Go.Do. in Latvia by: Ron & Carol Werker. Go.Do. from a child s perspective by: Sydney Stratton

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1 Check out the back of the newsletter for a look at ways YOU can GO.DO. this September! Go.Do. in Latvia by: Ron & Carol Werker Greetings from our wonderful family in Christ at Kuldiga United Methodist Church! We have recently returned from Latvia with lots of new energy and even more love for our Latvian neighbors. This month will bring a new full-time minister, Zinta Dzintara, to our sister church. The congregation looks forward to having a full-time minister who will live in Kuldiga, and who can devote time to pastoring the people in their community. Kuldiga was blessed with Vivita Kalnina for several years. Vivita is now on maternity leave, expecting her second child in September. We thank you, Vivita, for your love of God and His church and the chance we ve had to get to know you and your family. Planned for this fall at Kuldiga UMC, is the start of an after school program which will be led by Laine Kalvane. We talked with her about her hopes and dreams for this needed program. The new kitchen area, which 1 st UMC Maryville supported, will assist in this after school program as well as other church activities. Another project undertaken while we were there was lowering a ceiling in the Pastor s study. On two days, we held Bible School. The children enjoyed the time together as we hand delivered materials and props we had used just a few days before at 1 st UMC. The adults requested a study about John Wesley, and we combined several studies so they would understand and get to know more about the founder of the Methodist Church. For five days, we worshiped, studied, played, worked and ate sideby-side with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We know in our hearts that God is at work in Latvia, growing love in and through the United Methodist Church! While in Latvia we also had the privilege of attending the of Latvia meeting in Riga. There were 56 Latvians, 54 Americans, and 6 Danish people who attended. Latvians are celebrating their 25 th year of freedom and the meeting was a wonderful time to hear reports from the ministers of the 12 churches in Latvia, their concerns, hopes and dreams. We re happy to talk to any of you about our experiences in Latvia and we ask that you keep these amazing people in your prayers as they continue to follow God, introduce and spread His love throughout their country. Go.Do. from a child s perspective by: Sydney Stratton Hi, my name is Sydney. I was the 10 year old who went on this year s Latvia mission trip. I had a wonderful time there and would love to go back. I would recommend this trip to many others. It was a fantastic experience. Meeting the kids there and learning about their culture was amazing. I was very surprised at how similar we are to the Latvians. They are very kind and have the same wants and needs that we do. They would buy us lunch some days just because we were nice to them. We had a lot of fun doing VBS with the kids. They were all very thankful for the VBS ending gifts we gave them. We got to play lots of outdoor games with them as well. It was awesome being able to communicate with them even though we spoke different languages. While we were in Kuldiga they suggested some cool things for us to do. We even took a train ride through the city to get to know it and its history a little better. At the church we did quite a few things to help out. We scraped paint off of their heater so they could repaint it. We also made a drop ceiling it the pastors office. For the shut ins, we made cards and crosses. Some of the women made decorations for the outside of the church. Towards the end of our trip we went to the of Latvia Conference. This mission trip has shown me that in helping others, we receive more than we give! In the next edition of The Church Bell members of the New Jersey mission team share their experiences from a June trip where they assisted with Superstorm Sandy relief.

2 WELCOME TO Pam & Barry Beard Congratulations to: Adam and Ashley Daves on the birth of their son, Luke Stephen Daves, on August 3rd. Luke was 7 lbs, 7 oz. and 21 inches long. Susan Daves is a proud grandmother! Focus on Islam August 28th & September pm Asbury Hall Dr. Phillip Sherman of Maryville College Come help make a difference! Celebrate Recovery Volunteer Training Event Saturday, August 20th 9:00 am to Noon Asbury Hall Lunch will be served following the training and there will also be Safe Sanctuaries training at Noon. Please sign up online at

