256 for help. Text STOP to 73256 to cancel.

Electronic Bank Draft If you are interested in this easy and convenient way of giving, please contact the church office.

Mailing Address: PO Box 397, Mt. Juliet TN 37121

7919 Lebanon Road, Mt. Juliet TN 37122

615/449-2573

www.cooksumc.org

Sunday Schedule

8:45am Traditional Worship (Sanctuary), Facebook Live & YouTube

10:00am Sunday School

11:00am "The Well" Service (Friendship Hall), Facebook Live & YouTube