AUGUST 1, 2024

MESSAGE FROM JIMMY...


“Greater Things Are Coming”

 

You are familiar with the concept of “culture shock,” right? I experience a surge of culture shock every time I travel to a different country. It hits me as soon as I step off the plane. I can’t understand the signs anymore. I don’t speak the language. The people all look different. The music playing through the speaker system is confusing. And the customs people make you feel like an “alien.” This culture shock hit me all over again when our mission team visited Nicaragua last month. 

 

Study.com defines culture this way: “culture is a system of learned and shared beliefs, language, norms, values, and symbols that groups use to identify themselves and provide a framework within which to live and work.” Culture is the look, feel, shared values, attitude, and behaviors that are shared by a group of people. Coffee shops have a certain culture or vibe to them. Starbucks is different from Cups. Retail stores all have a unique culture, too. Walking into a Lululemon store feels different from walking into Revel Ace Hardware. They appeal to people with different interests, lifestyles, and ages.

 

Here is where culture shock comes into play. One Sunday while in college I decided to visit a new church that I saw advertised in our school newspaper. It was a new United Methodist church plant in a part of town that wasn’t familiar to me. I decided to go because I wanted to see a church plant in action. The moment I drove up, I felt out of place. It was basically in a clubhouse at a country club in a very wealthy part of Tulsa, OK. There were sports cars and luxury cars filling the parking lot, and here I was in my blue Geo Metro. I walked in anyway and found a seat. I sat through the worship service, and it was okay, but nothing really stood out to me, except that the room was full of shall we say “non-college-aged people.” They probably had grandkids in college. The service ended, and I left. Not a single person at the “church” spoke to me at any point that day. I never attended there again. It was a huge culture shock to a young college kid from Houlka, MS, expecting to discover something as “new” and “exciting” as a church plant. The culture of that church didn’t meet my expectations, and it felt “out of wack.”

 

I am telling you this because people experience this sort of thing in church all the time. We say we have good news to share. We say we are a loving place and care about everybody. We say we believe in the teachings of Jesus. We even put things like hearts and open doors on our church logos. We invite people to come to church and say, “You’re going to love it here!” We tell people our church is a friendly church. Etc., etc., etc.

 

Then people believe us, and they show up. When they walk through the doors, they sense something isn’t quite right. Nobody speaks to them. They don’t understand what is going on during the service. People in the pews around them don’t seem happy to be there. If they keep coming back long enough, they may even start to realize that the same stuff going on at their secular workplace is going on inside of the church – gossip, bitter relationships, clicks, politics, etc. When all of these experiences don’t line up with what people have heard and believed about “church,” they experience culture shock. 

 

Now, I don’t want to just paint a negative view of the church and how people experience culture shock. The opposite can be true as well. We can have a negative perception of some place, and when we actually try it out for ourselves, we can be shocked at how amazing it is. For instance, the next Sunday while in college I visited another church that was an old traditional UM church in Tulsa. It was the most “alive” church I had ever attended. It was filled with people that were excited to be there and were excited that I was there. I immediately got involved and stayed a part of that church for 2 years while in college. I was pleasantly “shocked” by the culture of that church. 

 

I hope to see you Sunday as we begin a new series of messages focused on building good church culture that shocks the socks off of people in positive ways.

 

Jimmy




Take a look at this video as Jimmy shares his vision for the

month of August as we move towards "Greater Things."

Click Here for Prayer and Fasting Resources

Ladies or Gentlemen who would like to attend need to reserve their spot by Noon, Thursday, August 8th. You may click below to e-mail or text

Wayne Carson with your RSVP.


RobertWayneCarson@gmail.com or (text) 601-720-6391



KIDS MINISTRY CORNER


Acolyte training took place

in the month of July.

We are thankful for our children and this place in worship they can serve!

THIS MONTH'S MEMORY VERSE


Listen to advice and accept instruction,

that you may gain wisdom for the future.

Proverbs 19:20

SERVICE OPPORTUNITY


United Nights have started back for our students on Sunday evenings. A snack supper is provided each week before worship and small group sessions. If an individual, Sunday School class, men/women's group, or family feels led to serve in this area, please click the link below to find a spot to fill for the semester. This is a great way to love on our students and fellowship with them!

YOUTH SUPPER SIGN-UP

We still have a few part-time 3K and 4K spots in our weekday preschool. 

Times would be from 8:15 - 11:30 or 8:15 - 1:45. The first day of school

is August 7th. Applications and information can be found on our web site 

https://cmc-weekday.org. You are also welcome to call 601-924-9961 or

stop by during the week. We have a great preschool and loving teachers

that prepare children well for school!


Thank you!



Michele Rittenhouse,

Weekday Director



Did you know we

have an exercise group that meets weekly? What a fun opportunity to get connected with movement and fellowship!



Our leaders, Cecelia Allred and Radie Tatum, provide a low-impact

routine with chair exercises and resistance bands.



Please join us:


FRIDAY MORNINGS

10:00 A.M.

WORSHIP CENTER


For further information, please email us at

office@cmc-clinton.org


CONGREGATIONAL CARE

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Please review the prayer list download. If you would like to add to the prayer list, please continue to use our digital form for submission which can be accessed by clicking on the link in this email or on our website.


​Prayer Request Update: If you have requested a loved one or friend to be placed on the church-wide prayer list and they no longer are needing prayers, please call the church office or email office@cmc-clinton.org

for removal. The people who are on the Church Prayer Request are added by the request of church members. 


Pastoral Care Line 601-460-0570

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WAYS TO GIVE

Secure Online Giving

JULY 2024

WEEKLY GIVING NEED: $18,300.00

JULY 7th Giving: $17,952.14

JULY 14th Giving: $23,865.86

JULY 21st Giving: $14,521.53

JULY 28th Giving: $18,209.00

Other Income: $8,080.00

Total Income: $82,628.53




JUNE 2024

June Giving: $64,008.78

Other Income: $8,300.00

Total Income: $72,308.78


Attendance Report July 28, 2024:


Traditions Worship: 159

Connections Worship: 85

Online: 18

TOTAL WORSHIP: 262

 



2024 Online Commitment Form

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