Southport UMC Newsletter

Dear Friends, I am very excited about rekindling our J.O.Y on Thursday, September 5 and Sunday, September 8.   If you don’t know, J.O.Y. stands for Jesus, Others and You.   On this Sunday we are going to re-focus.   We are going to ask the Holy Spirit to set our hearts  afire with love for Jesus, others and for one another. There are some exciting things planned for worship that day.   On Thursday,  September 5 we will be having special refreshments.   Worship is being planned with some new things to add some zest and energy. On Sunday, September 8, at 8:15 the choir will be back off the summer break.   The  choir always adds so much to our traditional worship at 8:15. Some fresh ways to  present the worship will be employed in the worship service that day.   I don’t want to share too much because I don't want to spoil the effect for that morning.  Let it suffice to say that it will be inspirational and meaningful.   At 9:45 the childre

ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO! Remember, Thursday 9/5 and Sunday 9/8 are times to rekindle your JOY! Worship services will feature many things to help us rekindle our JOY! The Chancel Choir returns after the summer off.   As a congregation, we will sing JOY TO THE WORLD as the closing hymn.   (Yes – in September!   Why?   Come and see.) Children will participate during the 9:45 and 11:15 worship services to make a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord. Communion is always a time to feel JOYFUL in what Jesus Christ has done for each of us. Fellowship meals and sharing refreshments are a good time to share JOY with guests as well as our church family. We are nearing the end of the current sermon series:   A Church Heaven Applauds.   Our   children from Children’s Church and Imagination Station have been drawing pictures showing what would make God smile.   Come browse the art gallery and see how our children show what brings God JOY. Finally, hear God’s Word proclaimed through the

Serving the Community through Hunger, Inc. WOW! For August, SUMC donated 124 boxes of cereal.   The ladies at Hunger, Inc. were so thrilled to receive so many varieties of cereal.   They though that the children of the families would be excited to have so many more choices and not just corn flakes. Collection dates are September 5 and 8 since communion has been changed to by-pass Labor Day weekend. We are collecting SUCCULENT SOUPS. Any variety of canned soups would be greatly appreciated. In the month of October we will be collecting cans of OUTSTANDING PORK AND BEANS.   The collection dates will be October 3 and 6. After attending a recent workshop on Poverty, I picked up a saying that I thought I would share with you.   “We not only need to work for the poor, but among the poor.” We are doing an awesome job of the “for” part with our donations of food. So I am      encouraging you to think about helping with the “among” part.   If you are interested in he

WOW Have you ever been to any establishment (whether it is a restaurant, a clothing store, a coffee shop, a movie theater, a friend’s home and, yes, even a church) where you felt the sensation of WOW?  What happened, what did you see, how were you treated to make you feel WOW – a feeling of surprise, wonder, admiration or delight at how you were treated.  Did you feel like the people in that place went over the top to make you feel welcome? Would you tell friends and family about places to visit that give you a WOW experience? Let’s think about the other side of the coin for a moment.  Have you ever had an opposite-of-wow moment?  An antonym of wow is “flop.”  So, have you ever had a flop moment – a time when you visited a place and it just did not go well – so awful that you know you will never return and further, you will tell family and friends NOT to go there? Even though we may offer a different service than a restaurant, a clothing store, a coffee shop or a movie theater

Student Ministries and Acquire the Fire Student Ministries focuses on young people in 5th grade through college students.   This      ministry includes Sunday morning activities in the Underground at 9:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.,     iGod on Wednesday evenings and several events throughout the year.   These young people bring energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the ministries of SUMC, not sometime in the      future, but today!   Reaching these disciples and future disciples of Jesus Christ takes many forms, such as attending the Acquire the Fire. For more than 20 years Acquire the Fire has been more than a conference with   great teaching, more than a concert with the top Christian bands and more than youth have ever experienced!        Acquire the Fire is tens of thousands of youth coming together over 27 hours to be set apart   from the distractions and influences of the world, long enough to encounter God in a total    revolution of the heart.   Many teens today are spen

HOMECROFT ELEMENTARY PARTNERSHIP – NEWS! Homecroft Hustle Coming Soon! - On September 12, the Homecroft Elementary PTA will host its second annual Homecroft Hustle run-a-thon to help fund school events. Students will collect pledges and then run laps at school to raise money.  All money raised will go directly to the school.  How can you help?  1.  Volunteer on the 12th…cheer on the kids and help with logistics…it's FUN! 2.  Purchase small gift cards/items that can be given as prizes to the runners….deliver them to the church office by Monday 9/9 marked “Homecroft Hustle Donation” 3.  Become a sponsor….businesses/organizations donating $50 or more will get their logo on the Homecroft Hustle backpack!  Inexpensive advertising! 4.  Sponsor a student runner!  If you don't know a Homecroft student, we can find you one! Remember, there are other ways you can help our partnership with Homecroft: Be a mentor at the Homecroft After School Achievers club.