Traces of Grace

It's hard to believe that it was a year ago at this time that I was finishing my time at Trinity UMC and preparing to move my family to Collingswood. While I am fairly confident I cannot say that this year has gone exactly the way that I anticipated, I can say that I have seen God working over the past year. It is evident to me, even in this season of continued transition, that God is moving among us and there is even more God wants to do in and through us.

Often as we end the school year and shift into a summer mindset we think about slowing down, chilling out, or getting into vacation mode. And I want to affirm those things; it is good, especially with the frenetic pace of our society, to choose a slower pace and seek restoration. But I want to encourage you our church and the Way of Jesus as key priorities during these summer months. We will never find the rest and restoration we need apart from Jesus. We may find relaxation or relief, but it will not be the kind of rest our souls so desperately need.

So by all means go on vacation, take some days down the shore, enjoy the pool, ride a roller coaster, eat some ice cream, and whatever else brings you joy this summer, just make sure you invite Jesus into it. Your summer, and your soul, will be richer for it.

Grace & Peace,

-Pastor Scott

As we welcome Jeremy & Rebecca Andrade to the First Methodist family this summer, we want to create some opportunities for you to get to know each other. We are working to put together a schedule of small group gatherings for this summer and early fall and we would love for everyone to participate. If you are interested in attending or hosting a gathering, please call the church office. Thank you.

Next week is the last week you can turn in your baby bottle donations to benefit Options for Women in Cherry Hill. If you are interested in donating, please return the bottles on Father’s Day, June 19th. Since change is short and filled bottles are heavy, you can place a check in an envelope and return it, or you can make an on line donation at optionsnj.org and go to donation options.  Contact is Judy Boswell. Thank you for your generosity!

Bob and Barb Alber will be visiting on Sunday, June 26th. Bob was our Youth Pastor before Shawn came to First Church. He and Barb have been with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 20 years and supported by First Church from the beginning. We look forward to hearing from Bob during both services and also visiting with them at an extended time of fellowship/coffee, etc. in the Parlor from 9:45-10:30.

Mark your calendar for 9:30-11:30am on the following VBS days:

• Thursday, June 30
• Wednesday, July 13
• Wednesday, July 27
• Thursday, August 4
• Thursday, August 25

We're back on track this year to do a form of Vacation Bible School. If you are interested in helping, please contact Pat Gunning by email at pagunning@yahoo.com or note your interest on the Connect Card attached to the Sunday bulletin. Thank you.

Praise the Lord that the two new nurseries are now in full use!  You may have sorted and cleaned the toys and furniture, mopped, washed the windows or carried the toys and furniture from the old room to the new ones. Maybe you painted, gave advice, hung up pictures or wall stickers or put the toys and books on shelves. Perhaps you worked more behind the scenes by making up the plans or advocating for the nurseries. Whatever your part was in getting the new nurseries ready, I want to convey a BIG heartfelt thank you to each of you! I appreciated your help so much and couldn’t have done it without you.  Thanks so much!

-Kathy Boswell

We praise God and thank Him for all the prayers that have been answered throughout this challenging time and also:

• For all God is doing, even in the smallest of details!
• For our freedom to worship together in person.
• For members of our church family who have recovered from surgeries, treatments and illnesses.

-Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

"Prayers in the Parlor" is a time to gather and pray over the requests of our congregation and happens every Monday through Thursday, beginning at 9:00am. Feel free to come and join us!

Please continue to pray for...our homebound members; our church members who are in need of spiritual, emotional and financial care; any families and relationships that have been strained during this time, our Troops and our Missionaries. The list is long, but God is BIG!

Please pray for the following:

• Pastor Scott & Meg - for the Lord's guidance & direction in all matters and decisions.
• The Zook Family as they make settlement on their new home and prepare for their new ministry.
• David & Katie McDevitt's son
• Kathy Boswell - Health problems
• Bob Edwards - heart issues
• Jim Craig - broken collarbone and parkinson complications
• Gary and Kathy McGuarn - daughter Jenny DePaul - medical issues - upcoming surgery September 12th
• Kathy McGaurn - Hip surgery on June 15th
• Sherry Rappe - Medical tests
• Joyce Cluelow - Mom is sick with Covid
• Carol Harding - home from the hospital
• John Adeboye - needs room to rent in Collingswood
• Dotti Escuti's friend Peggy Imms & family - family is going through many serious issues
• Linda Adam's sister Lois - Medical issues
• Connie Cline's longtime friend has cancer/is steps from eternity and needs to get into a relationship with God.
• Joan Stecher's friends Denise Young and Danielle Catling
• Karen Kline and family in the passing of her son Craig
• The Berryhill's friend Melinda Johnson
• The Cluelow's friend Liz
• Mike Molloy's mother making much progress
• Dave Cahilly - health issues
• Kay Shannon - recovering from foot surgery
• Dave Hammond - recovering at home
• Ella Patterson's brother - seizures
• Dick, Peggy and Janel Esher
• Jaime Frost, daughter of Harry & Linda Rameriz - serious health issues
• Mary Emily Cameron - recovering from a broken bone in her neck
• Gus Mondatsos - recovering from successful hip surgery
• Susan Dallegro - friend Jennifer sick on ventilator and her mother Maryann
• Dick McCloy - permanent remission from 6 months of chemo treatments
• Mary Ann McCloy - shortness of breath and autoimmune condition Myasthenia Gravis which has caused eye lid drooping
• Dave Schmid - Retired Missionary
• Our Missionaries

If you have any other prayer concerns or ways we can serve you please let us know. We desire to journey with you.                                                                 

Remember, you are loved!

In His Grace,  

The FUMC Staff