Scottsville UMC Weekly Newsletter July 9, 2021

In-person worship at 11am on Sundays with Rev. Laura Stratton, Pastor

Upcoming Calendar Items:

Staci will be out of the office on vacation Mon., July 19th - Fri. July 23rd.

Sunday, July 18th: Administrative Council meeting after worship in the fellowship hall

Save the Date:

Sunday, September 5th

at 11:00

Faithful Praise will lead us in worship.

Please plan to attend and invite a friend or two.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Coming up, we will be starting some new discipleship opportunities.

First, we will be starting a prayer group for the month of August! We will gather together to pray for our prayer list, for our church and community, and for the concerns we are dealing with. We will meet on Tuesday mornings during August starting Tuesday, August 3 at 10:00-10:30am. Please join me in the sanctuary for this time of prayer.

Second, I will be leading a Bible Study beginning Wednesday, September 1 at 10:00-11:30am. We will be doing Adam Hamilton’s study on Peter – “an ordinary fisherman who heard an extraordinary call. He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man. And that’s the point of Simon Peter, a six-week adult Bible study by Adam Hamilton. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today.”

The book will be $12.49. Please sign-up on the sheet for a book as you enter the sanctuary by Sunday, August 15, so that we have time to order the them.

Also, if you are interested in doing a Bible study but could only do an evening study, please let me know. If we have enough interest, we can also start an evening group.

Finally, here are a few last things about myself using the story pages as inspiration:

My Favorite Christian Season: I love the Easter season! I also love Pentecost Sunday, because I don’t think we celebrate the Holy Spirit enough.

Most Memorable/Meaningful Thing: Baptizing my two daughters

One Surprising Blessing: How God has continually guided me to opportunities to grow in my faith and in my love of God, others, and myself

Hobbies: Reading – I love to read! I also enjoy playing games with my family, and I am a fan of the Washington Nationals and Washington Capitals.

I look forward to continuing to get to know each of you!

In Christ,

Pastor Laura

Week of July 18^th

We celebrate the birth of Truitt Jeffrey Foster on July 14th weighing 8.53 lbs. Truitt is the grandson of Cindy Proffitt, our new treasurer.
Ellen Pitts: Ellen's surgery was successful, and she is recovering at home.
Sammy Herndon: Sammy will be having back surgery on July 22nd.
Patty: Patty is a friend of Nancy Schlichting, had end stage cancer.
Debbie Fischer: Debbie is dealing with multiple health issues.
Randy Haney: Please keep Randy and his family in your prayers after the passing of his sister Patsy Carratt.
Bill Hyson: Bill, a friend of Ginny Haney and BOL volunteer, will be having back surgery.

Week of July 11th

Ellen Pitts: Ellen's surgery is today. Please continue to hold Ellen in your prayers
Dixie Ohler: Dixie, Ruth Jackson's mother, is in need of prayers for healing and comfort as well as Ruth and her family during this difficult time.

Week of July 4th

We give thanks and praise for our new pastor, Rev. Laura Stratton and her family, husband J.R. and daughters Annabelle and Elizabeth (Lizzy). We look forward to the blessings that God has in store for SUMC and Mt. Zion under Pastor Laura's leadership.
J.R. Stratton: J.R.'s uncle passed away on July 2nd.

Week of June 27th

Marcia Warring: Marcia, Bob Warring's mom, is recovering from partial hip replacement surgery on Friday, June 18th.

Long Term Requests

John Smith & his mother Katie
Tillie Adcock
Bev Butler, Ellen Pitts' brother
Bob Srigley, friend of Ginny Haney
Eileen Pilar, friend of the Hamners, battling cancer
Hope Beyond the Bars prison ministry participants & volunteers

Our Shut-Ins

Margaret Hughes
Mary O'Connell
Ruby Willis
Agnes Johnson

Additional Requests

The healing of our nation, physically, socially & spiritually.
All afflicted by COVID-19
All scientists, medical staff, and researchers who are working to stop this pandemic.
Those who are recovering at home and their caregivers.

Submit Prayer Requests Here

Hope Beyond the Bars 2nd Quarter Newsletter Excerpt

How Hope Beyond the Bars Got Its Name

My first visit to prison left me feeling scared and overwhelmed with sadness and anxiety. The thought of my loved one living behind those bars provoked a sense of hopelessness that left me with a deep ache in my heart that felt like it would never go away. Getting to know our first artist helped me to see things from a very different perspective that ultimately changed my life and led to the formation of this ministry. Beyond those bars that brought me so much fear and sadness, are men that are full of hope and seeking to share the source of that hope with others behind and beyond those bars. The name, Hope Beyond the Bars, was meant not only to remind myself there is hope beyond those bars that slam shut to imprison those that I have come to love and care about, but to also inform others of the hope they have found through Christ Jesus in the midst of such terrible circumstances. I was the first person in this ministry to find Hope Beyond the Bars and I will be forever grateful. Thank you, Joe. ~ Staci

(The newsletter in its entirety is available by the link below)

Visit Hope Beyond the Bars

Thanks Again!

It’s hard to believe that more than two weeks have passed since we said goodbye. For the Frosts, these weeks have been filled with activity—opening our summer place, receiving friends, and adjusting to the change in lifestyle (not to mention the excitement of our grandson’s baseball team winning their league championship!). Through it all, I have continued to reflect on the blessings that Carol and I received in our time with Mount Zion and Scottsville Churches. I have described the time as my “bonus year” (actually about 20 months) of ministry. Bonus months of sharing the good news that God calls us “children” and invites us to lead lives of love, grace and transformation.

When I add to my reflection the memories of our last day together and your very kind words and gifts, I know that we have been blessed indeed. The words “Thank You” seem so inadequate to express our gratitude for you all you have done for us.

As we go forward, I can’t wait to hear about the ways God is working in you and through you to spread the Good News! Blessings!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Tom and Carol