June 2016 Skywriter

Skywriter
1850 Skyland Terrace
Atlanta, GA 30319
404-634-6209
[email protected]
www.skylandumc.org
This blog was written by Carolyn Moore, Pastor of Mosaic UMC in
Augusta, who is to speak at our Exalt Weekend in October
The High Cost of Unholy Fear (or, how to miss God’s best)
Two years after the Israelites were delivered from slavery, Egyptian silver
clinking in their backpacks, they stood with toes touching the border of
the land God promised them. They’d seen waters part and enemies
drown. Yahweh was intimately involved with their lives. They knew him.
They followed him. And just two short years after packing up and moving
out of bondage, there they stood on the brink of God’s best. Yes, there
were vicious armies and untamed wilds on the other side of that border
but they had the smoke and fire of God blazing their trail. Then it
happened. Human nature kicked in. They became more cautious than
optimistic. There at the edge of God’s plan, they sent a dozen spies into
that question mark of a promise to check things out. Ten returning spies
slinked back with a warning: “Don’t do it! It is great real estate, but the
people are giants. We will all die if we go over there.” The majority report
was full of fear and trepidation. The other two spies — young men
named Joshua and Caleb – looked on that land and saw a future with
hope. For them, the land was more possibility than problems. “I think we
should do this,” they challenged. “This is God’s land and God’s fight. Let
Him defend us!” The people did what people mostly do. They allowed
the voice of fear to drown out the voice of potential and it cost them
dearly. That day, God turned them back from the border of promise.
He sent them out into the wilderness again where he promptly vowed
that not one of their generation would see the land flowing with milk
and honey. Fear would not be woven into the DNA of his chosen
people, not if he had anything to do with it. So the people got in the
wilderness what they were most afraid of getting in the promised land.
They were destroyed by their own choice. For thirty-eight years they
wandered like dead men walking before another generation found itself
toe to toe with God’s purposes. I wonder if most of that first generation
even knew how close they were to greatness? I wonder if, way down
the road, some of them sat around campfires and wondered aloud,
“What do you suppose would have become of us if we’d listened to
Joshua and Caleb? How do you suppose it would have turned out?” Did
they even stop to think about it as they poked their fires or packed up
their tents yet again or held their cups beneath water flowing from
rocks? Did they think that deeply? Did they assume, like most people,
that what they had twenty or thirty years out from that decision was all
there was? Did they ever stop to imagine more than mediocrity
punctuated by death? Or did they simply go about their lives, making
grocery lists, making beds, making a living, making do? I wonder, but I
can’t judge. After all, I am an Israelite myself. I peek over into spiritual
promises and my little internal band of spies reports back, “That’ll never
work for you,” and far too often I listen to those voices of fear or laziness
or institutional caution and I miss out. Who knows how long I’ve
wandered, unaware of the promises I’ve turned down, while God in his
mercy determines to kill off all in me that reeks of fear? Who knows
what promises I’m toeing now as I poke my fires, count my money,
check my phone and absent-mindedly get back to what I know?
June
2016
Announcements for the next
Skywriter are due 6/20/16
Friday Night Fire
June 3rd 7:00 p.m.
Worship in the Sanctuary
Join us for supper at 6:15 pm.
Come expecting a powerful
move of the Holy Spirit
Pease call the
office on Monday
or go online to
make reservations
6/1
Assorted Salads
6/8
Baked Potato Bar
and Salad
6/15 Meat Loaf, Peas and
Mashed Potatoes
6/22 Pasta with Red & White
Sauce, Salad
6/29 Deli Sandwiches,
Chips & Watermelon
$4 Adults | $1.50 Children
Childrens' Ministries
Lauren Evans
Camp Applications
are available to fill
out online at
skylandumc.org
Cost - $10 per child
or $15 per family.
Three Family Fun
Days will also be
held this summer
beginning June
18th. Watch your
bulletins and emails
for details.
Ignite Youth Camp is coming up
July 25-29th. Camp is always an amazing and
transformational experience for students. The
week is filled with anointed worship,
meaningful teachings, and a lot of time for fun
and fellowship. All rising 7th graders through
young adults are welcome to attend. The
deadline to register is Sunday, June 26 and the
cost is $200. (Scholarships provided.)
