Rev. Hamrick shared with us about the ministry of Life Around the Table, which serves to bring people together to discover ways of life grounded in gratitude, delight and reconciliation and seeks to create community centered on the Lord's Table and the daily tables in our homes, churches and communities. The core of the experience develops the idea of "Food that LAUGHS - Local, Affordable, Uncomplicated, Good, Healthy and Seasonal. This acronym expresses the delight God desires us to discover when we eat and invite others to eat with us.
The UMW also made a special recognition to Lou Beal for her many years of service to the United Methodist Women, and to First United Methodist Church.
The theme for this year's Children's Sabbath service was "Uniting Hearts and Voices to End Child Poverty Now". Special music was provided by our WOW Choir, and the children of the church provided leadership throughout the service. Special thanks to the United Methodist Women for providing breakfast to the children before the service, and to Kelly Kinard for her leadership of the WOW Choir.
The annual UMW Family Breakfast was held on Sunday, September 15th. The guest speaker for this event will be Sandy Thomas, who has spent many years working with and advocating for The Girls Scouts in the United States and internationally. The church was also presented with a plaque in memory of Joan Snipes for her tireless work in helping to establish the new kitchen facilities in the fellowship hall, as well as other ways she served the church and community through ministries of hospitality. The plaque will be placed in the kitchen.
Families were invited to bring gifts of snack items for the Girl Scout meetings, and a table offering was received to go towards renovations to the Girl Scout room.