Memorial Day Weekend Party!

This Sunday the Voigts are having a Memorial Day Weekend Party on Sunday (30th) at 5pm. Please feel free to bring neighbors, friends and relatives. We will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and all of the condiments. Please bring a side dish, desert or beverage to share. Also, bring any games you might like as well. It's suppose to be a beautiful day so come on over. We are located at 18935 State Road N. 45 next door to Vaughn's Funeral Home.

Future Sermons

I've been working on my sermon calendar for the next year. I'm pretty excited with my plans so far. Thought I would share my overall themes and see if you all have any input. Let me know your ideas, illustrations or worship element suggestions!

Good Words in James
James will be a five week series on the the Epistle of James. James offers very straightforward concepts on the words we choose to use, not showing partiality and demonstrating our faith through our deeds (faith without deeds is dead!).

Vision
I have spent the last four months meeting with about half of our worshiping attendance in small groups for four weeks at a time. We brainstormed the following areas together: Intentional Discipleship, Missions, Evangelism/Growth and Short/Long Term Goals. I will spend four weeks revealing those results and offer a WUMC sized vision for tomorrow!

Relationships
Five weeks discussing the difficulties and keys for success in the following relationship situations: singleness, marriage, children, friendship and Christ. These areas are not completely solidified and I may tweek them:)

Give it Away
Even in recession, many are still living in abundance- but some are not. We will spend four weeks proposing different ways to "give away" our abundance. I'm thinking of focusing on the following areas: stuff, food and money (outside church/inside church). I'm hoping this will be a month to focus on Missions and all the ways we can serve and help. I also have a bombshell of an idea that I am hoping to reveal in September in preparation for this series!

Ruth
I read the Old Testament book of Ruth a few weeks ago and was absolutely floored! It's a beautiful story of God's provision and love; it's romantic, tragic and awe inspiring . . . and four chapters long.

Christmas Series
I don't know just yet- but it will be something Christmassy'. How about some help here!?

Romans
After Christmas we will begin the highly thought provoking New Testament book of Romans. It's 16 chapters long and will likely be our Lenten focus taking us to Easter. In Romans, Paul is writing to the Church in Rome that is no doubt experiencing growing pains. He painstakingly emphasizes the importance of grace by faith alone in Jesus Christ to a pagan culture. Romans will help deepen our Christian beliefs and stretch us in areas concerning God's sovereignty and our Jewish cousins (our faith relatives).

Vacation Over

Well, I had a good vacation. Had a few days around the house the beginning of the week. I did some fishing and relatively "bum" stuff. On Wednesday I headed for Arizona. I thought I had outsmart the flight industry. Tickets to Tucson were cheaper than tickets to Phoenix and the Tucson tickets stopped in Phoenix?! However, I found out that if you stop in Phoenix on the way out that they cancel your return tickets! So, after begging and pleading and not getting anywhere, my best friend in Phoenix drove two hours to Tucson to pick me up. It was mainly a "hangin'" out trip. I spent a lot of time with him (Phil) and his wife (Regina) and infant son (Mitchell). Last year I went up around this time because Mitchell was baptized and I am his godfather, so it was good to see he was growing quite nicely. Phil and I played 36 holes of disc golf and ate a lot- and that was the trip. On the way back to the airport he actually dropped me off in Tucson for my flight and beat me back to the Phoenix airport where we had breakfast together for my 2 hour lay over- I know, completely bizarre. When I got back on Saturday Kim and I went out and ate at Styx restraunt with some friends at the Legends. In the world of Japanese Steak Houses Styx was pretty average, but we still had a good time. On Mothers Day we visited "The Rock" church in N.K.C. It had a very modern worship facility and sound. They were incredibly well organized and reminded me a lot of a mini Willow Creek meets Word of Life. Of course I haven't been to Word of Life in six years so it could feel more like Willow Creek by now for all I know. After church we went and got Kim's Mothers Day gift since I didn't think about that until I got on the plane on Wednesday (although cards were taken care of). We bought some perfume and the nice gals at Dillards through in 3 freebies along with it! The real Mother's Day gift came when we got home and I cleaned out the garage. I think she has requested that one since November. It looks great now- I'll just walk into the garage and check it out:) And now- it's time to get ready for my last Pastoral Leadership Development class in Blue Springs. Back to the races we go!