WPC Newsletter for July 16, 2021

WOODHAVEN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

July 16, 2021

New sermon series: I've Been Meaning to Ask . . .

A series for curiosity, courage, and connection.

Table of Contents

Prayers and Comfort

Church News

Mission

I've Been Meaning to Ask . . .

Read the Bible in 9 Months!

Mo-Ranch Information

Faith & Grief

Session, Officers & Committee Moderators

Staff

SUNDAYS

Adult Sunday School in the Education Building 9:00 a.m.

Worship - Virtual and In-Person 10:30 a.m.

Ghanaian Presbyterian Community Church 2:00 p.m.

Office Hours

M - Th, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Closed Fridays

(972)541-0747

Visit our Website

Prayers And Comfort

To update information, please contact Betty Ladusau, 214.505.6043

Bereavement

Mollie Nelms and family on the passing of her

brother-in-law

Limited Travelers

Julia Black

Lawrence Dagadu

Kathleen "Kitty" Douglas

Scott McKissick

Jack Murphy

Gloria Poole

Bill & Joe Ann Smith

Jerie Weasmer

MacArthur Hills

Marcy Dean

West Fort Independent Living

Margaret Robison

Avante Rehabilitation

Nancy Miller

Villages on MacArthur

Dana Wright

Caregivers

Dena Owens

Service Women & Men

and Their Families

SSGT Stephanie Cole,

granddaughter of Bernice Steele

Major Marty Schubert, Chaplain, U.S. Army

USAF Lt. Colonel Phillip Hartnett, grandson of Nancy Miller

Family Members

Alan and Suzanne Baroody

Vici Churchman's brother-in-law

Debbie Dickinson's husband, Gene

Dena Owens mother, Lorna Griffis

Cobbie and Dessa Palm, Missionaries

Pat Reese's best friend's son, Ron Dwyer

Pat Reese's son, Johnny

Lillyan Reyes brothers, David & Edgar

Margaret Robison's sister, Sara

Gladys Valchar's friend, Marilyn Portis

Requests are gathered during our worship service, via email, or calls to the office. We do our best to ensure that all requests are included. If you would like to add someone to this list or have your name removed, please contact the church office.

Church News

VBS 2021 was a fun filled island adventure! Everyone had a great time this past week at Mystery Island VBS. Thank you to all the volunteers that made it a success.

Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment.

Pastor's Thoughts

I'm excited to see the church moving forward to be more focused on our community. It was great to spend the week with dedicated volunteers and have fun with kids. Pastor Martin is the keynote speaker for the Synod Youth Workshop and he is doing a tremendous job energizing the faith of our youth. This sermon series "I've been meaning to ask" is geared to help us build better relationships with each other and with those we serve in our community. I have appreciated hearing responses to these questions from members and overhearing some people ask these good questions. Friends and members of Woodhaven, we need all of you as we seek to serve our community by sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Let us listen to the Spirit as we are led forward together. I'm excited to see the fruit of what God is working in us in these strange times. Keep the faith and let us finish the race we have started with grace and integrity.

*One opportunity that will help grow your faith and spirituality regardless of where you are at on your journey of faith is the Presbyterian Pilgrimage (I like to think of it as church camp for adults of all ages and maturities). This Fall it will be at Lake Lavon Nov. 4-7 please prayerfully consider this opportunity to meet other fun Presbyterians and grow your faith through study, music, and conversations. Ask Coy, Earllene, Dena, Jeff, Robin, Charlie, or me if you want to know more about this retreat. It is a transformational experience!

I've Been Meaning to Ask . . . .

Week 3

I’ve been meaning to ask. . .

what do you need?

