The Beacon Newsletter July 2024

Looking Ahead

Pie With Pastors Saturday, July 13 9am- 11am

Dance & Sports Camp: July 15 - 19

Dance Camp Performance: Friday, July 19 at 11am

Missions Meeting: Sunday July 28 after worship

Professing Members to be received on Sunday, July 28

A Word from Rev. Snell

Dear Cedar Grove friends:

It’s going to be a good month.

July can be hot and humid, but when I was a child July was always a good month. The best month. When I was still in school, July represented a complete break from the regular routine of classroom and homework. In June, half the month was taken up by the end of the school year. In August, a good part of the month was spent bemoaning the fact that school was about to start again.  

July, however, was the only month in the entire year that had nothing to do with school. The past school year was far enough behind to have receded into memory, and the next school year was far enough ahead not to require much attention or thought. Each and every day in July was carefree, brimming with possibilities for recreation and fun. I remember July as a time for Little League baseball, picnics in the park, building forts in the woods, days at the beach, and endless miles riding bikes and skateboarding with my friends. July was a good month.

July is a good month here at Cedar Grove, too, one full of joy for children. Vacation Bible School has been a huge success this year, with many happy youngsters descending on our church each night for four days early in July. On the last day, one of Candis Drumwright’s sons told his mother, “I wish we could come here every day!” Such enthusiasm is a sign of vitality, an indicator the church is making a difference. Mid-July promises to be just as enthusiastic with Disney Dance Camp, Sports Camp, and Pre-K Camp all preparing for a great week of learning and fun.

Yet, as we enter into the carefree heart of summer, the recent past may be worth savoring before it gets too far away. Below this article are some tables and graphs that show worship attendance and giving at Cedar Grove through June of this year. Growth in these areas is often a sign of vitality, indicators that Christ’s church is making a difference. Some of us may be interested in this granular level of detail, so this is for you. Those of us less interested in numbers can ignore the statistics below. Simply be assured that the energy and vitality you are feeling on Sunday mornings and throughout the week at Cedar Grove is real. Worship attendance is up 35% from where we were at the end of June last year. Your generous financial support of the church is up 67%. Halfway through the year, the state of the church remains strong. Cedar Grove is brimming with possibility this July.

With the other half of the calendar year in front of us, there will be many more exciting things to come at Cedar Grove when the summer is over. For now, however, enjoy these blessed days of pause from the regular routine of the year. Just as God has ordained a time of Sabbath each week, so should we embrace moments within the year for extended recreation. Whether you go to the beach or picnic in the park, make it a good month. We’ll see you soon at Cedar Grove.  

Peace,

A.B. Snell

Announcements

Summer Camps — Disney Dance Camp, Sports Camp and PreK Camp will be offered July 15-19 from 9 am—3 pm. Each camp includes hands-on projects such as sewing, building bird houses and more. This is a partnership with Martha Lydia Circle and area high schoolers. Dance Camp is full, but there are still openings in Sports Camp and PreK Camp. See Pastor Faith for details and to sign up.

Dance Performance by Campers - You are invited to watch the concluding performance of the campers on Friday, July 19 at 11am in the sanctuary.

Homeless Ministry — A team from Cedar Grove brings food, clothing and other essentials to the homeless of Washington, DC on the third Sunday every month. Our next trip to care for those in need will be Sunday, July 21. Contact Pam Morton to participate. 

Missions Committee Meeting — The Missions Committee will meet in the Parlor after worship on July 28. All interested in finding out more about the many missions of our church are welcome to attend. See Gail Viscarra for details.

Upper Room — The July/August edition of the Upper Room devotional is now available in the lobby for those who use this faith-strengthening resource. These devotionals are provided free of charge as a ministry of the Martha Lydia Circle. 

Beacon Newsletter — The July edition of The Beacon newsletter is now available on our website (cgdeale.org) and our Facebook page. Print copies of The Beacon are available in the lobby.

Tuesday Bible Study — All are welcome to join us for Bible Study at 10:00 am on Tuesdays in Fellowship Hall. Each Tuesday we study the Scripture passage(s) that will be read the following Sunday morning. No advance preparation required. Come, get a head start on hearing what God will say through his Word! 

Pie with the Pastors — All who are interested in exploring membership or making a recommitment of faith at Cedar Grove are invited to join the pastors for pie and conversation on the second Saturday of each month. Sign up on the clipboard in the lobby. The next date will be July 13. See one of the pastors for details. Thank you!

Sunday Worship Schedule

July 14 - Preacher: Rev. Snell - Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-5,12b-19

July 21 - Preacher: Rev. Snell - Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-14

July 28 - Preacher: Rev. Snell - Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-15

August 4- Preacher: Rev. Snell - Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

August 11 - Preacher: Rev. Steve Taylor, Global Methodist President Pro Tem

August 18 - Preacher: Rev. Wilkerson

August 25 - Preacher: Rev. Snell - Scripture: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43

Missions Corner

Martha Lydia Circle Missions

The Martha Lydia Circle continues to support various missions through Cedar Grove Church. We raise funds through our bake and soup sales, yard sales, and craft sales periodically. Currently we are sewing bags for groceries since Anne Arundel County has stopped issuing plastic bags. They are sturdy, reversible, washable bags and come in a variety of color combinations. They can also be used for other purposes and can be purchased for $10 each.

Our circle will also be helping with the Summer Camp helping to teach little girls to sew. We regularly help with the food for receptions, contribute funds for Vacation Bible School, provide the Upper Room publication for the church and recently decided to provide the Upper Room for distribution by the Homeless Ministry, help to fund various missions and projects, and generally do what we can to serve God and our church community. 

The Martha Lydia Ladies are a group of women who care and support each other and have been a thriving influence at Cedar Grove under the leadership of our beloved Linda Keiffer. In her memory, we hope to continue to thrive because she loved Circle and Cedar Grove and gave generously of her time and talent.

Children & Youth Update by Pastor Faith Wilkerson

Over 50 children signed up for 2024 Vacation Bible School with dozens of adult and teen helpers. Thank you especially to Courtney Roby for coordination of children, crafts, food and even livestock! It was a success!

The Beacon Newsletter is a monthly publication of Cedar Grove Methodist Church in Deale, Maryland.