Dear Friends,
I am back from part of my vacation. We spent a major part of it at home, Max had soccer, Anna had volleyball, and I needed to get to know my own home better. Things are now a bit more orderly around the house, even my yard. As I worked in the yard I discovered that my house had “clay” soil. In fact, I discovered that most of the homes around here have clay soil. It turns out that in our development when they constructed the homes they scraped off the top soil, sold it, and only left a thin layer of top soil for the new homeowners. My plan is to work the soil more before planting. Good soil makes for healthy plants. It reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the soils in the gospel of Mark. How is your soil?
While I was on vacation my daughter Anna complained that she goes to church every Sunday. “Why can’t I have a break?” she asked. While on a weekend visit to Chicago we attended worship Fourth Presbyterian. On a weekend visit to Camp Saugatuck we attended worship also. And on the last Sunday of vacation the question was where we should go when we were at home that weekend. Where we went is not as important as the fact that we did go, and we went prepared. Being prepared for worship means not only looking forward to worship, but expecting God to speak to you, being open to God’s word whether or not the sermon speaks to you, the special music, or the hymns. God’s word is present and the gathering of God’s people surrounds you. Do you ever look at the others around you in worship and think, “Here are my sisters and brothers” and give thanks to God for them? I told Anna that I go to worship each Sunday, whether I am expected or not, because I want to give God the gift of my full attention surrounded by others who love God.
Prepare the soil of soul when you go to worship. Worship giving thanks for God’s word read and heard. Worship giving thanks for the family of Christ that surrounds you, not only at Southminster but around the world. While you are on vacation as well, go to worship. The soil of your soul will be better for it. Take it from here.
Love, Wendy
Announcements:
VBS is well underway! The Lord has blessed us with a great number of children who are very excited about Crocodile Dock. One particular highlight of the week is that the children are encouraged to see God working in their day-to-day lives. Each day they will group and talk about “God-sightings” and by the end of the week the Sanctuary will be lit with a candle from each group’s sightings.
This will truly be an exciting week not only seeing children learning about God’s powerful work in their lives but also our volunteers living out the love of Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray that God will transform many hearts!
VBS Mission Project: Thank you so much for your prayers and for your generous donations so far for VBS. Our VBS Mission Project this year is collecting school supplies, to be distributed by the Peoples Resource Center to local school children served by that organization. You can help by bringing school supplies any night this week during VBS, or by dropping them off at Southminster by Sunday, August 2. You can visit our website for a complete list of items. During VBS, watch our Facebook page (see following paragraph) for a daily list of items collected, and let’s help our neighbors get ready for a rockin’ school year!
Check out Southminster’s VBS Facebook! Become a fan and chat with us on the newly created Southminster VBS Facebook page and get all the last minute updates you need for the week. We’ll have day-to-day updates posted throughout the week of VBS too. If you already have a Facebook account, just look for our VBS link. If you don’t have an account yet, we want to see you there.
Our VBS “Crawfish Crafts and Mission Station” needs a few more empty water bottles (with their caps!) by Thursday evening. You can drop them by the church office through Thursday or bring them along to VBS tonight and tomorrow. Many thanks!
This coming Sunday––and the first Sunday of every month––is the day we bring offerings for the People’s Resource Center. The August emphasis is peanut butter and jelly. Donations can be placed in the narthex (near the stairwell to Fellowship Hall). Non-perishable food items as well as toilet paper, baby diapers, cleaning supplies, and personal care items are always needed.
Women’s Breakfast meets the first Monday of the month –which is this coming Monday, August 3– at 8:00 a.m. at IHOP in Danada East. New friends are always welcome to join us!
Our church will be serving meals for PADS on Saturday, August 8. If you have not done so already and are able to help by providing some of the food or helping to take it to the PADS site, please check the Mission bulletin board on the north side of the narthex and sign for something you can do to help. Still most needed are: people to make the hot vegetable (green beans or corn); people to provide breakfast casseroles and other breakfast items; people to purchase wrapped fruit cups, cookies and juice boxes for packed lunches; and people to help transport the food to the site. There are some other needed items as well. Thanks for any help you can give!
Hey, SPY! SNL is back! We’ll meet again on August 9th. Then comes the GREAT AMERICA day followed by a LOCK-IN, on August 14th!! Stay tuned for details on that.
And adults, SPY needs your help. We need drivers and sponsors for the trip to Great America on Friday, August 14. And we need sponsors for a lock-in to be held at the church that night. Please contact Blair if you can help.
S.O.L.A.C.E. Singles: August 12 can be a special day for all single people who want to join our outing to The Prairie Club’s Camp Hazlehurst Cabin #28 in Harbert, MI for a day of varied recreation. Cabin #28, nestled in a pine forest on the dunes, has direct walking access to one of Lake Michigan’s most beautiful beaches. It’s also close to wineries, antiques, art galleries, Swedish Bakery, Frank’s fruit store, boat rentals, and more. There is a sign-up sheet posted in the narthex that includes photos and additional information about arrival and departure times, meals, etc. You can also call Jack Thorne (630-469-8474) or Donna Marton (630-790-3514) for information or to sign up.
The Progressive Dinner “Italiano” will be Saturday, August 15, starting at 5:00 p.m. Please sign-up in the narthex; the sheet posted there will give you further information. (The earlier sign-up was just to measure interest. Everyone is welcome to participate in the dinner; the more the merrier!) Final plans will be made at the beginning of August.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game! It’s time again for Southminster’s annual Kane County Cougar baseball outing! It’s time for good food, good fun, and Jake the Frisbee Catching Dog! All this can be found on Monday, August 24, at 6:30 p.m. And best of all, the tickets are only $5.00! So, sign up for tickets promptly! Watch for a sign-up sheet in the narthex. We have only 20 tickets, so get your name on the list promptly. If there are other questions, call Caroline Linde at 630-469-9482.
And more from Christian Ed.:
Fall Planning in the works: By now you have probably heard about an exciting idea to augment Christian education, called “Second Helpings.” Please check out the C.E. bulletin board for more information. In addition, we would like to get your feedback. For your convenience, we will have a drop-box in the narthex during the month of July.
A new school year means we need new teachers! There is still room for additional teachers in each of the grades, as well as substitutes. We have a pre-printed curriculum, which makes planning a whole lot easier. The more teachers we recruit the more scheduling flexibility there will be. Would you please prayerfully consider serving our children in this important ministry.
There’s still time, though not much, to add some Family Camp Fun to your summer! The Presbyterian camp at Saugatuck, MI is close to home and offers all this, and more. Check out the Family Camp Kick-off the Week, August 1-4, or the Family Camp Short Week, August 4-7. Call 1-800-728-1164 to check availability and make reservations.