Break Open

by Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity

Inspired by Job 2:11-13

Digital painting with mixed media collage

The day my grandmother died, my mother-in-law called. My grandmother died peacefully in old age, and yet, my mother-in-law knew the significance of her loss. She knew how my grandmother had helped raise my sister and me when our mother died when we were young. She knew that my grandmother was the matriarch of my large extended family, and that her death would usher in a new

reality for us. She knew that my grief for my mother—well-worn and familiar—would bleed into this new, unfamiliar grief. She knew that losing my grandmother would feel like losing a parent all over again.

I missed her call, but she left a voicemail. Softly, her voice message began: “Lisle, I just heard about your Nana...” Then her voice cracked, she sighed, and began to weep. After a few moments of weeping quietly, she found her words again: "Anyway, I love you. Call me if you want to talk.”

I don’t remember much of what others have said to me in the fresh fog of grief, but I will never forget that. In a way, she didn’t need to ask me what I needed. Without assumption or question, she simply entered into my pain and joined me there. Her profound act of solidarity gave me great comfort when little comfort was to be found.

In this image, I wanted to evoke the emotional impact of rending one’s clothing in solidarity with someone who is hurting. While this ancient cultural practice might feel curious to us now, I love that it’s an embodied way to tear away the armor that guards our own hearts so we can truly show up—tenderly—to join another in their pain.

If you are hurting right now, may this image remind you: you are not alone. God’s heart is breaking open for you.

Read the Bible in 9 Months!

February 2021 - October 2021

The reading plan for July is listed below. Blessings as you Read the Bible in 9 Months!

July 01: Psalm 77; Leviticus 18-20

July 02: Psalm 78; Leviticus 21,22

July 03: Psalm 79; Leviticus 23-25

July 04: Psalm 80; Leviticus 26,27

July 05: Psalms 81,82; Numbers 1-3

July 06: Psalm 83; Numbers 4-6

July 07: Psalm 84; Numbers 7,8

July 08: Psalm 85; Numbers 9-11

July 09: Psalm 86; Numbers 12-14

July 10: Psalm 87; Numbers 15-17

July 11: Psalm 88; Numbers 18-21

July 12: Psalm 89; Numbers 22-24

July 13: Psalm 90; Numbers 25-27

July 14: Psalm 91; Numbers 28-30

July 15: Psalm 92; Numbers 31-33

July 16: Psalm 93; Numbers 34-36

July 17: Proverbs 11-14

July 18: Proverbs 15-18

July 19: Proverbs 19-21

July 20: Proverbs 22-26

July 21: Proverbs 27-31

July 22: Ecclesiastes 1-6

July 23: Ecclesiastes 7-12

July 24: Song of Solomon

July 25: Isaiah 1-3

July 26: Isaiah 4,5

July 27: Isaiah 6-8

July 28: Isaiah 9-11

July 29: Isaiah 12-14

July 30: Isaiah 15-19

July 31: Isaiah 20-23

The mission of Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly is to foster growth in God through Jesus Christ by sharing its unique living, learning, Christian environment.

For more information about program registration, please go to:

https://www.moranch.org/attend-a-conference/

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Faith And Grief

During the month of July, when so many are remembering loved ones on special holidays, visit Facebook and IG for ideas, stories, shared events to help you remember the love.

We'd love to hear from you, share how you have remembered your loved ones, post on our Facebook page and Instagram, and post on yours with the #rememberthelove.

During this time of Covid-19 recommendations, we are offering support gatherings online. Please register and you will receive an email confirmation with the meeting access link & dial-in instructions.

Tuesday, July 6 @ Noon

Tuesday, August 3 @ Noon

https://www.faithandgrief.org/

gatherings/

New Episode Every Wednesday

Download & Listen Today

Learn more at: www.faithandgrief.org/podcast/

The Faith & Grief Podcast explores the intersection of faith & grief. Our first season features conversations around grief during the pandemic. We talk with healthcare professionals, authors, and grief experts. We hope the stories & interviews you hear provide some comfort & hope to you or someone you love on the journey of grief.

Download & listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts and Google podcasts. You can listen on your desktop or mobile devices, download these podcast apps today.