Dear Friends,
Pastor Lance’s recent comment over the Memorial Day weekend about people watching worship on livestream from their lake house was certainly an accurate chuckle, but it is a reality that most likely will continue through the summer. First Church is blessed to be able to offer this technology making it possible for you to keep your spiritual cup full while sitting on the boat dock.
For some of our members, boat docks are not necessarily part of their summer plans. Instead, they will “do church” sharing their gifts of talent and service through a variety of life-changing ministries.
Both the Youth Ministry and Children Ministry teams will tell you that summer is crazy hectic good, and it is also one of the best and most exciting times with Christ’s work being done in incredible ways!
The fun begins June 7th with Middle School Mission Blitz where our 7th and 8th graders will be doing service projects for Tarrant Area Food Bank, Project Transformation, and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
Cornerstone Youth Choir Trip is an opportunity for our youth to share the gift of music ministry. This year they take to the road for Memphis and Nashville on June 8th.
Some of our youth will get back just in time to head out on June 18th for the Senior High Mission Trip to Saint Louis where they will serve as the “hands and feet of Christ” ministering within communities that have a high rate of food insecurity and homelessness.
Camp Barnabas is a ministry that First Church youth have participated in over the last several years and that is true for this summer as well. Starting on July 15th, our youth will be interacting with children who live with disabilities and chronic illnesses ensuring that these campers experience the joy that camp has to offer to the fullest.
And when does training for these special ministries begin? Vacation Bible School of course! VBS happens the week of July 11th when hundreds of our youngest disciples-in-training, youth volunteers and adult volunteers take over our campus! The theme for this year is Hero Hotline.
Summer-only adult activities include volunteering as a reading buddy for a child from June 20th through June 29th as part of Project Transformation or sharing your gift of song as part of Morning Song from July 23rd through August 13th. In late July, fifteen members and friends will be flying off to the beautiful country of Costa Rica to share their faith and talents in the way of construction and teaching VBS.
Speaking from the stewardship point of view however, another indicator that summer is upon us is smaller Sunday offerings.
Sandra Bembenek, chair of FUMCFW’s Commission on Finance, made this thought-provoking statement: “Summer at First Church is one of our most active periods with many of our life-changing ministries happening and yet it is one of our least active periods when it comes to giving.”
The trend over the last three years is that members are doing more online giving through First Church’s website or the Shelby Giving app. We greatly appreciate this intentional giving.
If you happen to be a faithful giver who prefers placing your gift in the Sunday offering plate, I hope you will remember Sandra’s comment about summer giving decreasing with people being on the go.
Please consider using online giving to the Ministry Fund when you are not able to be here. Doing an online gift or setting up a recurring gift for the Ministry Fund can be done by visiting our website to make a gift or to download the ShelbyNext Giving app. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
In closing, I ask that you keep these summer ministries and disciples in your heart and prayers.
I wish you all a joyful and safe summer. As always, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday mornings!
Together through Christ,
Nancy Fisher
Director of Stewardship
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