Thanksgiving Baskets
We will again be helping people in our community to have a special Thanksgiving dinner. Due to the corona virus and our desire to keep everyone safe, we are going to provide gift cards to families. They will use the grocery cards to buy their own food, and it will not be necessary for our folks to spend so much time in stores.
HOW to participate: To donate money to purchase gift cards for food, please give funds to Caroline Huckaby or Betsy Bagley. If you prefer to write a check to the church, be sure to designate “Thanksgiving Food” on the “for” line on your check.
Growing Your Faith Through GENEROSITY
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Last week, you read the beginning of a parable:
A wealthy man was preparing to leave on a trip when he learned of a family that had suffered a great loss and was nearly destitute. He had compassion on them but was pressed to depart so he called for his son and gave him a check, saying: “I am leaving on a trip and I have compassion for the family who has suffered such a loss. Please take this check, keep what you need for your own expenses and give the remainder to this family as a gift from me. If you are still in need, tell me. Remember, I love you and will always take care of you.”
After the father departed, the son cashed the check, then he took the funds and…How will parable end?
For the next three weeks we will consider three possible endings along with the father’s response to each situation. We will learn what the Word teaches us about generosity.
Week #1: …the son considered the things he did not have. He envied the things his friends had and he believed his father would not provide the funds to get what he envied. His father gave him no specific instructions so he bought what he wanted then he pridefully gave what was left to the family which was much smaller than the original amount would have been.
When the father returned and learned of his son’s actions, he was sad. “I gave you so much, I promised to meet your needs, why did you give so little? I wanted you to show my compassion, but you have shown me to be a miser. Why didn’t you trust me?”
Does this story sound familiar to you?
- Scripture tells us in Matthew 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Jesus encourages us to trust God to provide.
- In Matthew 10:8b He tells us to give through our freedom: Freely you have received; freely give.”
- In 1 John 3:17-18 He tells us that God’s love will be seen through our giving: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
The Moral: We are never more like God than when we give. Seek and understand the character of God.
Rodin, Scott Dr. R, (2018, April17-19, The Outcome Conf, Dallas, TX) A Generosity Parable/How will you write your story’s ending? Retrieved from https://outcomesmagazine.com/a-generosity-parable/
Financial Snapshot:
Growing Our Faith…
Monthly projected operating funds needed: $20,400
Actual operating funds collected as of October 15th: $17,290
Matthew 6: 21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Thank you for your heartfelt generous contributions.
Next Finance Meeting October 27, 2020 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. All program chairs are invited to attend. Finance will focus on the 2021 budget.
Rodin, Scott Dr. R, (2018, April17-19, The Outcome Conf, Dallas, TX) A Generosity Parable/How will you write your story’s ending? Retrieved from https://outcomesmagazine.com/a-generosity-parable/
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER! 2 Corinthians 9:7
On Sunday, October 18th we will collect donations above and beyond our regular giving, for the Wellroot Amazing Grace UMC Agency. This agency is the former North Georgia United Methodist Children’s Home. Wellroot is a multi-level family-building, faith-based agency that provides foster care along with transitional and independent living and family housing.
Please consider generously donating to this program and remember to designated your check “Wellroot”. Thank you in advance for your contribution.
Visit our website: cokeschapel.org to give regularly or make a one time gift.
MINISTRY MESSAGE: INTER-GENERATIONAL, YOUTH & CHILDREN’S MINISTRY, October 14, 2020:
In Inter-generational Ministry, Prayer Partnerships have begun! Last Sunday, participants gathered via Zoom to learn more about sharing in prayer during the weeks ahead and to learn about intercessory prayer. Their Zoom time also allowed for partners to enter a “breakout room” with one another to share about joys and challenges in their lives and to communicate prayer needs. Partners will be praying for each other daily for the next 10 weeks, throughout the months of October through December.
In this week’s Inter-generational Sunday School lesson, we will begin a 4 week focus on covenant. Covenant is a very important concept throughout Scripture. Covenant establishes the foundation of relationship between God and God’s people, spanning our Biblical history from Abraham to Jacob to Israel to David to Christ. This week we will read about the covenant at Sinai as found in Exodus 24:1-12. If you would like to be included in the email list and receive this “at home” lesson, please contact Kim Reindl at kim.reindl@gmail.com. Each lesson includes Bible facts to help enlighten your study, questions for thought and reflection, as well as opportunity for spiritual practice.
In Youth Ministry, our youth will be gathering outdoors this Sunday at the Youth House for a time of fellowship. This will be an opportunity to engage in some fall fun with a scavenger hunt and “speedy” pumpkin decorating contest.
Finally, in Children’s Ministry, in lieu of Trunk or Treat, we will continue to support the work of our CCCC through the donations of candy and prizes/trinkets. During the month of October, please bring any donations with you to worship on Sunday mornings and place them in the bin in the narthex or drop them off anytime in the bin outside the church office.
God is at work all around us! May we hold each other by heart and lift each other by prayer as we journey together, and apart!
With love,
Kim
(Kim Reindl, Director of Inter-generational, Youth & Children’s Discipleship; kim.reindl
@gmail.com)
BUILDING USE AND ENTRY
Reminder: Cokes Chapel Childcare is now using the Worship Center for classrooms to accommodate our social distance requirements.
Due to our Child Safety Policy, until further notice, Monday-Friday, no entry allowed through the worship center doors between 6:00 am and 6:30 pm. No exceptions. Should you need to access the Worship Center, please check in through the CCCC office to gain entry. |