For more information or registration forms, please see the youth bulletin board. Thank you!
Important Dates
6/1
6/3
Youth Trip to Six Flags
FRIDAY NIGHT FIRE
6/5
6/6
6/11
6/12
Immigrant Hope Workshop
Annual Conference Begins
Young Adult Ice Cream Sundae Party
Celebration Luncheon for Pastor Josue
Witness Lunch/Prayer Walk
Dock Party
Martha Pirkle Circle
Family Fun Day
FATHER'S DAY
Camp Walk This Way begins
Journey Class Cookout
YA Lunch
6/16
6/18
6/19
6/20
6/25
6/26
9:45am-6:00pm
6:15pm Supper
7:00pm Worship
1:00pm
ends on June 9th
6:00pm
1:00pm
1:00pm
3:00pm
10:30am
TDA
meet in parking lot
Dining Room
Sanctuary
Fellowship Hall
TBA
Dining Room
Dining Room
Youth Room
Dining Room
11:30am- 3:00pm (runs through 6/24)
4:00pm
Pete & Kristen Wages
1:00pm
Galla's
Skyland Church News
Youth are going to Six Flags on Wednesday, June 1.
We will meet at 9:45am at Skyland and depart at 10am then
return for dinner at 6pm. Lunch will be provided. The cost
for the ticket is $30. If you have a season pass, you don't
need to pay. You must have a current medical release
form on file. Please let Lauren know if you are coming or if
you would like to chaperone.
On June 12 at 10 am, the Journey Sunday School Class will be
starting a new 10 week series called Good to Great in God's Eyes,
using videos and workbooks written by Chip Ingram. The series will
focus on learning ten practices that will help you grow in your Christian
walk. All are welcome to join this class in Room 108.
See Margie Morgan for more information.
We are so delighted that Pastor Josue has now received his Masters of
Divinity and his first full time appointment. Everyone is invited to
celebrate these big events in his life and wish him well at a luncheon held
in his honor on Sunday June 12th. The Spanish congregation will provide
drinks and Tinga Tostadas. Everyone else is invited to bring a side, fruit, or
dessert to share. See Sheila if you have questions.
The Sunday Night Bible
Study will begin an
excellent new study
called "Gideon: Your
Weakness, God's
Strength" by Priscilla
Shirer on June 5th.
If you would like to be
a part of this group,
please contact
Cathy Wages.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday, the Skyland
Chapel is open for you to
come for prayer and to enjoy
and seek God.
Tuesday 2:00-500pm
Wednesday 4:00-6:00pm
Thursday 2:00-5:00pm
The Kitchen will be
closed July 6th and July
15th for a summer break.
There will be no dinners
those nights. Please take
a moment in June to tell
Ini, Barbara and Mitchell
how much we appreciate
our Wednesday
Night Suppers !
The SkyAngels
will NOT meet in
June but will
resume their
normal schedule
in September.
From the SPPR Committee
Matt Morton
We are very happy to welcome our new Spanish Congregation Pastor,
Jose Rodriguez. Jose is a native of Washington DC and has been
married to his wife Angie for 21 years. They have three children. Von
Marie (18), Kiki (14) and A.J (7). Jose was a single father to his daughter
Stephanie (24) for two years before dating his wife Angie. In 1994, on
Good Friday, he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and began his
journey in ministry. After receiving his calling, Jose completed an
undergraduate degree at
Luther Rice Baptist Seminary
in Puerto Rico. During his undergraduate work, Jose has
served as Praise and Worship Minister, as a Christian
Education Minister and as a Youth Pastor before serving
as a Interim Pastor for Mt. Zion Baptist Church where he
received his pastoral license in 2001. Jose has planted
two churches for the Spanish speaking community in the
state of Georgia; Forest Park First Baptist Church where
he served for five years and now Iglesia La Gran Cosecha
as a Harvest Point UMC Ministry. Jose is now a bivocational pastor with the goal of serving the Lord in a
full time capacity. His passion is to preach the word of
God and see lives being changed for His glory.
