Back to Church Sunday

This change of seasons allows everyone to reevaluate their priorities and schedules. Summer is a wonderful time to vacation and enjoy the great outdoors, but the beginning of school causes us to strive to get back to a regular routine. 

You may have seen some yard signs or banners around town that say “Now’s the Time”. This is referring to a campaign Blue Water Area Churches are doing again this year to encourage people to consider their church involvement. That certainly looks different this year!

If your church is not meeting in person (safely), tune in to their livestreaming service on Facebook or YouTube (or streaming from other churches). Many churches also offer recorded services from their website, meetings by Zoom or other platforms, conference calls, more mailings, or other programming that is helpful. 

Maybe you got out of the habit because of COVID 19 and your church was shut down. You may have quit going because you were offended, hurt by someone or disagreed with the direction the church was going. Whatever the reason, “now’s the time” to lay it aside and get involved in a loving community. 

If you aren’t happy with the church you once attended, try another place. There are many caring pastors and congregations that would love to welcome you. There is a wide variety to choose from. Some have a more traditional, liturgical style. Others feature a contemporary, “come as you are” service. Whatever you choose, “now’s the time” to get back to church!

But what if you have never got involved with a church? Why should you start? Here are several reasons. Church is a great place to find a caring community of imperfect people. You don’t have to feel isolated and alone when dealing with life challenges (like the coronavirus, loss of job or death of a loved one). They can laugh with you, cry with you and be genuinely concerned with what is going on in your life.  You can find hope and assurance that you can make it through. It provides support and ministry in age-appropriate ways for your family. It offers a stable environment, with a solid moral foundation to build your life on, in an increasingly unstable, crazy world. It feeds your spirit and nourishes your soul, giving you peace and direction. It also teaches you about God, His plan for living your life, and hope for eternal life.

Whether you used to be a regular church attendee, or considering participating for the first time, you can find information about many churches on the Blue Water Area Churches website at www.bwchurches.org. “Now’s the Time” to learn about area churches and (safely) get involved in a life-giving church!
Tune in to Faith Matters
Hear Terry speak about See You at the Poll that is September 22nd
View our prior Faith Matters Emails
View our Community Calendar
Sponsors Needed

Operation Transformation is over halfway through a busy and exciting year! We continue to make strides in partnering with the faith community and civic organizations to bring transformation to the Blue Water Area.  Thank you for your collaboration and support!  

Below are Sponsorship Opportunities, and the benefits associated with each level. Checks can be made payable to “OT” (and are tax deductible). Would you be a sponsor for our dinner? Or, you can call the OT office to use a credit card at 810-966-8660. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support! Together we are making a world of difference!
Prayer & Encouragement
Announcements
Healing Hearts Home is in need of office space in Port Huron's downtown area or close to bus routes. Ideally a conference room for eight to ten people to meet in a group setting and a private office for individual counseling appointments. Please contact. Christina Gallina-Flood at 586-727-0674.
New Events Submitted this Week
In date order
Over the last 12 years, thousands of people in our community have participated in St. Clair County Community Mental Health’s annual Run for Recovery, helping to raise money for area non-profits while also getting the word out about their mission of promoting the recovery of individuals they serve and focusing attention on how a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity promotes recovery.
 
For the continued success of this event, they are in need of volunteers. Will you help?
 
Volunteers will check in at 8:00 am on Saturday, October 9th and act as guides throughout the 5k and 1 mile route. For more information on how you can help please contact Jill Vandenabeele at (810) 966-3539 or jvandenabeele@scccmh.org.
Upcoming Events
In date order
 **Please note that the events and information listed in Faith Matters do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of Operation Transformation.**

If you would like to share information through our Faith Matters email, send details and flyers (jpg preferred) to rhernandez@optrans.org.