FROM THE PASTOR…

PASTOR KATHY’S REFLECTIONS

As I write this article, Missouri and many other states are in the midst of a heat wave – day after day with the heat index soaring well above 100-110 degrees. Respective health alerts and safety precautions have been broadcasted through various media forums. And acts of generosity can be detected through general conversations and community announcements: some people are taking time to check daily on their elderly or homebound neighbors; some individuals and agencies are lending fans to persons without adequate air conditioning; some churches, schools, libraries, community centers and other civic buildings are being utilized as day-time relief centers; and some stores are distributing free bottles of water to shoppers and others. Stories of generosity fill the air.

In the church, we often limit our thinking of generosity to financial support and the solicitation of money. Yet, generosity has to do with so much more: generosity has to do with the way we treat others, extending kindness, in giving praise, in offering forgiveness, and in trying to bring out the best in others. Generosity has to do with being considerate, caring for others, and sharing who we are and what we have with others in need.

Paul describes generosity as one of the fruit of the spirits, along with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

During the month of August, the sermon series will guide us in an exploration of the many dimensions of living a life of generosity:

August 7 - Generosity: Time and Energy

August 14 - Generosity: Talents and Abilities

August 21 - Generosity: Relationships

August 28 - Generosity: Resources

Lyrics from “My Tribute” - a song made famous by Andrea Crouch - serve as food for thought as we prepare for our journey to explore the fruit of generosity:

How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove Your love for me;
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,

To God be the glory,
To God be the glory for the things He has done.

Blessings this day,

Pastor Kathy

Words from your Lay Leader- Sharon Fairlie

The feasts or sacred festivals held an important place in Jewish religion. They were religious services accompanied by demonstrations of joy and gladness. In Leviticus 23, where they are described most fully, they are called “holy convocations.” Their times, except for the two instituted after the Exile, were fixed by divine appointment. Their purpose was to promote spiritual interests of the community. The people met in holy fellowship for acts and purposes of sacred worship. They met before God in holy assemblies. This definition is from my International Dictionary of the Bible written by J.D. Douglas and Merrill C. Tenny.

So why am I writing this definition? In October of this year we at Smithville United Methodist Church will be celebrating a feast directly from the Old Testament, the Feast of Booths. The feast in biblical times celebrated five days after the Day of Atonement and lasted seven days. It marked the completion of the harvest and historically commemorated the wanderings in the wilderness. During this festival people lived in booths and tents in Jerusalem to remind them of how their forefathers wandered in the wilderness and lived in booths. The sacrifices of this feast were more numerous than at any other. The last day of the feast marked the conclusion of the ecclesiastical year. The whole feast was popular and joyous in nature.

Now we at SUMC will be putting a slightly different twist to this celebration. First and foremost, we will NOT be living in booths and it will only last one Sunday but it WILL be joyous in nature! The plan is to have church groups create a pictorial account of what they do, paste it on a tri-fold board and display it on a Sunday in October. The tri-fold is as close as to a booth as we will get.

SUMC is active in many areas, and this will be a time for us to celebrate all that we do. Celebrate the harvest, if you will! “You shall observe the festival of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you saw in the field. You shall observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor.” Exodus 23:16

SMALL STEPS PRESCHOOL

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, August 18th

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Thank you to everyone that helped in any way with Vacation Bible School. It was a great success!

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JUNE 2011

INCOME EXPENSES

Debt Reduction Funds 1,442.50 Conference & Benevolence 2,436.80

Flexible Contribution 62.50 Christian Education

General Fund 9225.50 Education - other 49.85

Total Christian Education (49.85)

Misc Contributions

Altar Flowers 36 Total Missions 66.29

Apportionment Contributions 280 Non Pastoral Compensation 2,733.08

Sunday School Offering 41.51 Total Office Expense 289.32

Total Misc Contributions (553.21) Total Outreach/Evangelism 7.72

Total Pastoral Compensation 5,966.90

Mission Contributions Preschool Expenses 146.97

Della C. Lamb 50

Misc. Missions 444 Total Trustees/Utilities/

Total Mission Contributions (494) Maintenance/Insurance/ 1913.72

Interest on loan - 1377.71

Worship

Altar Flowers 120

Upper Room 36.54

Total Income 11,582.01 Total Expense 15444.90

June Net Income: $-3862.89

We have been staying very busy in spite of our very "unusual" weather! In June, we visited the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum to see the beautiful Monet exhibit, and also exhibited our paintings at the Smithville Library. That exhibit brought us many complimentary comments. Now we are experimenting with outdoor painting. Smithville Lake has been our latest subject, and watch for us in downtown Smithville where we plan to sketch some of the wonderful old buildings.
We are planning exhibits during the Pie Auction and the Chile Festival, and will be assisting with the Advent book again this year. We really need and want new members. Beginners are encouraged to come and see what you are capable of doing. You need not be a member of SUMC, and there is no charge. For information, call Martha @ 532-3772. NO classes during the month of August.