Pray for One Another
Jean Bennett, Sarah Linda Bryson, Steve Bryson, Harold & Virginia Burrell, Betty Clark,
Rhoda Hall, Doris Hester, Jodi Holt, Jo Levy, Joann Mathews, Nonie Morton, Mary Mullennix, Bill & Maude
O’Donald, Perry & Cindy Shelfer, Pauline Singleton, Evelyn Smith, Karen Smith, John Upchurch, Winnie Zink.
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Church Staff
Perry Shelfer, Senior Pastor
Josue Quintanilla, Associate Pastor
Lauren Evans, Director of Children & Youth
Kristen Wages, Contemporary Worship Leader
Will Morgan, Hispanic Worship Leader
Michael Webb, Traditional Pianist
Eleanor Flanagan, Comptroller
& Administrative Assistant
Ini Emmah, Fellowship Dinner Chef
Leah Sanders, Nursery Coordinator
Marlo McDonald, Nursery Staff
Melissa Wise, Nursery Staff
6/1
Perry Shelfer
6/14
Noelia Santamaria
6/15
Fernando Aguilar
6/3
Andrew & Margaret
Howell
Pete & Kristen Wages
6/17
Makenzie Hill
6/5
Coy & Lynn Scott
6/21
Stephen Pirkle
6/6
Tom & Mary Foster
Jesse & Sybil Turner
6/23
Margie Morgan
6/25
Gabriella Price
6/7
Keith Ellis
Sugey Gomez
Chad Norman
6/27
Christine Boyd
6/8
Jim & Helen Pirkle
6/28
Stephen Burnette
Russell Wages
6/10
Sarah Wages
6/29
Evelyn Smith
6/11
Andrew & Sabrina
Crawford
Mitchell Snipes
6/30
Marianna North
Winnie Zink
June 2016
Sun
Regular Wednesday Activities:
4-6:00pm Throne Room Worship/Chapel
6:45pm Bible Study Room 108
Mon
6:30pm King's Kids
7:00pm ESL Classes - Room 204
Tue
Regular Sunday Activities: 9:00am Traditional Worship - Chapel | 10:00am Holy Grounds
10:15am Small Group Studies | 11:00am Contemporary Worship Service - Sanctuary
3:00pm Youth 3rd floor
| 11:00am Spanish Worship Service - Chapel
4:00pm-6:00pm Open Table Worship - Fellowship Hall/Dining Room
Wed
1
Youth Trip to Six Flags
9:45am - 6:00pm
Thu
Fri
2
3
9
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ENDS
10
16
17
FRIDAY NIGHT FIRE
6:15 SUPPER
7:00 WORSHIP
Sat
4
Assorted Salads
5
COMMUNION
1:00pm Immigrant Hope
Workshop - FH
6
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BEGINS
7
8
Baked Potato Bar
Salad
14
12 Celebration Lunch
For Pastor Josue
1:00pm Witness Lunch
Prayer Walk
6:00pm Adult Bible
Study Room 204
26 Camp Presentation
11:00am Sanctuary
15
10:30 Martha Pirkle
Circle
7:00pm Prayer - Parlor
3:00PM Dock Party
6:00pm Adult Bible
Study Room 204
FATHERS DAY
18
First Family Fun Day
Meatloaf, Peas
Mashed Potatoes
20
21
CAMP WALK THIS WAY
11:30am - 3:00pm
CAMP WALK THIS WAY
11:30am - 3:00pm
6:30pm Nominations
Room 204
7:00pm Prayer - Parlor
27
Open Table VBS
28
Open Table VBS
22
CAMP WALK THIS WAY
11:30am - 3:00pm
7:00pm Prayer - Parlor
23
24
CAMP WALK THIS WAY
11:30am - 3:00pm
CAMP WALK THIS WAY
11:30am - 3:00pm
29
Open Table VBS
Deli Sandwiches,
Chips & Watermelon
25
4:00pm Journey Class
Cookout @ Pete
& Kristen Wages
6:30 Pot Pourri
Galaxy Diner
Pasta w/ Red & White
Sauce, Salad
YA Lunch Galla's
6:00pm Adult Bible
Study Room 204
6:00pm Young Adults
Ice Cream Sundae Party
7:00pm Prayer - Parlor
6:00pm Adult Bible
Study Room 204
19
11
30
Open Table VBS
Note: The Kitchen will
be closed on July 6th
and July 15th for a
summer break. No
dinners those nights.