Traces of Grace
Thoughts from Pastor Scott
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:1-3
In our Summer Psalm reading plan we read Psalms 45-47 yesterday. As I read Psalm 46 again I took great comfort from the reminder that, no matter what we may be facing, God is always with us. But not only is He with us, God is our safe place and gives us the strength we need.
I don't know what they are for you today, but I know the things that are causing me to fear, the things that make me feel helpless, and the things that leave me feeling vulnerable. And in my own power, there's not much I can do about them. However, the good news is that when we place our trust in God, when we fix our eyes on Jesus, He can become that ever-present help and source of strength for us. When we stop trying to fix it all and we know/trust/believe that God is indeed God, we can begin to see how He is fighting on our behalf.
Grace & Peace,
-Pastor Scott
Music is a big part of life. And not just playing music or singing, I mean the music that we listen to and which becomes the soundtrack to our lives. Somehow, maybe because our rhythm of life changes, or because we take more road trips or day trips, but somehow, summer in particular seem to be marked by certain songs. Maybe that's true for you too.
This summer, from July 1 through September 4, our sermon series will be "The Songs of Summer: A study in the Psalms." In this series we'll be look at a selection of Psalms, which were the songs and poetry of the people of Israel. We're going to look at how these Psalms arose from the experience of the Israelites, how they shaped their faith, and how they express things that are common to all of us.
You can read through Psalms along with us this summer here.
Summer Schedule:
9:00am Sunday School (GSC, 9:15am)
10:00am Combined Worship Service
Kids Church is happening!
Kids from 1st-5th grades will be dismissed from the worship service prior to the sermon to participate in Kid's Church. This program will take place in the Great Room.
July Youth Events
July 27th - Family Gathering 6:30pm-8pm. Parents can come and fellowship while the Youth discuss their desires for the ministry this year.
Every Sunday this Summer - Sunday School at 9am
Summer Gatherings - Andrade's
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.
Vacation Bible School is here!
Mark your calendar for the remaining Vacation Bible School days Wednesday, July 27th, Thursday, August 4th, and Thursday August 25th. The theme is “Heroes of the Faith”. . You may enter the side entrance on Dayton Avenue. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Caring Ministry - Stuffed Animals
Please feel free to take one of the stuffed animals in the Narthex (back of church) to give to anyone who is sick or needs some
T.L.C.. They have been prayed over and tagged by the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Thank you!
Upcoming Events
For the summer, all of our Sunday school classes will meet at 9:00am. Kids, youth, young adults, God's Special Children (9:15am), an adult discussion class, and an adult Bible study class.
Hymns, Worship Songs, Creeds, Prayers, a Sermon; a truly blended service. Communion will continue to be served on the first Sunday of each month. Kids will be dismissed for 'Kids Church' before the sermon.
Our combined service will also be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in-person. Anyone can access this livestream, but if you'd like to chat with others throughout the service, you must have a Faithlife account and become of member of our Faithlife Group. If you aren't already a member of our group, and would like to become one, please email the church office at office@fumccollingswood.org and we will reply with an invitation.
Here are all the links you'll need for the full Sunday Morning experience...
Join our Live Stream Service - https://www.faithlife.com/fumccollingswood/livestream
Access our Digital Bulletin - https://fumccollingswood.org/bulletins
Online Giving - https://fumccollingswood.org/giving
All of our past morning worship services can be viewed on our website by visiting https://fumccollingswood.org. You can also view the services on our YouTube Channel.
Parents can come and Fellowship while the Youth discuss their desires for the ministry this year.
Verse of the Month
Praises!
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.
Prayer Requests
-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.
- Pastor Jeremy & Rebecca as they begin serving at FUMC.
- The Zook Family as they transition into their new home and ministry.
- Linda Adam's sister Lois - recovery from surgery
- John Adeboye - needs room to rent in Collingswood
- Bob Alber- in hospital with sepsis and cellulitis - missionary
- The Berryhill's friend Melinda Johnson diagnosed with brain cancer
- Kathy & Phil Boswell (Phil - recovery from surgery) health problems & medical concerns
- Dave Cahilly - health issues
- Mary Emily Cameron - recovering from a broken bone in her neck
- Connie Cline's longtime friend has cancer/is steps from eternity and needs to get into a relationship with God.
- Joyce Cluelow - Mom is sick with Covid
- The Cluelow's friend Liz for keeping the house & new job
- Shauna Coffey - ongoing medical tests and medical issues
- Jim Craig - broken collarbone and Parkinson complications
- Susan Dallegro - friend Jennifer sick on ventilator and her mother Maryann
- RuthAnne Detwiler - continued recovery from surgery
- The Edwards Family
- Harry Ellis - Blood Pressure
- The Imm's Family, friends of Dotti Escuti - family is going through many serious issues
- Dick, Peggy and Janel Esher
- Maria Gianfrancesco - continued recovery from knee surgery
- Dave Hammond - for continued recovery
- Carol Harding - home from the hospital
- Karen Kline and family in the passing of her son Craig
- Brent MacGlaughlin - health issues
- 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
- David & Katie McDevitt's son
- Kathy McGuarn's daughter Jenny DePaul - upcoming surgery September 12th
- Gus Mondatsos - second hip surgery July 7th
- Ella Patterson's brother - seizures
- Jaime Frost, daughter of Harry & Linda Rameriz - serious health issues
- Rameriz's - move to South Carolina
- Sherry Rappe - Medical tests
- Sherry Rappe - prayers for the Poljenka family in the loss of their mother - (Sherry Rappe's daughter's mother-in-law)
- Dave Schmid - Retired missionary
- Kay Shannon's husband's cousin Lynne - in the hospital with cancer and pneumonia
- Joan Stecher's friends Denise Young and Danielle Catling
- Michael Zee
- 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