3 Small group opportunities Sign up online at Prayer practices study Each Wednesday in August 10:00 am in Room 205 (Sign up not needed) Run for God Study & Run/Walk Each Sunday 4:00 pm in room 202 Run/Walk Each Thursday at 6:00 pm, meet in room 205 Cost is $20 Please remember to wear running shoes, exercise clothing and bring your water bottle! You will not only gain physical strength but your relationship with God will greatly improve plus you will have an opportunity for fellowship. Session One (Rev. Sarah Slack) Wednesdays at 10:00 am, starting September 28th. Session Two (Rev. Catherine Nance) Fridays at 10:00 am starting August 26th Cost of the study guide is $15 In The Mission of Jesus, Triumph of God's Kingdom in a World of Chaos by Ray Vander Laan Vander (Led by Bonnie VanPelt) Tuesdays at 10:00 am Starting, September 6th in room 152 Senior adult trip to Lake Lure, NC September 6th at 8:30 am Enjoy this beautiful spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. Bring money for meals and $12 for a boat ride (optional). Study of Luke s Gospel Rev. Catherine Nance invites you to take a closer look at the Gospel of Luke. The study on Sunday nights at 6:30 begins September 11th. The Just Moved: After the boxes are unpacked study provides women with Biblical guidance when starting over in a new community or moving ahead with a major life change. Wednesdays at 10:00 am starting September 14th For more information contact Mary Kay Hamlin at mkh323@charter.net or give her a call at

4 In Memoriam Deborah Hitchcock Joined First Church: November 8, 2015 Entered the Church Triumphant: August 3, 2016 Memorials & Honorariums Memorial Fund Sonny & Jean Lambert Bill & Joan Howell Glenn & Bobbie Ramsey Peggy Norris Ralph & Kay Brown Carolyn Forster James & Sharon Mays Steve & Ruth West Joe & Nancy Lambert Boy Scouts of America David & Kathryn Gleason Charles & Judie Hatfield Sonny & Jean Lambert Susan Daves Jim & Susie Curtiss Ernie &Pat Blankenship Rick & Cindy Shepard Guy Badgett Pam Young, Tom Klein Ron & Gail Blair Dan & Jan McCoy Ronda Winn & Melissa Webb Robert & Betty Graham Ed Harmon Jeff & Emily Thompson Sonny & Jean Lambert Katherine Biehler Sonny & Jean Lambert Roy Kramer Brian & Jennifer Kamperman Richard & Mary Leatherwood Steve & Shirley Stinnett Tim & Sandy Carpenter John & Laura Trundle Bill & Joan Howell Winston Davis Judith Rizzo Ernie & Pat Blankenship Marceil Peery Sonny & Swayna Pitts Judy Clough Hope Lewis Memorials & Honorariums Building Fund Gerald Lambert Betty Badgett Van Myers Gerald Lambert Richard Timberlake Sonny & Jean Lambert Don & Cathy Watson Don & Cathy Watson Choir Fund Chip & Leslie Brown Celebrate Recovery Archie & JoElla Anderson General Fund Jim Waddell of Estonia Joseph & Kimberly Mathis Doug & Ann Snelson Sandra Davis Dan & Jan McCoy Merle & Claire Growden John Adams Marceil Peery Max & Kathy Trundle Helen Alley & Family Nationwide Family Karl & Sherry Miller Wanda Wikle Irvin & Barbara Arnold Jim & Theresa Miller Eddie & Carolyn Hall Richard Timberlake Larry & Loretta Best Jim & Susie Curtiss Gene & Frances Lovell Music Fund Doris Requa Mike & Ibby Davis Doris Requa Jim Porter & Family Welcome Table Sheri Brooks Sonny & Jean Lambert Matt & Karen Bennett Ed & Judy Green Larry & Lynn Ladd

5 Maryville First United Methodist Church 804 Montvale Station Road Maryville, Tennessee Phone: / Fax: Change Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MARYVILLE TN PERMIT NO. 113 Wednesdays September 7th Card Making September 14th KARM Tour September 21st Reading Day at local schools September 28th Second Harvest Workday Next month you will have many more opportunities to Go.Do. Take a look at the list on the right to see where you may want to participate. More information on these mission opportunities can be found online at and in future editions of The Church Bell. Saturdays September 3rd - Flood bucket packing September 10th - KARM Donation Truck September 17th - Second Harvest Workday September 24th - Stop Hunger Now Sundays September 11th & September 18th Children s Book Drive Online, all the time at: The next edition of The Church Bell comes out on August 29th. Any submissions are needed by August 26th.