St. Andrew UMC 3455 Canton Road Marietta, Georgia 30066 770-926-3488 www.thepumpkinchurch.org Preschool office: 770-592-7250 Church Fax line: 770-516-3827 Our Mission Statement St. Andrew United Methodist Church strives to be a family of caring, nurturing followers of Jesus Christ welcoming all those seeking to know and grow in God s service. September 2018 The Love of Christ Romans 8:35-39 In his book, In the Grip of Grace, Bryan Chapell writes: On Sunday, August 16, 1987, Northwest Airlines flight 225 crashed just after taking off from the Detroit airport. One hundred fifty-five people were killed. One survived: a four year old from Tempe, Arizona named Cecelia. News accounts say when rescuers found Cecelia they did not believe she had been on the plane. Investigators first assumed Cecelia had been a passenger in one of the cars on the highway onto which the airliner crashed. But when the passenger register for the flight was checked, there was Cecelia s name. Cecelia survived because as the plane was falling, Cecelia s mother, Paula Chican, unbuckled her own seat belt, got down on her knees in front of her daughter, wrapped her arms and body around Cecelia, and then would not let her go. Nothing could separate that child from her parent s love-not tragedy or disaster, not the crash or the flames that followerd, not height nor depth, not life or death. Such is the love of our Savior for us. He left heaven, lowered Himself to us, and covered us with the sacrifice of His own body to save us! In Christ, Mack
From the Sr. Associate Pastor s Desk I Saved Nobody but Myself Many years ago, a 25-year-old nephew of Dr. Gansaulus. a famous Chicago preacher, admitted his distress because he could find no purpose for his life. His uncle talked with him of the need to give himself for others as a means whereby such purpose could be found. As he left the office the young man noted that the old Iroquois Theatre was burning. He saw several people trapped in an upper-story window. Quickly he found a plank, climbed to a level in the next building where he placed the plank across the window and helped several to safety. Unfortunately, a fallen beam struck him and knocked him to the pavement far below. Dr. Gansaulus was called and arrived just before his nephew died. The young man looked squarely into his uncle's eyes and whispered, " Now I know why I was born." Several years later Dr. Gansaulus was talking with another traveler in a hotel in Europe. A casual remark about Chicago so excited this man that he babbled unintelligibly; whereupon his companion led him away, explaining later to the minister that the man had been in the old Iroquois Theatre in Chicago on the fateful day it burned. He had managed to get out only by crawling and clawing his way over many screaming, fear-crazed, panic-stricken people. Ever since, at the slightest reference to Chicago, he would tremble and mutter, "I saved nobody but myself. I saved nobody but myself." The fire I'm talking about happened in 1903 when Eddie Foy was there in a huge extravaganza. The place was packed with people. Fire broke out and seemed to explode as it filled and enveloped the building. Panic struck immediately! People jammed the aisles in a desperate struggle to get to the doors. Hot gases and smoke filled the place, turning it into a death chamber. A total of 590 people died. It was an awful scene. Mainly because of this fire, public buildings were required to clearly mark their exits and install panic bars on doors that always swung outward. Fire-retardant materials were encouraged from that time as well. There is an analogy here. One of these days this world and world system will be under the judgment of fire according to the Bible. The only place of real safety is in Jesus Christ. As Christians we have found a place of refuge and safety, but how many of our friends still need our help to lead them to Christ? Life must be lived with an eye toward eternity. In His Service, Terry Welcome New Member Barbara Sutton (By Reaffirmation of Faith)
