Weekly Update

June 14, 2019

  • Please remember Ford in prayer as he prepares the message for Trinity Sunday. The texts will be Psalms 128:1-6 in the Old Testament and Ephesians 6:1-4 in the New Testament. His message is entitled, ”How the Father’s Love Contributes to the Blessedness of the Home.”
  • Sunday school meets at 9:45 a.m. and we’ll be studying lesson 3 in the new quarterly, “The New Covenant’s Sacrifice.” The text is Hebrews 9:11-22, the condemnation and crucifixion of Christ. Please be in prayer for Doug Harrod as he prepares to teach this lesson Sunday.
  • The Congregational Support Committee is inviting everyone to fellowship during our “Donuts for Dads” event to honor all Dads following the service on Sunday.
  • Members of our music ministry certainly put the WORSHIP in our worship service! Music Ministry Sunday was a joyful day filled with praise and gladness as familiar hymns were sung by the congregation, interspersed with brilliant and worshipful music beautifully presented by our choir and musicians. We had a few visitors in the congregation (and one in the choir!) who added a delightful element to our worship. A duet by Brittany and John Duggan, Johnny playing chimes, an instrumental duet by Johnny and Brittany, our trio of singers, Janet, Jen and Sandra, John playing trumpet – there was such a varied texture to the day. We enjoyed Jen’s explanation of Blair Boyd’s original song and her quick music lesson, explaining what a “crunchy chord” is and calling Blair a “twenty-first-century composer.” As always, the food was amazing and bountiful, and the fellowship delightful. I’m with Bob when he says, “Don’t just do it one more time, do it twice!” Thanks to everyone who was involved, especially the choir and our musicians, the Worship Committee led by Alan Payne, and the Congregational Support team for June led by Sherree Reed.
  • MHPC’s traditional breakfast honoring graduating students was a fun celebration of the educational milestones of our graduates, although several were not able to attend. We will continue to support these students:
    • Caroline Alexander – University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
    • Emily Alexander – Homeschool program
    • Jacob Alexander – Pellissippi State College
    • Carter Dunlop – McMinn County High School
    • Valerie Hacker – McMinn County High School
    • Kennedy McJunkin – University of Mississippi
    • Jeremy Riggs – Tennessee Wesleyan University
    • Kaitlin Riggs – Tennessee Wesleyan University
  • June elders are John Goins and Alan Payne.
  • Have you been enjoying Sunday refreshments? The Congregational Support Committee will continue it through the summer and has invited the congregation to take part! We are keeping the refreshments minimal and simple – only cookies, muffins or donuts - and are focused on the time of fellowship. Between 35 and 40 people are expected following worship each Sunday. There’s a sign-up sheet at the table outside the sanctuary next to the office.
  • GriefShare continues with a meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday.  Each session is “self-contained,” so attending in sequence isn’t necessary. The group, facilitated by Dr. Dick Pelley, meets in our fellowship hall for about two hours each Sunday for a 13-week program. It’s free of charge and open to the community. GriefShare is part of a network of 12,000 churches worldwide, is non-denominational, and features Biblical concepts for healing. It includes encouraging video seminars, an information-packed personal workbook, instruction on journaling and personal study, and small group discussions about the weekly video. The group helps the grieving move from mourning to joy. You can learn more about it at www.griefshare.org. Please continue to lift this ministry up to the Lord in prayer.
  • We are continuing to seek people in our congregation who can provide original art and photography for the monthly newsletter. I have a great item provided by one of our students for July, but keep this in mind for August and beyond! I’m looking at you, Daisy!
  • Speaking of the monthly newsletter, we are again trying to get Horizons ready for distribution the Sunday before the end of the month. In order for everyone to receive theirs before the first of the month, it will have to be ready to distribute on Sunday, June 23rd. Please get your information to the office as quickly as possible, but certainly no later than Wednesday, June 19th. Thank you!
  • The Congregational Support Committee’s “June Brides” event to honor couples celebrating their golden anniversary and beyond any time during 2019 is set for Sunday, June 23rd, (NEXT WEEKEND!) following the worship service.  Please send your wedding date and a few pictures for us to display. If you still have your wedding dress or other articles you’d like to show off, please bring these, too!
  • The Men’s Prayer Breakfast group continues throughout the summer with meetings at 7 a.m. each Wednesday morning at Shoney’s. We invite you to join us or to let us know your prayer requests. Sharing the devotion in the coming weeks will be:
    • June 19        To be announced
    • June 26       Glen Ingram
  • Our Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has arrived and has been installed at the entrance to the sanctuary closest to the office.  Training of staff members and interested members of the congregation will begin soon.
  • MHPC’s Crafty Fellowship is moving right along with their fun and beautiful project, and I would love for you to see it! This month, they’ll be meeting on their usual date and time – 12 noon on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Bring your lunch and join the fun on June 25th. Newcomers will be welcomed!
  • We’re excited that parts of our new sound system are starting to arrive, with the main pieces scheduled to ship at the end of June. The speakers that have been installed in the sanctuary blend so nicely into the background that many people didn’t even notice they were there! The rest of the system will hopefully be installed during the month of July. The Session is asking the congregation to help replenish the reserve fund for the $15,000 needed for the new system. Please prayerfully consider this need in our church.
  • Mars Hill strives to be ever mindful of the responsibility we have of taking care of one another and our planet. The Mission and Outreach Committee of Session recently added several recycling containers for plastics. These are located in the kitchen area. As usual, paper recycling baskets are at each door to the sanctuary.
  • On June 30, 2019 our Fifth Sunday Offering will be contributed to Helping Hands Ministry, a compassionate group of men providing assistance throughout our community in the form of construction. Their most recent projects have included several wheelchair ramps for children and recent amputees, replacing rotted and leaking gutters and porch boards for an elderly couple, and replacing a tub with an easy-access shower with grab bars for a wheelchair-bound woman. Please give prayerful consideration to your offering. Thank you!
  • If, as you vacation and visit family and friends over the summer, you happen to pick up a bulletin from another church, it would be appreciated if you could drop it by the office. Thank you!
  • Special thanks to many the wonderful people in our congregation, including (but not limited to): Lynn Woodard, Alan Payne, Sherree Reed, Mary Coffman, Danny Reed, Marsha Lucas, Jen Nunley, and members of our Session.
  • The congregation of Mars Hill is ever faithful in working to support the people of our church and the church’s ministries to our community. Thanks so much to each and every one!
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