From the Associate Pastor s Desk Presence When we receive a new member into the church, we ask the question: Will you support the church with your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness? This is a question worth asking ourselves throughout our faith walk, whether we ve joined recently or are long-time members of this amazing congregation. I find myself reflecting a lot on the area of presence. Far too often we underestimate how the Holy Spirit can move through us and what the Spirit can do through us merely if we are present. I was sitting in a service at my home church my second year of seminary one Sunday in December and it had been a particularly long week. I was stressed for upcoming exams, I was tired, I was overwhelmed. The choir was singing beautifully and I burst into tears. Exhaustion had hit full blast. Towards the end of the worship service, I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. A woman leaned over from behind me and said, I don t know your name or what you re going through, but I hope you know how much God deeply loves you, and I ve been praying for you this last hour. That seemingly small gesture meant the world to me. When I conveyed that to her she admitted, I really didn t want to come today. I ve had a lot going on this weekend and a late night last night preparing for a presentation at work. But there was something that just kept nagging me to show up. And I m glad I did. I believe that nagging was the Holy Spirit. We never, ever know how the Spirit can use us if are willing to be present and open to these sacred naggings. As members of the body of Christ and of St. Andrew UMC, we re in covenant with one another. Know that your presence matters. We need one another. Sometimes in ways we don t even know until the moment we find ourselves together. In Christ, Beth
Church News Out & About Choir: We will resume rehearsals Tuesday, September 4th at 10:15 (the Tuesday immediately following Labor Day.) Anyone 50 or older (or if you just want to join us) welcome!! Mark Your Calendar 5th Sunday Worship on September 30 One Service at 10:30am in the Keheley Center Donuts and Coffee served at 10:00am in the Atrium Upcoming Spiritual Care Groups at St. Andrew: Depression and Anxiety Support Group beginning Sunday, September 9 This group will meet the second Sunday of every month from 3-4 p.m. in Room 129/130 of the Keheley building. This group is open to all in the congregation and community age 18+ Anam Cara (soul care group) beginning Monday, October 1. This group will be a space of reflection and contemplation. The meeting opens with John Wesley's historic small group question "How is it with your soul?" and engages in a different spiritual discipline each month. Meets the first Monday of each month in the conference room from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Contact Rev. Beth with questions beth@thepumpkinchurch.org 770 926 3488
CHILDREN S WACKY WEDNEDAYS! CHILDREN S CHOIR! 4 year olds -5th grade Calling all children ages 4 and up! Join us Wednesday nights at 6:15pm-7pm for some wacky and faith filled fun activities! August- Nov. Families join us for Wednesday night dinner starting at 5:15pm-7pm. We have made butter and monkey bread and have many other activities to explore! We meet in Ms. Regina s office #16 or the Community Room in the Ed. building. SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES! We practice before Sunday School every week at 9:25am -9:45am in the Community Room! Ms. Nancy leads us and we will be sing at the beginning of the 9:30am and 10:45am services on Sunday, September 9th! Parents meet us in the Keheley Center at 9:15 and the Community Room following Sunday School. If you have questions about any of our activities please contact: Regina@thepumpkinchurch.org or the church office at 770-926-3488 Two year old's through Adult! Children s Sunday School classes are in the Education building and begin at 9:25am in the Community Room! Please join us! 6th grade & Adults classes are in the Keheley Center (downstairs). 7th-12 grade classes are in the Youth House. KIDS CLUB (1ST-5TH GRADERS) SEPT. 9th 12:15-2pm! Creation Stations! OCT. 12th Haunted Hayride @ Red Top Mt. State Park (Family Event) More info to come. NOV. 11th 12:15-2pm Thanksgiving Feast! Bring your favorite food to share, play games and pack gift boxes for Murphy Harpst Children s Home! DEC. 2nd- 12:15-2pm Christmas Cookie Decorating, Reindeer Games and Advent Activity! FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES!!! OCT. 28th TRUNK or TREAT 3-5pm (trunk or treating trunk to trunk). All ages welcome! DEC. 5th Christmas Carol Sing a long (6:30-7pm in the Keheley Center) DEC. 7th CANDY CANE LANE 5-8pm (pictures with Santa, crafts, and cookie decorating) DEC. 12th CHRISTMAS COOKIE DECORATING for MUST MINISTRIES 6:30-7pm (Keheley Center) CHILDREN S CHURCH during the 10:45am service on 2nd,3rd, and 4th Sundays of each month (4yr olds-5th grade). Our theme for September is Fruits of the Spirit!